We have a bit of a dilemma in our household at this time. At the moment, my better half can't go out to do the regular shopping, so to save us starving to death, I go out on my buggy for about a 4 mile round trip into town.
I can't go in the car because not only does it hurt too much, I just cannot walk far enough to get from the car to the free buggies they have inside the supermarkets, plus I need to go around the local market as well, not really accessible to cars.
No problems going on the buggy except for one thing, I can only carry one bag of shopping between my feet and maybe a bit in the tiny front basket.
Then last week, for doing someone a big favour, I was given this. A blow moulded trailer with pneumatic wheels, I think for towing behind a bicycle.
Now this is where a few members on here get involved, maybe without realising it.
Dave (Bluechip), very kindly gave me a welding set a couple of months ago, plus a load of thick wall square tubing.
So out came the welder, and by playing about with the settings, by about half way thru building this tow bar, I had got my 'feel' back and was doing passable welds. As you can see, it is using original holes in the buggy chassis for mounting it, so if I am going somewhere posh, it can be taken off.
This is where a couple more members got involved.
I was having a discussion with Peter (HS93) on Skype early one morning (middle of the night really) about how to go about getting an articulated joint between the buggy and trailer. I was thinking along the route of a CV joint, and he then said, 'what about a steering rack ball end'. Good blitzing session Peter.
Another member then became involved.
Ralph (Divided He-ad), a few months ago, had given me some large ball joint ends, about 2.5"(63mm) across. Perfect for the job in hand.
So by hacking off the screwy end, it was duly welded to the tow bar upright. Then using some stainless bar (again donated by Dave), I machined up a spigot that was loctited and bolted thru the ball. The knurled locking nut came out of my scrap box and was modified to fit. The trailer doesn't swing around this pivot, but is actually locked down solid to it by tightening down on the knurled knob, all articulation comes from the ball joint itself.
This is the eventual build up, and now having tried it out a couple of times, I found it is perfect for the job, I can get about 4 bags of shopping into the trailer and it follows me about better than Bandit does when out for a walk, no problems going up or down kerbs or on uneven surfaces.
So just a few jobs to finish it off.
I might add a couple of side braces to the upright.
Tidy up a few of the early welds.
Get it painted black.
Get a 'long vehicle' sticker for the back of the trailer.
Just a final word.
Without mates, like the ones mentioned above, I doubt very much if this project would ever have got off the ground.
A great big thanks chaps.
Bogs
