DIY hiking wheel for carrying a load of climbing or camping kit on a narrow trail

[Burrapeg]

Made this up out of the front fork and wheel off an old mountain bike. Works great for carrying gear any distance when the load is too much for a backpack, and it will go places a two or four wheeler won't handle.

 

[moss]

That is super-duper awesome!
-AJ

 

[Burrapeg]

Thanks AJ! A couple of things I did to make it easier to use are to fit the panniers and rack from the old rear of the bike and also I fitted a locking brake handle off a kids' stroller, to make the wheel easier to park against a tree. And for parking it, I also started using a bungee cord around the tree to hold the wheel steady when loading it or unloading it. Usually the very tree I am going to climb. I just can't handle too heavy a backpack any longer at 67 and this thing has been a real game changer. I have had as much as 75 lbs on it. And so many of our trails here are very narrow, full of rocks and roots to climb over, and often steep in places. The narrow overall width and nice big diameter of the wheel is a real blessing.

 

[rope-a-dope]

Have you guys seen these before?

Your unicycle cart reminded me of them. The single wheel is definately better suited for single track with bigger bumps. I fantasized about a modified harness cart for brush hauling. Or like an arbor trolley with harness option?????

 

[TREEfool]

Haha, I was expecting that you would pull it behind you but pushing it with the original handlebars is genius. I imagine you left the front brake on so that it doesn't shoot out in front of you on down Hills correct?

 

[moss]

Have you guys seen these before?

Your unicycle cart reminded me of them. The single wheel is definately better suited for single track with bigger bumps. I fantasized about a modified harness cart for brush hauling. Or like an arbor trolley with harness option?????

That is an excellent woods cart!

My wooden two-wheel cart with 16" wheels goes over and through just about anything. I move wood around with it at job sites as well. Despite telling helpers not to drop logs on it they do so. It's all built in a modular way so I simply replace whatever parts that break when they do.

I use it a lot for my trail clearance jobs, gives me huge range in the woods with all the gear I need

First one I built in 2005, morphed from a photo gear cart I built ;-)

-AJ

 

[Burrapeg]

Haha, I was expecting that you would pull it behind you but pushing it with the original handlebars is genius. I imagine you left the front brake on so that it doesn't shoot out in front of you on down Hills correct?

Yes, left the front brake on there, and also installed a locking brake handle off a kid's stroller, so the wheel stays braked when you lean it against a tree, vehicle bumper, etc. Easy to make one of these in just a hour or two, from a discarded older mountain bike.

 

[John@TreeXP]

Does that come with a V8 hemi, or a turbo V6?

 

[Burrapeg]

Does that come with a V8 hemi, or a turbo V6?

Actually, I am working on a powered version, driven by the same DeWalt cordless drill that powers my Rollgliss ascender. For pulling long hills. Uses a bike rear wheel but mounted in a front fork with handle bars. This allows use of the free wheeling rear sprocket - under power it pulls the wheel along but free-wheels if pushed by hand so the drill does not create dead load.

 

[John@TreeXP]

Actually, I am working on a powered version, driven by the same DeWalt cordless drill that powers my Rollgliss ascender. For pulling long hills. Uses a bike rear wheel but mounted in a front fork with handle bars. This allows use of the free wheeling rear sprocket - under power it pulls the wheel along but free-wheels if pushed by hand so the drill does not create dead load.

I eventually imagine you'll eventually be using an anti-gravity hovercraft or drone to carry your gear, as you trek or drill your way through the forest. I like the idea of swap-able batteries for the individual tools.