Building a junkyard kart

[FORDification]

The last few times I've been junkyarding, I've had to not only carry a heavy freakin' toolbox around the yard while I'm checking out the next prey, but after I get the part I usually had to borrow one of the U-Pull-It's wheelbarrows to haul the stuff out. I guess it's not so bad if you've got lightweight items, but after my last trip there where I had to use the wheelbarrow to haul my toolbox, an NP205 transfer case, a heavy steel grille guard and some other miscellaneous items close to 200 yards....uphill....in soft dirt....in 100+ degree temperatures, I decided it was time to build myself a little junkyard kart.

I wanted something like the generic landscaping karts you see all over the place, that look kinda like this:



However, the cheapest ones I could find started out at around $100, and they were pretty flimsy and I found during a little research that they weren't getting rave reviews...apparently they're pretty cheaply built and tend to fall apart. Well, that wouldn't do for me, I needed something that could handle truck differentials, transmissions, transfer cases, etc....and last for quite a while. I finally decided that I'd be better off building my own. Over the past few weeks I've been keeping my eyes open for some ideas, and hit upon using the chassis from a small riding mower, since it would definitely be sturdy enough for what I'd need. Made a few calls and found a neighbor who had a junk mower that he was getting ready to haul off, so I volunteered to do it for him...just 'cause I'm such a nice guy.

I got it to the shop and this evening spent a little timing stripping it down to the chassis, and here's what I have to work with now:



I also flipped the front axle around so that the steering linkage is in front, so now I just need to fabricate a pivot bracket and handle for that. I'm also planning on replacing the large rear wheels with smaller ones, like what's on the front, so I don't have to have a really high deck to clear the large rear tires....and then of course I'll have to build a deck. But the nice thing is this isn't going to cost me a dime to build, everything I need is just laying around.

But it's sure gonna be nice to have the next time I hit the junkyard.

The interesting thing about this is that the rear axle is chain-driven. So...if I decide to get really into it, I could put a DC motor and a deep-cycle battery in this and easily hook them up to the rear axle, and have a self-propelled kart! And having a battery in the junkyard would be nice, if I could also hook up a power inverter to run some AC tools, like a cut-off wheel or grinder.  

Anyway, I'm probably going to dink around with this thing this weekend and see what I can whip up. I'll post some pics when I get something done worth looking at.

[jzjames]

Nice!

[heep70]

That will be handy.  

One of these would be cool too (minus dog).  Its a M274 Mule.

[basketcase0302]

Keith,

Thank you yet again!

I just lost the engine on one of my riding mowers last week and had not looked forward to disassembling for disposal.

And the wife can use if for a garden cart  

Basketcase

[71 LONG BED]

That is nice of the yard to loan you a wheel barrow. Any good yard around here rents you a cart. Good job on fabing up a nice cart.  

[flyboy2610]

That will be handy when you get it done!
And I had the same thought about getting an ATV to pull it with.
Good luck with it, Keith!

[two-bit]

That chain drive option might come in real nice for seting up a hand brake on it. Pulling a T-case up a hill on that might require a breather somewhere along the line. Just a thought.
Two-bit

[FORDification]

You and I think alike! I'm toying around with the idea of adding a bicyle handbrake lever to the main pulling handle, for just the reason you described.

[spartman]

Neat Idea there.

[rjewkes]

what about making it a kart like a golf cart?

A seat right up front custom fenders to keep front tires off you legs and a steering setup and then a small box in the back with cargo tiedowns? Then the only walking in the heat is from truck to kart?

With welding(hey practice) Even lengthen that out and put some micro suspension on it?

I'll draft something up

[FORDification]

Hey, keep in mind I have to actually PULL this thing, uphill, in soft dirt. Why add weight just to make it look cool?? I don't care about looks....as long as it performs, I'm happy.

[rjewkes]

Here you go. bet you could rig it to look like a shrunken 67-72 f100. You do have most the parts maybe just need an extra peice of frame like another mower. And putt an ok motor on it.

[FORDification]

Whoa, you're gettin' really carried away here. This kart has to be pulled, through the U-Pull-It doors (and office building). If they'd allow what you drew they'd allow an ATV pulling a trailer...which would be nice, but an absolute no-no.

[rjewkes]

oh woops forgot about you pull its the two yards i frequent have gates on the side. Sorry about that.

These guys also have carts and they let you drive on in with their cartsd of course not your own vehicle.

[two-bit]

Wow. I guess I'm really lucky with the guy i deal with.
Last fall i stripped some front fenders off a '52 F-5 to use on my '51 F-3. I just drove in with my truck, opened my tool boxes, took out the torch, 3 hours later i loaded up, stoppped at the shop, haggled about the price(its a ritual), and left. No special gates or buildings to travel thru.
Sometimes i forget how good it is to live where i do.
Good luck with all of your junkyard endeavors.
Two-bit