I'm making a wooden quadricycle out of wood, and was going to post an Instructable on it, but I can't think of an idea for the steering.
What I have right now is a frame, a square wooden frame made of 2x4's and one longer 2x4 going across the frame (for the seats soon), and I need a way to put wheels on. I have a semi-idea in my head to use forks or backs of bike frames (20") to put on the back, but I'm baffled for the front. The wood I put on the front keeps coming off with just basic screws.
Hey wait a minute, what if I took 4 xtra large L brackets from Lowes (I didn't want to spend money though, argh) and bolt the wood together? Hmm. Then, I took the slot of metal where the fork and handlebars go into (cut it off of donor bikes) and U-Bolt it onto the wood. Ideas!
Anyways, it'll have 5 gears and 3 seats (office chairs maybe?) and an SWB recumbent pedaling/steering system. If all works out great, one day I'll put a coroplast shell and plexiglass windshield on it. I only have one problem, what will I do about the handlebars? Hmm. PS I don't have a welder.

I would definitely use donor bikes for the front wheels- just cut off the steering forks. You can lag-bolt a 4x4 or a 2x4 to the front frame and then u-bolt them to it.

Keep the handle-bar posts in it, then run a piece of metal or small piece of wood to both and attach it with u-bolts at the posts. Attach a piece of pipe to the top of the wood between the handlebar posts, and then through a u-bolt on top of the cross member. Attach handle bars to the end of the pipe and you have steering.

If you scrounge you can find some 1" EMT conduit (or whatever size you need) and cut a slit in the top of it, insert a handle bar post in there and clamp it with a seat post if you have one to hold it steady.

This should give you something to work with and figure out for steering.

I think the L-Bracket Idea is good considering you don't have a welder. I am trying to teach myself and it's rough going so good luck and hope this helps!

I could not agree more, but I like this one as well, wonder if they sell kits to make your own?

just wondering where you got that picture? i'm disabled and trying to get one built that my wheelchair can roll up onto from the back like the ramps on a minivan. i will be putting a rollbar on it. thank you.

Oh the pictures will be posted, not only here but, when I ride it to D.C.!

I live just outside of Richmond VA. but, this message board puts the wrong time on my posts. at this time it is 8:09 p.m.

Why not have a "half a handcycle" (I'm picturing the front section of my wife's Quickie Mach 2) which latches onto your chair? I don't know whether such things exist... Something like that quad-cycle with the full weight of a chair as "dead load" (no pun intended) would make pedalling awfully difficult, I'd think.

Yes they do make the "latch ons" like you are talking about. I'm making a 4 wheeler maybe 6 wheeler with shocks and with a frame sort of like the picture above so that my Invacare Storm series power wheelchair that with me in it weighs approximately 500 labs. It will be operated with a hand control like on a power wheelchair with parts from another power wheelchair. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

Wow. Okay, now I understand what you're trying to do, but that level of power engineering is beyond me (I'm just a physicist).

You might check with some of the disability-specific DIY forums (see links in the Assistive Technology Group), or the engineering non-profits linked there.

I also know of one commercial company, Jonathan's Son here in California that does custom AT stuff.

Hey if you are really serious about taking on a project like building your own PM me and we could bounce some ideas around. I know I am serious about it my " spare tire " is gaining on me. :D Cheers

2 inch square tube and weld weld weld :D I am building my own just for the reason you listed $$$$$$$$$ and I can't do what I really want to do with what I can buy.( try pedal BUS 6 passengers plus driver yeah I know 6 X 200 = 1200 pounds but hey my spare tire should be on the back of my bike not above top of my pants ) I agree with skunkbait Quadricycle. or Quadracycle

A long time ago I went to that site, and sent for the plans. They came in today, and the cheapest one is a one seater, basic everything (real crummy with basic). It was $1032 USD. Just a bit out of the range of the $10 budget that I don't even have...

look upp my instructable in my profile on my 3 wheeled bike

opps i did it wrond it should be there now

dron18: Would like to see how you are comeing along. I also am building a 4 wheel. Am more than willing to accept new ideas or concepts. Not that "I" would make any mistakes. Am always open to new concepts. You can see pictures of my progress up to this time at my web site www.websbylarry.com Have fun Larry larystoy@yahoo.com

Try Atomic Zombie.com. They have a bunch of bike plans including a recumbent 4-wheel and several trikes including one with 2 front wheels that I'm sure you could modify to a 4-wheeler. I've bought plans from them and they are well written and easy to understand. Actually they have like 4 or 5 instructables here, but not for a 4-wheeler.

Ohh you could do that and connect them at the head tubes, you'd have supreme maneuvrablity as you'd get crab steering.

Quadricycle? Pedal-Quad? Trike+1?

Noooo!!!!! You beat me to the Quadcycle comment.

???

lol