DIY Pack Wheel for heavy gear

Burrapeg

Burrapeg

Been here a while
Location
Puget Sound
We were discussing these things over in rec climbing in a thread about climbing without a lanyard to save gear weight, and Tom suggested a separate thread about it since they seem very useful. Several brands of these so-called pack wheels are available for hiking with heavy gear loads, but none are cheap. I am addicted to tinkering, and I thought of my old mountain bike I had quit using. It was the work of only about 20 minutes to remove the handlebars and front fork from the frame, re-install the handlebars on the fork backwards, and install the rack from the rear of the bike. Result: a basic pack wheel. These will negotiate much narrower and twistier trails than a wagon or two-wheeler, and can still easily handle an impressive pile of stuff lashed to it. I have used mine with as much as a hundred pounds of rope and gear several times, when I had to hike quite a ways to a tree. At 69 years old, I can't handle but about 30 pounds max on my back any longer, and even that is tiring. So this contraption has been very useful. Some of you have suggested an improvement that I am going to try to make, a long, V-shaped kickstand that will allow the wheel to be parked upright. In the past, I have simply locked the brake (off a baby stroller) and leaned the handlebars around a tree, even using a bungee at times to hold it there. But a kickstand would be great. Also, I have toyed with the thought of motorizing it for uphill work, using a rear bike wheel with the free-wheeling chain sprocket somehow with my big DeWalt drill off my DIY modded RollGliss power ascender. The DeWalt has three speeds and each speed is variable at the trigger, so one would have a very wide range of choices to suit any grade or conditions. Anyway, here are two photos of the prototype. I have a second, nicer one I made for my girlfriend, with new panniers and a white tire. Very handy for picnics and camping too.
DIYpackwheel.pngFirstHike2.png
 
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Pinhead Squirrel said:
Rules ? There is no rules to begin with but thread title.
Sorry, but I really don't get that one .
Nobody give you any rules. Especially, from me to you. LoL :ROFLMAO: but as far as Ministry of Defense considers those robots are still too noisy for any deployment and majority of climbers prefers " quietness " on gears that they uses in fields... Besides chainsaws they uses.
If you like noises then I bet macho man like you must be cutting every limbs with no ear protections . It's a freedom country whatever you like to do with yourself .
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You would lose your bet. I'm a retired safety professional and wear hearing protection religiously, along with any other appropriate PPE.

The robot makes as much sense as bringng a wheelbarrow or shopping cart along for your rec climb. Can't imagine taking a shopping cart off road. And both are pretty heavy.
 
@Burrapeg, how "tippy" is your device? I would think the low slung baskets enhance stability. With most weight on the platform above the wheel, does it take much effort to keep it upright? I'd think having the center of gravity low (smaller wheel) would improve stability.

I moved many, many tons of rock through the woods in a wheelbarrow to make stacked rock terraces in my backyard. I vividly remember that when moving some single rocks that sat more "on" the wheelbarrow rather than "in" the wheelbarrow, a slight tilt to the side would generate an irresistible force and result in a catastrophic loss of load. But that was with loads more than twice my weight.
 
Dan Cobb said:
@Burrapeg, how "tippy" is your device? I would think the low slung baskets enhance stability. With most weight on the platform above the wheel, does it take much effort to keep it upright? I'd think having the center of gravity low (smaller wheel) would improve stability.
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It is not too bad, actually. And there is a stability advantage if the weight is on each side low, like regular bike panniers, with less heavy stuff on top. The nice thing about a big full size wheel, is when you have to push over rough ground or obstacles like small limbs, rocks, and stuff across the path. I have hiked some miles with the thing now, with varying amounts of weight, but almost always more than I could carry on my back that far. Once you get used to keeping it balanced and upright, you don't have to give it much thought. It becomes sort of automatic, similar to riding a bike.
 
Aerial Traveler said:
No wonder you made one @Burrapeg , the prices on the commercially available pack wheels are a bit silly. You could buy a nice (whole) bike for what they are trying to charge.

Would like to see the 2nd one you mentioned and future modifications.
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That's the thing! The guy told me what he paid and even back then, some years ago, it was over a grand. I just checked and they want over two grand now for one. Insane! I will get some more photos of that second nicer one I made for my friend Ellen.
 
Pinhead Squirrel said:
This thingbwill follow you completely hands off automatic navigation.
need to recharge battery or fuels. It's recharge all myself in mobile.
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I had a friend here on the island who kept goats. I went over to see him one day and had my tobacco pouch in my back pocket. One of the sodding creatures grabbed it, ripping my jeans pocket completely off, and ate the tobacco, pouch and all, before I could grab it.
 
If you have hydraulic brakes be sure to change over to eco-fluid. Seriously, it would be a heckuva note to cross paths with an over zealous Smokey and get a back-country ticket. As I understand the use rules this wouldn't be allowed in designated 'wilderness' areas because it is mechanical. I know in our Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness they enforce that.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
If you have hydraulic brakes be sure to change over to eco-fluid. Seriously, it would be a heckuva note to cross paths with an over zealous Smokey and get a back-country ticket. As I understand the use rules this wouldn't be allowed in designated 'wilderness' areas because it is mechanical. I know in our Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness they enforce that.
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Good point, Tom. I had asked about this when I first started using it and the local BLM guy in charge of this county said he felt it was OK since it did not have an engine and I was not riding it. But he warned me that every other ranger or official is free to interpret the rules his own way.
 
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