DIY pit box?

[Corvette Cave]

I need a tire rack for track days. Something I could roll out of my enclosed car trailer.

These things can cost $10,000. Might be able to build one for under $600

Any thoughts on turning a Harbor Freight wagon like this:

Into a tire rack / pit box that looks like this?

I would probably replace the inflated tires with solid rubber.
The ultimate would be to add a hand brake to the handle

 

[erty67]

Those carts say 1000lb limit, but would get destroyed trying to carry the weight you would want to put in it on a regular basis. Steering components are fairly week and as you mentioned, you would change the tires. If I were you, I would seek a better option. Maybe build something using go kart parts and some square stock?

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[Slackerzinc]

That is a slick tire rack/put box. You would be better off just building it all and not even using the harbour freight cart.

 

[fos373]

Why do you need to roll out the tire rack from your trailer? Could you just leave the tires in the trailer in the rack?

I've found out that the bigger the tool box/cart i bring to the track, the less sh!t i really need from it. Just end up loading it up to fill it...... A pitbox like that will require two of you to pull it back in, or more likely a winch.

What type of racing/track days are you doing? How often?

 

[Corvette Cave]

Why do you need to roll out the tire rack from your trailer? Could you just leave the tires in the trailer in the rack?

I've found out that the bigger the tool box/cart i bring to the track, the less sh!t i really need from it. Just end up loading it up to fill it...... A pitbox like that will require two of you to pull it back in, or more likely a winch.

What type of racing/track days are you doing? How often?

Good points

Doing 10-12 HPDE days per year plus one or two open road races

Maybe I should think about a cart that only carries four tires?

 

[fos373]

What's your trailer dimensions? I'm assuming enclosed. You are doing quite a bit events so i'm sure your trailer is already pretty set up.

I don't race cars, but do roadrace motorcycles so I've seen some different setups - i'm sure you have too.

Maybe something like these:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/g/storage/bulk-rack/tire/tire-carts-racks

http://www.airdesigns.net/product/nascar-tire-cart-8-silver/

 

[rsanter]

Why one cart?
Buy the cart and hold your tires on it.
Put larger wheels on a toolbox and take that too.
Roll them out as you need them

 

[Finky198]

I’m sub’d for this one.


He’s right ^^^ don’t attempt to do it with on cart to much going on...

When I built my big cart the plan/idea started with research on here, google, and the snap on catalog. The original thought was to build exactly what you are talking about. I wanted something larger, but mobile easily expandable and very well stocked.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335578

I can take the top box the cart or both, generator, air compressor, torches, plasma and or just about any combination needed for the given job. It’s all contained neatly enough that things can be easily moved around in a fairly small trailer... and if the setups small enough in the back of a Jeep or pickup...

Some of my plans have changed but its still and on going project. Things still on my list are offroad tires hopefully separate units I can attach when needed. Some more lighting, and to get the thing clean for once...

I like the pit box concept and might build another custom setup with more drawer storage.

Can’t wait to see where this thread goes...

 

[fos373]

In a way, I'm surprised the car guys don't have a product like this for the wheels/tires:

https://www.pit-bull.com/tire-tree-fits-most-wheels-f0063-000?keyword=tire

I understand that car wheels are a bit heavier, but......

And as Finky mentioned, I like to see how other people set up their race trailers - regardless of the sport.

 

[morrillm06]

I have a pit box I built entirely out of 80/20 and cheap craftsman tool boxes, my needs differ from yours a I race circle track with tire impound so I don't carry my tires around, but I easily have 4-500 pounds of tools, springs and other spare parts in it. the cart I built for around 500 then I added a few cheap craftsman top boxes. Ill see if I can get some pix uploaded tonight.

 

[Dajugganautx]

Those carts say 1000lb limit, but would get destroyed trying to carry the weight you would want to put in it on a regular basis. Steering components are fairly week and as you mentioned, you would change the tires. If I were you, I would seek a better option. Maybe build something using go kart parts and some square stock?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

A few years ago a buddy and i built this river box that housed a full size keg and a full stereo with 3 optima batteries. The body was basically particle board skeleton with a fiberglass skin. We never weighed it but we suspected it was about 6-700lbs. We bought one of those so called 1000lb carts to wheel the box up and down the river. To all of our surprise the carts steering assembly gave out the first day.

Long story short by the time we were done welding stock to the frame and beefing the steering assembly we were better off just building one from scratch.

 

[Casey4406]

I built this a couple seasons ago for my race car trailer. Has held up really nice and holds everything I need to do repairs with at the track or if we park away from the track but want tires and tools when we go out. I put a 12v battery in it with a maintainer to charge run the led lights if it's not near a power source. I have about $800 into .

 

[larry4406]

I thought this build was quite nice
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278059&highlight=pit+cart