Introduction: Temporary Bicycle Trailer
About: I'm Benno Kruit. My interests (solving problems, making art and learning things) point to my many favorite things. Programming and building stuff for instance is part of solving problems. Music and building st…
In this instructable, I'll show you how to make a temporary bicycle trailer out of a sled, a kick scooter , an aluminum bar and a bunch of scrap wood. And some screws, and duct tape.
A bicycle trailer is a two-wheeled cart to hang from your bike, to transport stuff in, for example. But what do I mean with 'temporary'? What I mean is something you make, inculding parts you actually still want to use somewhere else. You build a 'frame', and attach the parts or objects, not damaging them. Then, when you're done, you take it apart again. This way, you can store what you made in a small place and also have less junk in your house.
I'm sixteen, and I live with my family, two parents and three siblings. So it's pretty vital to my survival not to break anyone else's stuff. That's why I disassemble their stuff, use the parts temporarily and assemble it again.
(By Benno Kruit)
A bicycle trailer is a two-wheeled cart to hang from your bike, to transport stuff in, for example. But what do I mean with 'temporary'? What I mean is something you make, inculding parts you actually still want to use somewhere else. You build a 'frame', and attach the parts or objects, not damaging them. Then, when you're done, you take it apart again. This way, you can store what you made in a small place and also have less junk in your house.
I'm sixteen, and I live with my family, two parents and three siblings. So it's pretty vital to my survival not to break anyone else's stuff. That's why I disassemble their stuff, use the parts temporarily and assemble it again.
(By Benno Kruit)
Step 1: What You'll Need
To begin with, you'll need:
- a sled
- a kick scooter
- some scrap wood
- an aluminum bar (or other metal, probably has to be kind of strong)
- screws
- duct tape
I used 5 screws, but that's a minimum. You can use more and insert them at various random positions. Feel free to alter my design to fit with your sleds. I accept the fact sleds come in all varieties, and you must make the frame suitable for your own sled.
The metal bar I used was about a meter (3feet) by one and a half centimeters (half an inch) by a millimeter (0.0393700787 inch). It's like a stick, but flat. I had it lying around in my basement. If you don't, good luck finding one.
- a sled
- a kick scooter
- some scrap wood
- an aluminum bar (or other metal, probably has to be kind of strong)
- screws
- duct tape
I used 5 screws, but that's a minimum. You can use more and insert them at various random positions. Feel free to alter my design to fit with your sleds. I accept the fact sleds come in all varieties, and you must make the frame suitable for your own sled.
The metal bar I used was about a meter (3feet) by one and a half centimeters (half an inch) by a millimeter (0.0393700787 inch). It's like a stick, but flat. I had it lying around in my basement. If you don't, good luck finding one.
Step 2: Disassemble Kick Scooter
Wait.
I said disassemble. Do not destroy it.
Kick scooters are cool. Just loosen the bolts and remove the wheels. It's very simple actually.
Step 3: Drill Holes in Metal Bar and Bend It
On both sides of the metal bar, drill two holes, about 4 centimeters (two inches) apart. The sled must fit in between both sides of the bar easily.
Then, bend the bar down, at about 2 centimeters (an inch) from the holes, towards the center. Now it has to form a nice U.
Then, bend the bar down, at about 2 centimeters (an inch) from the holes, towards the center. Now it has to form a nice U.
Step 4: Attach Scrap Wood
Now it's time to attach some wood. Not just any wood, no, follow these instructions carefully:
- Attach a wooden bar, a beam, between the two holes in he metel bar closest to the center. Screw it on there, with the screws through the holes in the metal.
- Add a big wooden beam to the top (which is not inside the turn of the U-shaped metal bar) of the metal bar. This should be a size corresponding to the shape of your sled.
- Add a flat surface to your big wooden beam, for easier attaching.
- Add a cross-beam, for stability. This cross-beam will be between the wooden bar and the big booden beam. Screw it on.
- Attach a wooden bar, a beam, between the two holes in he metel bar closest to the center. Screw it on there, with the screws through the holes in the metal.
- Add a big wooden beam to the top (which is not inside the turn of the U-shaped metal bar) of the metal bar. This should be a size corresponding to the shape of your sled.
- Add a flat surface to your big wooden beam, for easier attaching.
- Add a cross-beam, for stability. This cross-beam will be between the wooden bar and the big booden beam. Screw it on.
Step 5: Attach Wheels
Now, use the other two holes to attach the scooter wheels. You can just use the same bolts.
Step 6: Attach Sled
Now, duct-tape the sled on.
It's a good idea not to damage the sled, or to destroy it in any other way. It's fun for sledding. Depending on the strength of your duct-tape, you might want to add another attaching method. I used an elastic cord with hooks (see image), it's handy for attaching stuff to your bike. Also, you can get it off and it doesn't destroy your sled.
It's a good idea not to damage the sled, or to destroy it in any other way. It's fun for sledding. Depending on the strength of your duct-tape, you might want to add another attaching method. I used an elastic cord with hooks (see image), it's handy for attaching stuff to your bike. Also, you can get it off and it doesn't destroy your sled.
Step 7: Build Bike Thing and Attach.
Build something for your bike to easily attach it. Then wrap the rope around it.
Here's my Bike Thing, and the Finished Product.
Here's my Bike Thing, and the Finished Product.
Step 8: Use!
I bought some wood. I attached it to the trailer using elastic cords again. You could use duct tape too, I guess.
My impressions with it are pretty good. Sometimes it's hard making turns, sometimes the trailer rocks back and forth wildly. Sometimes it bumps into me (because it's only secured with a cord), once it got blown onto it's back by the wind.
Easy solution: Put something heavy in it. It'll carry about 40 kilograms (90 pounds), I think. I, being sixteen, could sit in it. So could my little brother (11). A toddler is perfect, if you have one.
Hard solution: Attach it with a stick, or a rod, or a fancy trailer-attach-thing. Then you need some kind of rotating thing on the back of your bike to go through turns. This one looks very nice.
My impressions with it are pretty good. Sometimes it's hard making turns, sometimes the trailer rocks back and forth wildly. Sometimes it bumps into me (because it's only secured with a cord), once it got blown onto it's back by the wind.
Easy solution: Put something heavy in it. It'll carry about 40 kilograms (90 pounds), I think. I, being sixteen, could sit in it. So could my little brother (11). A toddler is perfect, if you have one.
Hard solution: Attach it with a stick, or a rod, or a fancy trailer-attach-thing. Then you need some kind of rotating thing on the back of your bike to go through turns. This one looks very nice.
Step 9: Take Apart Again! (optional)
Now, detach the sled, by ripping off the duct tape and the elestic cord.
Then, de-bolt the wheels. Re-bolt them onto your kick scooter.
Then, stash away the frame. Be sure to indicate to your fellow house-dwellers that this is an object, not just some scrap wood, a metal beam and screws (even though it is). I labelled mine 'NOT JUNK'.
Then, de-bolt the wheels. Re-bolt them onto your kick scooter.
Then, stash away the frame. Be sure to indicate to your fellow house-dwellers that this is an object, not just some scrap wood, a metal beam and screws (even though it is). I labelled mine 'NOT JUNK'.