The New Simple Glide eTrike Trailer: Passenger Seat, Cargo Basket, and How It All Works

Why a Trailer Changes What a Simple Glide Can Do

Most people buy a recumbent eTrike for one reason: comfort. You sit low, your back is supported, your feet rest forward, and the three-wheel base keeps you steady at a stop. The Simple Glide was built around that idea, and it does it well. But once riders get comfortable, the next question almost always follows. Can I bring someone with me? Can I carry more than what fits in a basket? Can I get the groceries home without making two trips?

That is exactly the gap the new Simple Glide trailer is meant to fill. It is a two-wheeled unit that hitches to the back of the trike and turns it into something closer to a small road train. Depending on what you mount on it, the trailer becomes either a rear passenger seat or a large cargo basket. You can also own both and swap between them.

Dustin, who has spent about 20 years in the bike and eBike industry, walked through the whole system on video: how it attaches, what it costs you in terms of length and drag, how much a passenger can weigh, how the storage measures up, and how long it takes to switch from seat to basket. He also took it out on the street, first with a full-size adult in the back and then with the basket. This article covers everything he showed, along with the practical details you will want to think through before adding one to your own ride.

If you are still figuring out which trike to start with, our recumbent electric trikes are a good place to look around before you read on.

The Simple Glide is not a single bike. It is a family, and the good news is that every version can take the trailer. Here is the current lineup Dustin covered:

• Simple Glide 500W with thinner tires, the lightest and most straightforward version.
• Simple Glide Fat Tire, which rolls on wide 4-inch tires for a softer, more planted ride. The trike in the video had the captain's chair upgrade installed.
• Simple Glide Fat Tire Deluxe, which adds suspension.
• Simple Glide Dual Motor, for riders who want extra pulling power.
• Simple Glide Low to the Ground, the stretched version designed for taller riders.

What ties them together is the frame. Sixthreezero extended the rear of the Simple Glide frame and built in a mounting hole for a hitch. That small design change is what makes the trailer possible on every model.

One thing to be clear about: the Simple Glide does not ship with the hitch installed. The frame is ready for it, but the hitch attachment itself is a separate piece. If you plan to pull the trailer, factor the hitch into your order so you are not waiting on a part when the trailer arrives.

If you are comparing the fat-tire versions specifically, you can see them alongside other wide-tire models in our fat tire electric trikes collection. And if the trailer is mainly about carrying people, our eTrikes for passengers page is worth a look too, since it groups the models built with riders beyond yourself in mind.

Although it is sold as the Simple Glide trailer, the design is not locked to the Simple Glide. Dustin pointed out that the trailer can hook up to other eTrikes, including the sixthreezero rickshaw, as long as two conditions are met.

First, the rear tires on the trike need to match the trailer. The trailer runs on 20-inch by 4-inch tires, so the trike pulling it should also have 20 x 4 tires in the rear. Matching wheel size keeps the trailer level with the trike and keeps the hitch geometry where it should be. A mismatch in height would tilt the trailer and put the hitch at an odd angle, which affects both handling and how the load sits.

Second, the trike needs the hitch attachment. Without a proper hitch point on the frame, there is nothing safe to connect to.

So if you already own a different 20 x 4 rear-tire trike, or you are considering one of our rickshaw eTrikes, the trailer is still on the table. It is worth confirming your tire size before ordering. If you are unsure, our tires page lists the sizes we carry, and that can help you match what is on your trike.

This flexibility matters because accessories often outlast the bike they were bought for. If you upgrade your trike down the road, a trailer that fits more than one model keeps its value.

The way the trailer is packaged is a little different from a typical accessory, so it is worth understanding before you shop.

The core piece is the subframe. This is the actual trailer: it includes the two wheels, the foot plate, and the connection that attaches to the hitch. On its own, the subframe is a rolling platform. It is the foundation everything else bolts onto.

From there, you choose what goes on top. There are two options:

• The bench seat, which turns the trailer into a rear passenger seat with a footrest, seat belt, and hidden storage underneath.
• The basket, which turns the trailer into an open cargo carrier.

Each of these is an individual purchase. Buying the subframe does not mean you get the seat and the basket together. You pick the one you need, or you buy both if you want to switch depending on the day.

Both the seat and the basket attach to the subframe with four bolts. That is the whole swap system, and it is simple enough that most owners can change setups in about ten minutes with basic tools. We will walk through that process later in this article.

The modular approach has a real advantage. If you mostly run errands now but expect to bring a grandchild along next summer, you can start with the basket and add the seat later without buying a second trailer. You can browse the rest of our eTrike add-ons to see what else pairs with it, including seats and baskets.

Connecting the trailer is a short process, and it is designed with a backup in place in case anything works loose.

Once the hitch attachment is installed on the back of the Simple Glide, you will see a hitch ball. The trailer comes with a safety cable, and that goes on first. Slide the cable over the hitch ball. This cable is your secondary connection. If the main coupling ever came undone, the cable would keep the trailer tethered to the trike instead of letting it roll away.

Next, latch the trailer's coupler onto the hitch ball and clamp it down. Then push the locking pin through, and secure the pin with its clip. At that point the trailer is locked on, and Dustin described everything as safe and snug.

A few habits are worth building from day one:

• Always do the cable first. It takes two seconds and it is the step people are most tempted to skip when they are in a hurry.
• Check the pin clip every ride. A pin that is pushed through but not clipped can work its way out over bumps.
• Give the trailer a tug before you go. Lift and pull on the trailer tongue to confirm the clamp is seated on the ball.

If you have ever towed anything with a car, the system will feel familiar. It is the same basic logic, scaled down for a trike: a ball, a coupler, a lock, and a safety backup.

The most common reason people want a trailer is to bring someone along, so let's be specific about what the bench seat can and cannot do.

The seat fits one adult. It is a little narrower than the seat on the sixthreezero rickshaw, and it is not built with the same structure. That difference shows up in the weight rating.

Dustin recommends up to 150 pounds on the trailer seat. For comparison, the rickshaw seat is rated to around 200 pounds. That puts the trailer seat squarely in the range of kids and lighter adults. A grandchild, a teenager, or a smaller partner are all realistic passengers. A large adult is not what this seat is designed for.

That limit is worth taking seriously. It is not only about whether the seat holds. Extra weight in the trailer adds drag, changes how the trike handles in turns, and puts more load on the hitch and the subframe. Staying under the recommended limit keeps the whole setup riding the way it was meant to.

If your regular passenger is over 150 pounds, the trailer is the wrong tool, and that is fine. Our rickshaw eTrikes are built for heavier passengers, and the tandem collection is another route if your passenger wants to pedal too. For riders who need more total carrying capacity in general, we also group models in our high weight capacity eTrikes collection.

Numbers help when you are picturing who will sit back there and where you will park the whole rig. Dustin measured the seat on camera:

• Seat pad width: 26 1/4 inches
• Seat pad depth, front to back: about 11 1/2 inches
• Backrest pad: about 12 1/2 inches

A 26-inch wide seat is comfortable for one person with some room to shift around, which is useful for kids who do not like sitting still. The depth is on the shorter side, closer to a bench than a lounge chair, which suits shorter rides around town.

The bigger number to keep in mind is total length. With the trailer and seat attached, the Simple Glide measures about 102 inches from front to back. That is roughly eight and a half feet. With the basket mounted instead of the seat, the length stays the same.

Length matters in a few places:

• Storage at home. Measure your garage or shed before the trailer shows up. Eight and a half feet of trike and trailer takes up more floor space than most people expect.
• Turning and parking. Tight bike racks, narrow store fronts, and crowded paths all feel different with a trailer behind you.
• Transport. If you carry your trike on a rack or in a vehicle, you will take the trailer off first. Dustin was clear that the whole assembly is not meant to be moved as one piece on a rack.

None of these are deal-breakers. They are just the kind of thing that is easier to plan for before the box arrives than after.

One of the nicer surprises in the seat design is what is underneath it. The seat cushion flips down to reveal a storage compartment, and it is bigger than you might guess.

Dustin measured it at:

• 12 1/2 inches deep
• 19 1/2 inches wide
• 8 1/2 inches top to bottom

That is enough room for a jacket, a picnic blanket, a few water bottles, a small grocery run, or a kid's bag of snacks and toys. When you are done, the lid latches shut so items stay put while you ride.

This matters most if you have chosen the seat over the basket. A lot of riders worry that picking the passenger setup means giving up cargo space. The under-seat compartment means you still have somewhere to put things, even with someone sitting on top.

It also pairs well with whatever storage is on the front of the trike. Dustin pointed out that if your Simple Glide only has a front basket, the under-seat compartment adds a second, enclosed spot for belongings. Between the two, a short trip to the store or the park with a passenger is very doable.

If you want even more organized storage, a few bags and panniers can round things out on the trike itself.

Up close, a few details show how the seat and subframe work together.

The foot plate belongs to the subframe, not the seat. It is a flat platform at the front of the trailer. The footrest, on the other hand, is part of the seat. When you mount the seat onto the subframe, the footrest sits on top of the foot plate. The result is a proper place for your passenger to put their feet, rather than letting them dangle near the wheels.

For kids especially, that footrest is a big deal. It gives them a stable spot to brace against during turns and stops, and it keeps feet away from the moving parts.

The seat also has a seat belt. For younger passengers, buckling up should be non-negotiable. Even at low speeds, a sudden stop or a bump can shift a small rider, and the belt keeps them where they belong.

On the cosmetic side, the seat is finished in brown leather-style material that matches the grips on the Simple Glide. It is a small thing, but it makes the trailer look like part of the trike rather than something bolted on as an afterthought.

While you are thinking about passenger safety, it is worth making sure everyone on the ride has a properly fitting helmet. Our helmets come in a range of sizes.

If you are more interested in hauling things than people, the basket is your option. It mounts to the subframe in place of the seat, using the same four bolts.

Dustin measured the basket at:

• 20 1/2 inches wide
• 16 1/2 inches front to back
• 9 inches top to bottom

Compared with the under-seat compartment, the basket is a bit wider, noticeably deeper front to back, and open on top. That open top is the real advantage. Bulky or oddly shaped items that would never fit into a lidded compartment, like a folded beach chair, a case of water, or a bag of potting soil, can go straight into the basket.

Inside, you can see the four bolts that hold the basket to the subframe. That is the same mounting pattern the seat uses, which is what makes switching between them quick.

This is also where the trailer can make the biggest difference for owners of the standard Simple Glide Fat Tire. That version does not include a basket as standard, unlike the Deluxe, so the trailer basket can serve as the main cargo space for riders who want to haul more.

If carrying capacity is high on your list, compare the trailer with trikes that are built around cargo from the start. Our cargo electric trikes and eTrikes with a large basket collections show what is possible when storage is part of the main frame.

Specs only tell part of the story, so Dustin took the trailer out on the street with a passenger in the back. To make the point about power, he chose Jeff, who is 6 feet 4 inches and about 240 pounds.

To be clear, Jeff is well over the recommended 150-pound limit for the trailer seat. Dustin said as much on camera. The goal was not to suggest that a passenger of that size is a normal use case. It was to show that the Simple Glide has enough power to move a heavy load and to show how the trailer tracks in turns. If you are planning your own setup, stick with the 150-pound recommendation.

A few things stood out from the ride.

The trike pulls it. Even with Jeff aboard, the Simple Glide got moving without trouble. Dustin had the pedal assist set to level 4, and when he turned it up, the extra power was easy to feel.

There is drag. Dustin was upfront about this. Pulling a trailer with a heavy passenger creates noticeable drag, and you feel it when you accelerate. With a lighter passenger, which is what the trailer is designed for, that drag drops a lot. Still, expect to use a higher assist level with someone in the back than you would riding alone, and expect your battery range to shorten accordingly.

Turning is easy. The trailer pivots at the hitch ball, just like a trailer behind a car. It follows the trike smoothly through turns, and Dustin was able to make a full turnaround without fuss.

The seat may feel high for shorter riders. Dustin, who is about 5 feet 10 inches, noted the trike's seat was set a little high for him in that configuration. It is a reminder to dial in your own fit before you start towing. Our fitting tool can help you get the setup right for your height.

And yes, Jeff made it out just fine.

After switching to the basket, Dustin took the trike back out to show how it handles with cargo instead of a passenger.

The short version: it rides just as you would hope. Steering stays light, and the trailer follows cleanly behind. Without a full-size adult in the back, the drag that was obvious in the passenger test is much less of a factor, and the trike feels closer to how it rides solo.

This is the setup Dustin pictured for everyday errands. Grocery runs, trips to the hardware store, hauling gear to the beach, or even giving a dog a ride are all within reach. The basket's open top makes loading and unloading quick, and the 9-inch depth keeps most items from bouncing out on normal roads.

A couple of tips for hauling cargo:

• Put heavy items low and centered. Weight sitting over the trailer's axle keeps it stable. Weight piled high or off to one side makes it more likely to sway in turns.
• Secure anything loose. A bungee cord or cargo net across the top is cheap insurance against losing something on a bump.
• For pets, use a carrier or harness. An open basket is not a safe place for an unrestrained dog. A secured carrier inside the basket is a better approach.

If you find yourself using the basket constantly, you might also want a trike with throttle control. A throttle makes it easy to get a loaded trailer rolling from a full stop without leaning hard on the pedals.

Because both the seat and the basket use the same four-bolt mounting pattern, switching between them is mostly a matter of loosening and tightening bolts. Here is how Dustin did it.

1. Gather your tools. You will need a 10 mm ratchet or wrench, and possibly an Allen key, depending on the bolts on your unit. On the demo trailer, two of the original bolts had gone missing and been replaced with Allen-head bolts, which is why Dustin needed both tools. A new trailer normally comes with four matching bolts, so one tool should do it.

2. Remove the four bolts. Work your way around the seat (or basket), loosening each bolt. You can work from either side. If one bolt is tight, leave it and come back after the others are out, which takes tension off and makes it easier to remove.

3. Keep track of the hardware. Set each bolt somewhere you will not lose it. Dustin dropped his on the subframe as he went. A small dish or magnetic tray works even better.

4. Lift off the seat. With the bolts out, the seat comes off and you are left with the bare subframe: wheels, foot plate, and hitch connection.

5. Set the basket in place. Position the basket on the subframe and line up its holes with the holes in the frame.

6. Drop the bolts in and tighten. Start each bolt by hand so you do not cross-thread it, then tighten them all down evenly.

The whole swap took Dustin about ten minutes or less. Once you have done it once or twice, it becomes routine. The process works the same way in reverse when you want to go back to the seat.

If you like a visual reference, our assembly instructions library covers setup and hardware for many of our models.

Every towing setup has a weak spot, and for this one it is backing up.

Dustin was candid that reversing with the trailer attached can be tricky. As anyone who has backed a boat trailer down a ramp knows, the trailer wants to turn the opposite way from the vehicle pulling it. Even a slight angle at the hitch tends to grow as you keep reversing, and the trailer jackknifes off to one side.

On camera, Dustin tried a few times to back the trike up in a straight line, and the trailer kept swinging. He eventually got it straightened out, but it made the point clearly. The key is to keep the trike and trailer dead straight before you start reversing, and to go slowly. Small, gentle corrections work better than big ones.

Some practical ways to avoid the problem altogether:

• Plan your parking. Pull through spaces where you can, so you can ride out forward instead of backing out.
• Make a wide loop. On open pavement, riding a wide circle is often faster than trying to reverse.
• Walk it. For short repositioning, get off and roll the trailer by hand. It is light enough when empty.
• Practice in an empty lot. Ten minutes of reversing practice before your first real trip will save you frustration later.

If reversing is part of your regular routine, for example backing out of a tight driveway, a trike with a reverse function can help. You can see options in our reverse gear eTrikes collection. Even with reverse, though, the trailer physics stay the same, so straight and slow is still the rule.

Once you have the trailer, you start finding reasons to use it. Here are some of the most practical setups.

Grandkid duty. The seat, with its belt and footrest, is a natural fit for bringing a grandchild to the park, the ice cream shop, or a neighborhood ride. The under-seat compartment holds their snacks, jacket, and whatever toy they insisted on bringing.

The weekly grocery run. With the basket mounted, a full week of groceries is realistic, especially if your Simple Glide also has a front basket. Split heavy items between the two.

Beach and park days. Chairs, umbrella, towels, a cooler. This is the kind of load that is miserable to carry on foot and awkward in a regular bike basket, and it is exactly where the trailer basket shines.

Bringing the dog. Dustin mentioned this one directly. A small dog in a secured carrier inside the basket can tag along on rides that would be too long for them to walk.

Running errands without the car. Post office, pharmacy, hardware store. Short trips that do not justify starting the car become easy, and you get some fresh air along the way.

For more ideas on where to take your trike, the ride ideas section of our blog is full of suggestions.

Dustin's ride test touched on something every trailer owner should understand: pulling extra weight changes how you use the motor.

During the passenger demo, he had the Simple Glide in pedal assist level 4, and he could feel the difference when he bumped it higher. That is typical. With a trailer behind you, the motor is doing more work to get the combined weight moving and to keep it rolling, so most riders will find themselves using a higher assist level than they would solo.

That has a knock-on effect on range. Every eTrike's range depends on rider weight, terrain, temperature, tire pressure, and how much you lean on the motor. Adding a trailer and a passenger stacks more of those factors against you at once. There is no single number that applies to everyone, but it is fair to expect noticeably fewer miles per charge on trailer days than on solo rides.

A few ways to make the battery go further:

• Start gently. Most of the energy goes into getting moving. Easing away from stops instead of jumping on the throttle saves a lot of battery over a trip.
• Keep your tires properly inflated, on both the trike and the trailer. Soft tires add rolling resistance, and with five tires on the ground you will feel it.
• Pedal along. Even light pedaling takes load off the motor.
• Plan the route. If you have a choice between a steep hill and a longer flat route, the flat one is usually kinder to the battery when towing.

If you regularly plan longer trailer trips, a spare battery is worth considering. You can find options on our batteries and chargers page.

Carrying a person, especially a child, changes your responsibilities as a rider. A few habits make a real difference.

Brief your passenger. Before the first ride, explain the basics: keep feet on the footrest, hands inside, stay seated, and stay buckled. Kids in particular do better when they know the rules ahead of time.

Ride a little slower than you would alone. A trailer adds length and weight behind you. Stopping distances get longer, and turns need a bit more room. Taking corners slower keeps the trailer tracking smoothly and keeps your passenger comfortable.

Remember the trailer is behind you. It is easy to forget you are eight and a half feet long. Leave extra space when passing parked cars, poles, and pedestrians, and swing a little wider through tight turns so the trailer wheels do not clip a curb.

Make yourself visible. A trailer sits low to the ground. A flag, reflectors, or a rear light help drivers and other riders notice it, especially at dawn and dusk.

Do a quick check every time. Safety cable on, coupler clamped, pin through and clipped, seat bolts snug, belt buckled. It takes less than a minute and it is the best habit you can build.

Stick to the weight limit. We have said it a few times, and that is on purpose. The 150-pound recommendation for the seat is there for good reasons.

Before you order, it helps to answer a few questions honestly.

Who or what will you carry most often? If it is a child or a passenger under 150 pounds, start with the seat. If it is cargo, start with the basket. If it is truly both, order both and plan on swapping.

Is your passenger over 150 pounds? Then the trailer seat is not the right choice. Look at the rickshaw instead, which is built for heavier riders in the back.

Which Simple Glide do you have, or plan to buy? All versions take the trailer, but your choice of motor affects how it feels to tow. The Dual Motor version gives you the most pulling power. The fat tire versions match the trailer's 20 x 4 tires visually and in ride feel. The Low to the Ground version suits taller riders.

Do you have space for an 8.5-foot rig? Measure your storage before you buy.

How much reversing will you do? If your home setup requires backing out regularly, think about how you will handle that, whether through practice, a different parking approach, or a trike with reverse.

Did you order the hitch? The frame is ready, but the hitch attachment is separate. Do not forget it.

If you would like a second opinion, our personal fitting consultation pairs you with a real person who can help sort out which trike and setup makes sense. You can also browse the full electric trike lineup or read our buyer's guide for a broader overview.

The Simple Glide trailer takes a comfortable recumbent eTrike and makes it useful in a lot more situations. The modular design is the smartest part. You buy one subframe and then choose a seat, a basket, or both, and you can switch between them in about ten minutes with a wrench.

It is not without trade-offs, and Dustin did not pretend otherwise. The seat is meant for passengers up to 150 pounds, not every adult. Towing adds drag, especially with a heavier load. The whole setup stretches to roughly 102 inches. And reversing takes patience. Knowing all of that ahead of time means you can plan around it instead of being surprised.

For riders who want to bring a grandchild along, haul groceries without the car, or pack up for a beach day, it is a practical upgrade that keeps the easy, relaxed ride the Simple Glide is known for.

As with every sixthreezero ride, you can try it with our 30-day test ride, and you are covered by our one-year warranty on parts and labor. If you are near Southern California, you are also welcome to visit our store and try a Simple Glide in person before you decide.