[Magic Smoke]

Hello, so i had an idea to build a wagon for hauling stuff around, when thinking about it, i decided i wanted to make 3 feet wide by 6 feet long. Now i was talking to my father about it, and he told be that it might be too big and that its size may make it hard to maneuver. So i wanted to ask here and see if anyone here has any experience with this kind of stuff. I'm sorry if this sounds like a stupid question.

 

[firebob]

The wheel spacing has a lot to do with stability.
Dose the thing pulling it have the HP and traction to pull it?
It would be best to get the wheel width as wide as the item pulling it and might as well match the width of the deck to the wheels.

 

[Magic Smoke]

The wheel spacing has a lot to do with stability.
Dose the thing pulling it have the HP and traction to pull it?
It would be best to get the wheel width as wide as the item pulling it and might as well match the width of the deck to the wheels.

It's inteded to be pulled by hand, maybe i should have been a bit more clear about that, my bad.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Was something like a garden cart what you have in mind?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... What is the narrowest point that you might wanta drag it through some day,..??

That would be the max possible width,....

 

[Colbyt]

It's inteded to be pulled by hand, maybe i should have been a bit more clear about that, my bad.

I suspect that 3x6 is too big for hand pulling. You might be surprised at the how just the materials will weigh and the load.


The topography of your yard or land is also a factor as pulling up even a small rise can be tiresome.


The HarborFreight garden wagon is 2x4, 54 lbs and rated at 1000# load. I doubt you could pull a 1000# load off the pavement. I also seriously doubt you can build one for $85.

 

[Magic Smoke]

I mostly need something that will let me move around long items, so i can reduce the width of the wagon. But maybe my idea is too ambitious.

 

[DexterII]

I agree with Colby; this is a DIY site, and many of us are constantly making new things, but this falls into the category of a lot of options out there, so I'd buy one rather than build it. HF, CL, TSC, your local hardware or big box, nurser... Unless you have a set laying around, start with pricing just the wheels and you'll be surprised to see how close they come to the price of a complete cart. Is 3x6 too big? More than likely way too big if you're going to do it yourself with wood. The nice thing about one you buy is that they use light weight components like aluminum, plastics, thinner gauge metal, etc., so you can't use them as a comparison because a wood one is going to be way heavier.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

The nice thing about one you buy is that they use light weight components like aluminum, plastics, thinner gauge metal, etc.,

And don't forget about flat tires.:vs_laugh:

 

[SPS-1]

Certainly a small cart will be more manoeuvrable, but really, how manoeuvrable to you need it to be ? If it has a 8 foot turning circle or 10 foot turning circle -- will that effect how you use it ?

But at 36" wide, it wont be going through many man-doors.

I would not worry about the weight. You are not dragging it, you are rolling it. An extra 50 pounds for the larger cart is nothing.

If used outdoors, on grass or dirt, having big wheels will have more affect on easy rolling than removing 50 pounds of weight.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Buying one from china is taking all the pleasure out of building one with lawn tractor front wheels salvaged from a repair shop.:biggrin2:

 

[Bondo]

I would not worry about the weight. You are not dragging it, you are rolling it. An extra 50 pounds for the larger cart is nothing.

Ayuh,...... 'n the taller the wheels, the Easier it rolls,.....

 

[Magic Smoke]

Like i've said, i'm now thinking of making it 2' wide as it's length i'm after, the wheels i plan on using are 4 'Haul-Master' 10" pneumatic casters from HFT (2 fixed, 2 swivel, each rated for 300lb. load). I post a design plan once i have one ready.

 

[Magic Smoke]

Attached below is a rough design plan, i tried to make the sizing as accurate as possible. I also realize the numbers might be a bit hard to read for some.

 

[u2slow]

Ayuh,..... What is the narrowest point that you might wanta drag it through some day,..??

+1

I recently got to 'wheelbarrow accessible' for my walkways and gates. I'd stick with a similar width for the wagon.

 

[lenaitch]

Like i've said, i'm now thinking of making it 2' wide as it's length i'm after, the wheels i plan on using are 4 'Haul-Master' 10" pneumatic casters from HFT (2 fixed, 2 swivel, each rated for 300lb. load). I post a design plan once i have one ready.

If they exist, you might want to go with 'flat free' non-pneumatic tires. I find small pneumatic tires are a pain in the butt.

 

[SPS-1]

I have only one item with pneumatic tires (my wheelbarrow) and I hate it. Seems every time I go to use it, the tire is low on air. Any tube I can find has this really short filler stem that when I try to push the pump end on, the stem just pushes into the rim. And if I pump too many psi into it, the tube just blows out from under the tire.

Use solid tires.

 

[Magic Smoke]

I'll see how they hold up as these had decent reviews, i did notice however that the two fixed casters did seem a bit low on air from the store. they do sell wheels with solid tires, but i'd have to buy them separately.

 

[JohnLeePettimor]

That's definitely too big. I made a wagon for my son that's about 2'x4', and he couldn't play with it until he was too big to want to. We use it now for yard work, and it's a good size.

 

[udraft]

2'x6', removable sides, big wide wheels, goose neck handle.