Tern Quick Haul Long Review: Affordable Cargo E-Bike Adept at Kid-Hauling

I’ve spent the last couple of years riding various e-bikes that claimed to be game-changers. Or the brands boasted its bikes were full-on car replacements. While I have enjoyed this journey, I usually find the more bombastic claims to be a bit of an oversell. There are always tradeoffs between power, weight, style, max speeds, and features.

While I spend a lot of time on bikes, it’s hard to see a world where I opt for a bike over a car. In many day-to-day scenarios, bikes fall short, mostly due to my two kids.

Tern reached out to hook me up with its most affordable cargo e-bike to date, the Quick Haul Long D9 ($3,799). I was a little skeptical that it could have a major impact on my average day. But after spending more than a month on the bike, I admit that I was dead wrong.

The Tern Quick Haul Long has the power and storage capacity to serve as an all-day e-bike. Even with two kids in tow, I had to think twice before reaching for my car keys.

In short: The Quick Haul Long is a capable, more affordable cargo e-bike from Tern that is particularly adept at carrying kids. Riders can easily outfit the bike with a litany of accessories to tailor it to their lifestyle.

Tern Quick Haul Long Review

The Basics

Tern bills the Quick Haul Long as a compact cargo bike perfectly suited for growing families or hauling substantial cargo. It is the brand’s most affordable cargo model, with an MSRP of $3,800, $700 less than the GSD S10.

The bike is a Class 1 e-bike with a max speed of 20 mph. It runs on a Bosch Cargo Line motor that provides up to 85 Nm of torque and 400% assistance.

A removable Bosch PowerPack 500 battery provides a 26- to 53-mile range depending on pedal assistance level and load. The Term Quick Haul Long comes with a custom 1×9-speed Tektro e-bike drivetrain with an 11-42T cassette. The motor runs four different levels of pedaling assistance, along with walk mode.

The Quick Haul Long weighs about 65 pounds and can handle a gross vehicle weight of 419 pounds. The rear rack alone can manage just under 200 pounds.

Other features include a patented Atlas dual-sided kickstand and an integrated front-wheel lock. An adjustable seat post and stem fit any rider ranging from 5’1″ to 6’3″. The bike also sports integrated lights and a Bosch display screen.

The bike’s elongated rear rack can accommodate up to two children or one adult passenger. It can also carry cargo add-ons, such as pannier bags, containers, or even dedicated dog seats.

Tern Quick Haul Long: First Impressions

At first blush, The Quick Haul Long looked like it could be a little unwieldy, especially in tight spaces. However, even with the bike’s elongated wheelbase, its 20-inch wheels and low center of gravity made it feel more nimble and maneuverable than I initially expected.

The bike felt extremely stable at low and high speeds. The tight turn radius helped me make sharp turns or change direction on sidewalks or bike paths with heavy traffic.

The Bosch motor powered the bike to a max speed of 20 mph. I did find myself wishing for a little more speed from time to time. But with my children loaded up, the max speed felt adequate and, more importantly, safe. The Tektro Hydraulic disc brakes had no trouble bringing the rig to a halt quickly.

Power delivery felt adequate, and the motor was quiet. With a total cargo load in the range of around 80 pounds, not including my own weight, I had no problems getting moving. The Tektro drivetrain was consistent and reliable, with no skipping, dropping, or rubbing, which has been a problem on many e-bikes I have tested.

The handlebar-mounted display was simple to use, with an on/off button on top and up/down pedal assist controls on the face. I deeply appreciated that there was no need to connect to an app. The screen is simple and offers only the information you really need, like battery level, speed, and range, without wasting space or power for things you don’t.

Tern Quick Haul Long: The Ultimate Dad-Wagon

At the base model, the Tern Quick Haul Long would make a solid cargo e-bike for anyone. The real draw of the bike, though, is its robust line of modular accessories to fit any lifestyle.

I have two young kids, one of whom is just learning to walk, the other of whom is learning to channel his inner Evel Knievel.

I typically spend at least an hour on a bike most weekdays and several hours in the saddle over the weekend. That generally means time away from the family or hauling the little guys in a trailer. 

But after long days or weeks at work, slugging it out with a 50-pound trailer in tow sounds like a nightmare, so I have tended lately to opt for the car. The Tern Quick Haul Long changed that.

Since my particular needs involved hauling kids, I chose to install Tern’s Clubhouse, a Clubhouse seat pad, a Sidekick Wheel Guard, a front rack, and a trailer hitch attachment. I also added the Thule Yepp Nexxt 2 Maxi toddler passenger seat to give me the best chance of getting both my kids aboard, along with diaper bags, coolers, and toys for a full day out.

With that particular lineup of accessories, the Quick Haul Long became my go-to choice for quick trips to and from daycare, the grocery store, parks, and the library. I also took it just about anywhere else I would normally drive with my kids. I found that I could usually get around 30 to 35 miles out of the bike with both kids and a Burley trailer.

Anytime I put my kids on a bike, my first concern is their safety. My oldest gets excited and is prone to sticking his feet into places he shouldn’t. He can also whip his body around when we ride past an animal or excavator. Tern’s child-hauling accessories provided a safe area for kids of all ages.

The rear Clubhouse enclosure can be outfitted with seat pads, a backrest, and a seat belt for extra protection. Since it is enclosed on all sides, it was nearly impossible for my kid to fall out. It also provided plenty of real estate to attach small bags for snacks and water.

The Sidekick Wheel Guard provided webbing over the moving bits of the rear. This kept my kids’ feet from getting tangled up in the drivetrain or spokes.

Though I could feel my kids whipping their bodies around on the back, the feedback I got at the controls was minimal. The bike still felt stable and simple to control.

Tern Quick Haul Long: Final Thoughts

The Tern Quick Haul Long made traveling with children or cargo simple. Paired with a trailer and the right accessories, I found that I could run errands or take trips on the bike, which I would never have considered practical before.

At one point, I had four children loaded up on the bike and attached Burley trailer. That’s something that you can’t do without a third-row seat in a car.

With the ability to carry adults, kids, or cargo, the Quick Haul Long can grow with families or make a solid e-bike with an impressive payload for those without kids.

Of all the e-bikes I have ridden, this is the first one that gave me a real glimpse of what life without a car might be like without making me dismiss the idea as completely impossible.