Swap Meet Cart

Jeff Ivers · Jul 4, 2014

I have enjoyed going to swap meets and determined I needed something to haul purchases in. My design criteria were - sized to go through 30" door, steerable front wheels, pullable, low center of gravity, and some mechanism to stabilize large items (like signs). I'll let the photos speak for what I came up with.

This shows the sides clamped for pre-drilling.

This shows the steering linkage.

Removable tongue.

Finished cart - note the blue top rails.

Finished bed.

Removable top rails placed for load stabilization. Each rail can be placed in any of four positions on either side.

iajonesy · Jul 4, 2014

That is really cool. What size is the square tube for the frame? What are the overall dimensions?

Mike

karpesh29 · Jul 4, 2014

Can those rails be placed horizontally across the front and back to make a large square-ish platform? Very clever designs, and props on the craftsmanship as well! Nicely done.

Jeff Ivers · Jul 4, 2014

iajonesy said:
That is really cool. What size is the square tube for the frame? What are the overall dimensions?

Mike

Mike,

The top rails are made with .75 square tubing and everything else is 1" square tubing. The outside track is just under 30", overall length is 42" and width is 17". The interior of the box is 40 x 15 x 3.75.

Jeff

Jeff Ivers · Jul 4, 2014

karpesh29 said:
Can those rails be placed horizontally across the front and back to make a large square-ish platform? Very clever designs, and props on the craftsmanship as well! Nicely done.

Man, I wish I had thought to do that! What a great idea! With my fab skills, I probably couldn't have got everything to fit in both directions.

Engine · Jul 5, 2014

It looks like a well made cart. Could you show more views of the steering linkage? I recently built a cart similar to yours but made the front axle pivot on a vertical pin. It works, but it's not as easy to guide the front wheels as yours will be. Thanks.

Jeff Ivers · Jul 5, 2014

Engine said:
It looks like a well made cart. Could you show more views of the steering linkage? I recently built a cart similar to yours but made the front axle pivot on a vertical pin. It works, but it's not as easy to guide the front wheels as yours will be. Thanks.

Here you go!
The first photo shows the cart upside down to show the steering arm (connects to tow bar), tie rods, and spindles.

These spindles are the first ones I made for my grandson's downhill racer. I decided they were not beefy enough for that application, but I think they will be fine for this cart. This photo is an early photo of the spindle before the angle iron arm was notched and bent for ackerman angle.

The next photo shows the front of the spindle (correct side up).

The next photo shows the spindle from the back side (correct side up).

Next is the top view of the spindle.

Next is the back side of the spindle in an upside down position.

And last is the front of the spindle in an upside down position.

These pictures show that I reinforced each part of the spindle by adding a piece of flat stock or angle iron to the edge of the u-shaped pieces.
If these pics don't answer what you are interested in, please hit me with some questions.

Bruce Amacker · Jul 5, 2014

No pics, but mine's a two wheel dolly with big tires, a double milk crate, and a fold-down seat to sit on when I'm tired. The seat is the best part.

Engine · Jul 7, 2014

Jeff Ivers said:
Here you go!
The first photo shows the cart upside down to show the steering arm...

These pictures show that I reinforced each part of the spindle by adding a piece of flat stock or angle iron to the edge of the u-shaped pieces.
If these pics don't answer what you are interested in, please hit me with some questions.

Thanks for taking the time to post the photos of the steering assembly. It really helps me understand how the parts fit together and steer the cart.

I've never tried to make one like this, but I know this is the correct way to do it, if you want the cart to be easy to steer. I'm going to take some time to study the pics and try to make something like you have.

Thanks for the ideas and the help. :thumbup:

Jeff Ivers · Jul 18, 2014

Engine said:
Thanks for taking the time to post the photos of the steering assembly. It really helps me understand how the parts fit together and steer the cart.

I've never tried to make one like this, but I know this is the correct way to do it, if you want the cart to be easy to steer. I'm going to take some time to study the pics and try to make something like you have.

Thanks for the ideas and the help.

Good luck with your project and keep us posted on the results.

Burl · Jul 19, 2014

I've got something like Bruce. I can't tell you how many times I've fallen (or nearly fallen) over a pull-behind "wagon". Usually there is a sleeping kid in it (who should be home).

Jeff Ivers · Jul 20, 2014

Burl said:
I've got something like Bruce. I can't tell you how many times I've fallen (or nearly fallen) over a pull-behind "wagon". Usually there is a sleeping kid in it (who should be home).

Hmmmm. Maybe I should add some flashing LED lights or perhaps one of those backup warning beepers that is modified to be on all the time?

Swap Meet Cart

Jeff Ivers

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iajonesy

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karpesh29

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Jeff Ivers

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Jeff Ivers

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Engine

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Jeff Ivers

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Bruce Amacker

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Engine

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Jeff Ivers

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