TRIXIE Dog Trailer in review – The best dog trailers compared

Attention bargain hunters! Retailing at € 349, the TRIXIE Dog Trailer is the most affordable model in our 2023 dog trailer group test. Despite its price tag, it comes with several exciting features, including a suspension system. Read the full review to find out whether the TRIXIE is a functional smart saver or just a complete waste of money!

We have tested the most exciting dog trailers in direct comparison – Click here for buyer’s guide and an overview of all the dog trailers we have tested.

Up until now, TRIXIE only offered two rigid dog trailers for small pooches up to 15 kg. For this summer, the German manufacturer – who happens to be the European market leader for dog supplies – added a brand-new suspended dog stroller to their portfolio. With the TRIXIE, you’ll save money without renouncing useful features. Amongst them are an intuitive folding system, suspension, integrated rain cover, countless pockets and an integrated short leash. Is it possible to get all these features at this price point without sacrificing quality?

For this comparison test, TRIXIE sent their suspended dog trailer in size S, with a grey/sage finish, which retails at € 349 and is suitable for dogs up to 25 kg. There’s also a size M variant, which is suitable for dogs up to 35 kg and costs € 379, as well as a big size L model, which is designed to accommodate big pooches up to 45 kg and retails for € 399. As a result, even the biggest TRIXIE trailer is cheaper than any of the other strollers in this comparison test.

Just cheap or good value for money too? The features of the TRIXIE Dog Trailer

There’s a huge difference between cheap and good value for money! With most products, if you buy cheap, you buy twice. With some, however, you’ll get a cheap product that’s still functional and strikes an excellent price-performance ratio. In which category does the TRIXIE dog trailer fall? One thing’s for sure: with its countless pockets, the TRIXIE is the undisputed pack-mule in our 2023 dog trailer comparison test. There’s a zippered pocket on the side of the trailer, and three more pockets on the handlebars, which are very easy to remove. But be careful, if you ride without the stroller handlebars, the three pockets might fall off, because the holder rods are open and far too short.

Canine sightseeing? Check! With its countless windows, the TRIXIE trailer offers excellent panoramic views – almost as good as the TAXXI DOG! Only the rear lacks a view, as it’s blocked by the access ramp, which prevents your pooch from enjoying the landscape at 360º. In return, the ramp makes it easy for all sorts of dogs to access the trailer, whether they’re small, old or limited in their mobility. Unfortunately, on our test-trailer in size S, the ramp doesn’t reach all the way to the ground, but according to TRIXIE that’s not the case with the bigger M and L sizes.

Furthermore, the integrated rain cover allows you to quickly react to sudden weather changes to protect your pooch against the elements. The drawback: the roll-up cover looks cheap, spoiling the overall look of the trailer. On top of that, the rain cover makes a loud flapping noise while riding.

If you stop on a slope, you’re lost! Why? Well, because the foot brake is inconveniently positioned at the back of the trailer, where it’s still fairly easy to reach on level ground but rather difficult to operate on steep terrain – very impractical! In other words, when stopping on a gradient, you’ll have to be a professional contortionist to activate the park-brake. Multitasking with the TRIXIE? Not so easy! On the other hand, it’s a versatile trailer, because for an additional € 59.99 you can buy the stroller conversion kit.

On Test: How comfortable and safe is the TRIXIE Dog Trailer?

If you think that the list of features is over, you’re mistaken. The TRIXI dog trailer also has adjustable, two-stage steel suspension that can be preloaded to the desired setting. The suspension feels rather plush when riding at low speeds and in wide corners but tends to sway with abrupt manoeuvres – rather like an old-school American sedan. Given the price tag, however, we can’t expect the manufacturer to use high quality suspension. In our group test intro, we compared the different suspension systems in a bit more detail. Our accelerometer test shows that the softer setting is slightly more comfortable for the dog. That said, with other trailers with adjustable suspension the differences between settings are hardly noticeable. In general, however, the following applies: the overall stability of both the construction and materials is far more crucial to the overall riding experience, as is the increased comfort of a well-padded dog bed. Speaking of stability, the TRIXIE dog trailer isn’t the sturdiest, wobbling about like a Jenga tower on a seismic fault line. In a nutshell, neither the material, the hitch mechanism nor the overall construction are of high quality. On top of that, the trailer is tall and narrow, which improves ground clearance but at the same time ensures a high centre of gravity, increasing the risk of tipping over in fast corners. However, the advantage is that the generous ground clearance makes it harder to bash the bottom on high kerbs and steps. Unfortunately, there’s no padding on the inside, which would be an excellent complement for the dog bed and integrated safety leash.

Assembling and disassembling the TRIXIE dog trailer is easy and straightforward. Whether you want to take it on a backcountry expedition, store it in your garage, or use it as a dog box in your car trunk, the TRIXIE is quick and easy to dismantle and reassemble, with the hitch system, wheels and towbar coming off in no time.

Our conclusions about the TRIXIE dog trailer.

Despite offering countless features and excellent functionality, even the TRIXIE isn’t perfect! Riding stability is heavily affected by the high centre of gravity and the sub-par quality of both the construction and materials. As a result, the TRIXIE dog trailer isn’t an option for sporty, fast riders or those who want to take their trailer off-road. On the other hand, it gets our thumbs-up for chilled city strolls and moderate tours! If you can live with the cheap look and lower build quality typical of cheap products, the TRIXIE offers a rather good price-performance ratio.

Tops

• Practical ramp
• Countless pockets
• Integrated rain cover

Flops

• Protruding mount for the stroller function, no cover
• Narrow and tall shape makes the TRIXIE rather unstable and wobbly
• Lack of a sturdy roll cage
• Lower quality materials, breaks easily

For more info visit trixie.de

All dog trailers in review: Croozer | Hamax | TAXXI DOG | TRIXIE | Burley Bark Ranger | Burley Tail Wagon

Words: Antonia Feder Photos: Antonia Feder, Robin Schmitt