How much lift?..........

mommucked

mommucked

Endeavoring to persevere
Joined
Sep 26, 2011
Location
Rural Apex n.c.
..building a surf fishing cart out of an old custom tree stand and 15/6/6 front tires off a riding mower. Are these tires big enough to roll about 100 lbs. in the sugar sand ? I'm going to install the axle to balance it where it pulls easy loaded. The back end under the cooler squats 4-5" off the deck w a cross member when It's tipped a bit as I think it will be while I pull it . It would be easy to add some blocks and longer u -bolts and I'm tempted to raise it just to get the cooler higher. I'm thinking 2" :smokin:

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I have no frame of reference, but I feel like you'll want bigger tires too.

If you transfer some of the weight to the tongue (you, haha), it will take some weight off the tires and make it pull easier. But obviously you don't wanna have to support 50lbs of tongue weight. I think 15-20 would be pretty tolerable though.
 
On sand I've always heard floatation is key. Take that for what it'says worth.

Edit: however going back and looking at the tires that are on it I think you're good. I'd just jack the trailer up some more and roll.
 
So what about the rear tires off of a riding mower? They're big enough for good flotation, and can probably work at low pressure well with light loads. I know they'll be heavier, but the decrease in rolling resistance from better flotation will more than offset the weight most likely. Cheap soft go-cart tires from Northern (or wherever) are probably a good choice too, probably lighter and lower load rated because they're not supporting a mower.

Actually, dunno. Maybe those will work. I'm just thinking that 100 pounds in sand on those is going to be hard to pull, based on the proportions in the picture. They look small. If that's tire in the pic is a 15, that cooler must be HUGE.

Sorry, I'm bored and sitting in an airport.
 
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I've seen guys at the coast with anything from thin bicycle tires to, what look like, balloon tires. If you're gonna lift it anyways, I would go ahead and put on the wider tires. Like said above, flotation is key. While the ones on there may work, the wider ones will work better when you add 50lbs of fish :smokin:
 
Fabrik8 said:
So what about the rear tires off of a riding mower? They're big enough for good flotation, and can probably work at low pressure well with light loads. I know they'll be heavier, but the decrease in rolling resistance from better flotation will more than offset the weight most likely. Cheap soft go-cart tires from Northern (or wherever) are probably a good choice too, probably lighter and lower load rated because they're not supporting a mower.

Actually, dunno. Maybe those will work. I'm just thinking that 100 pounds in sand on those is going to be hard to pull, based on the proportions in the picture. They look small. If that's tire in the pic is a 15, that cooler must be HUGE.

Sorry, I'm bored and sitting in an airport.
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the front tires read 15 6 6, but they measure 13.5" dia. and 5.5" across the tread. The $200 store carts I've seen have that size on them.
 
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RobMcBee said:
I've seen guys at the coast with anything from thin bicycle tires to, what look like, balloon tires. If you're gonna lift it anyways, I would go ahead and put on the wider tires. Like said above, flotation is key. While the ones on there may work, the wider ones will work better when you add 50lbs of fish :smokin:
Click to expand...

I gonna drill holes in the 5/8 steel rod axle and use cotter or hitch pin clips and washers to locate the wheels on the axle.
I think the axle size is the same for front/rear so I suppose I could drill 6 holes to mount either wheel as I also suppose the hubs are different lengths.
 
What this thread needs is some empirical data. Here's what I suggest:

1. Go to Lowe's and buy a couple hundred pounds of play sand and a spring scale.
2. Create a small "demonstration beach" out of the play sand.
3. Outfit the trailer with a variety of tires, then use the spring scale to test the rolling resistance of each setup as it travels across the demonstration beach. Be sure to fluff the beach after each pass.
4. Prepare a powerpoint presentation showing photos of each trailer configuration, before and after photos of the demonstration beach on each pull, and a chart comparing the rolling resistance of each configuration.

Once you get that all wrapped up, post it here, and we'll tell you which solution is the best.
 
^I was gonna suggest building a sandbox for testing, but I didn't wanna be "that guy".
 
I might take it to Jordan lake for testin, I think they have a beach there. I was talking to my 74 yo dad who said it needs to have a seat and be able to drag him up and down the beach. The front wheel hubs have a smooth sleeve, the rear wheels have a key way but I assume they will roll pretty easy w some moly grease.
 
Gonna run w the smaller tires and no lift. I have $20 in parts and think it will work for this trip, only about 100 yrds to the beach. I know it will roll easily on the flat/tide sand and I found if I pump the tires past their rated pressure they get round across the tread. I'm pretty sure that alone will make them roll over sugar sand easier. I'll post some finished pics soon.
 
Almost done w it.......made a bait cuttin station out of a pooper scooper shovel, going to rig holders for the pvc sand spikes...........

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the cinderblock was in the cooler to help w locating the axle so the 1 1/4 pvc handle has about no weight on it when lifting and dragging it...........next week I'll post pics @ the beach, hopefully some fish pics too!
 

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