r/redneckengineering • u/Coffee81379 • 4d ago
Built myself a folding offroad wheelbarrow – hauls pretty much anything
Made it from an old dirt bike, a ladder and a crate. Works for camping with kids… and apparently also for hauling fridges people dump in the woods 😅
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u/s1owpokerodriguez 4d ago
But does the brake work?
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u/Coffee81379 4d ago
Haha, you got me. Not yet – the brake’s just sitting there for now. I’m hoping to revive the 20-year-old Hayes at some point so it fits the whole ‘barely any new parts’ concept. For now it’s just along for the ride without actually braking.
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u/PaleDiscipline3588 4d ago
I think mobility was the main thing for you. I think you use this device for a small amount of time regularly. Otherwise: 1) The wheel should be smaller and under the wheelbarrow. Otherwise, the weight of the wheelbarrow and cargo falls on the hands. 2) One wheel is unstable. You are correcting the course with your hands. Higher mobility, more effort.
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u/Coffee81379 4d ago
Yeah, you got that spot on. I’ve taken it on a few 5–10 km trips already, even some light trail running. The big wheel is really the compromise — it just rolls over everything. I tried a smaller wheel placed lower, but then you get stuck more often and. With the big wheel it actually handles weight surprisingly well. A real middle-ground solution is the Chinese wheelbarrow design, with the big wheel in the center — less cargo space but super stable. Might try building one from the front half of that bike got. As for steering and balancing sideways: honestly not a big deal, the real effort is just managing the overall load in the arms.
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u/WeekSecret3391 3d ago
Just trowing that in there, but longer handles would lighten the load, although I'm pretty sure they would also make it harder to keep stable. Might be worth taping a pair of stud on it feel that out.
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u/Coffee81379 3d ago
Yeah actually this went through a few iterations. First version was completely different. Second was like you described and now it’s this short version. The short handles tilt it more forward and put the load better on the front wheel.
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u/WeekSecret3391 3d ago
Higher mobility, more effort.
The best general use wheelbarrow are one wheeled. 2 wheels is a "specialized" tool meant for situation where you would value stability over mobility and precision.
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u/Cauvinus 4d ago
That is freaking brilliant and I want one for work.
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u/Coffee81379 4d ago
What kind of work do you do? I could share the build video if you’re curious – it’s actually pretty straightforward. Funny enough, I just came across another design recently: similar big wheel setup but without the folding mechanism.
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u/Cauvinus 3d ago
I work for a landscaping company. We mostly mow grass in the summer but use wheelbarrows quite often during the cold months when we do actual landscaping work.
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u/__Erefayn 4d ago
They are surprisingly useful
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u/Coffee81379 4d ago
Oh cool, thanks – that one goes straight into my playlist of offroad hauling solutions 😅. Love seeing all the creative takes on this stuff. Is that your video / your channel? Here’s my wheelbarrow in action in case your interested: 👉 https://youtu.be/sOs9EGXDykU
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u/HeinousEncephalon 3d ago
Lore is, your baby turned into a fridge when you walked past a field witch and rolled over her toes
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u/BambooRollin 2d ago
Where's the picture of it folded?
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u/Coffee81379 2d ago
Sorry, I don’t have a sharp picture of it folded. I tried grabbing a still from the video, but it always looked kind of blurry. If you’re curious, you can check out the build here 👉 https://youtu.be/sOs9EGXDykU — towards the end you see how it folds up.
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u/DUBToster 3d ago
I guarantee you, you cannot haul sand with it, not like a real wheelbarrow
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u/Coffee81379 3d ago
The crate holds about 180 liters (~48 US gallons) – so hauling sand isn’t the issue… The real question is whether these noodle arms arms can handle the weight – and without a slope I’d never get the sand back out 😂
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u/Why-R-People-So-Dumb 3d ago
I was going to say this isn't redneck until I read the details. Nice job that's seems like really clean work.
Now you need to add the engine back for an assist motor...or get the sprocket and a small power wheels motor.
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u/Mission-Carry-887 1d ago
Not seeing redneck. Seeing solid engineering here.
The large wheel is good in rough terrain.
Using the wheel, ladder, and crate is cost effective.
Might be at best light duty, but so what if it is.
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u/putajinthatwjord 4d ago
Have you considered adding a hub motor and battery/controller so you can do middle of the woods fridge carrying wheelbarrow burnouts?