Introduction: Temporary Bicycle Trailer
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'.