El Cheapo Home Built Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)Trolley.

 

First Prototype!

The sup's are 10 and 11 foot long and are a handful to carry anymore then 50 metres max. If there is a breeze you get blown all over the place and it can be a real challenge to keep control.

The logical solution was a trolley of some kind similar to the one we have for the kayak. The challenge with that trolley is the wheels are not suitable for towing behind a push bike on the road. So it was decided that bicycle wheels would be the go. We had a childs bicycle that was surplus to needs so the front wheel and forks and rear wheel and rear stays were cut from the frame and used.

 Rear wheel and rear stays attached to alloy frame.

Front wheel and forks attached to alloy caravan step.

I had a piece of alloy that was once some type of caravan step so this was used as the frame to support the wheels. 25mm x 25mm alloy angle was used to make the carrying frame longer.

40mm high pressure PVC pipe that is used in spas was fastened down the centre of the trolley to stiffen it up and as an attachment point for the towing frame which was also manufactured from the same PVC pipe. The trolley had to be able to be easily taken apart for transportation so various screw together PVC fittings were used to make it a two piece structure. PVC pipe was also used as cross bars to support the stand up paddle boards.

A 40mm PVC Tee piece with the upright lengthened was slipped over the seat post. This allowed the unit to pivot when going around corners. The PVC fittings slipped over the long end of the Tee and was fastened by a  pin and chain through drilled holes in the fittings to the PVC towing pole. This was to allow a quick connect/disconnect of the trolley from the bicycle.

The trolley attached to the bicycle. Because tow pole was flexing I was a little concerned about the carrying capacity of the PVC so I dismantled it from the trailer and the bicycle, leaned it against the block retaining wall in the background and stood on it!! I only weigh 65 kg but I couldn't break it so 20kg of sup's wasn't going to break it.

Spanner aboard Prototype 1 loaded with two sups and paddles attached to the bicycle. The tow pole flexes and touches the front of the bottom board so foam will be used to prevent damage to the boards as will also be used on the cross bars. The boards are held on with occy straps.

All Purpose Camping - Surfing - Hunting Ute.

 2000 Courier 4wd Intercooled Turbo Diesel. 

The ute did not come with the canopy. I adapted this from a 4wd dual cab Hilux a mate had for sale in his car yard but couldn't sell with the canopy attached. Cost? A carton of stubbies!

 Surfing trip set up with part of an old canvas tent tied to convienent tree.

Set up for hunting or if I am staying a couple of days the tarp is rigged so I can drive out from under it by undoing 2 occy straps. I roll the swag forward and prepare and cook meals on the tailgate. Liam sleeps on the camp stretcher but usually not under the runoff from the tarp!

 

Interior showing canopy frame with canvas attached. Frame attaches to lip of ute tub with four blind nuts. Canopy is attached to ute tub with bungee cords on sides and rear and heavy duty press studs across front behind the cab. A mosquito net is attached to the frame and dropped around the swag when sleeping. My head is usually to the front of the canopy and with the tailgate down my feet are out in the weather unless I fit the tarp over the rear of the canopy which I usually do unless it's a quick overnight rest stop.

If it's a hot night the canopy side roll up for a cross breeze and the skeeta net keeps the mozzies at bay!

 The canvas comes off in a matter of minutes so it doesn't get soiled during hunting and the frame doubles as ideal support for spotlighting.

Gary feeds the magpie that blew out of it's nest and followed him!

Well that is my little setup done on the cheap. I would rather rough it a little and use the money for fuel and ammo!

When Deb and I go away we take the caravan but that is just too luxurious for hunting and can you imagine the state it would come back in?