Is there a benefit of lacing trailer wheel spokes radially instead of crossed? Reading a review of a bike trailer one of the commentators noted that the wheels were laced radially:



It is a 16" wheel. Does this configuration have some advantage making it a good choice? I always had the impression that wheel spokes were crossed for greater robustness.

Cynically I suspect this could just be a way to make the wheels a little cheaper - but cheaper doesn't necessarily mean inferior, or does it in this case?
Crossed spoke lacing is primarily necessary to transmit torque from the hub to the rim, rather than for increased strength, although I suspect hub flanges have more strength when loaded by a crossed spoke. Given a trailer wheel will carry a lower load than a bicycle wheel this does not matter.