Cart for bike???

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Coho i dont' weld aluminum much, i work with a few welders that do weld aluminum, and they will weld the pieces for me. i was going to cut them and fit them and then have one of my buddies weld the aluminum.
My father in law has a welder that i can use for the steel. That was why i was leaning toward the steel. BUt the lighter aluminum is looking better every day.

[MuleDeerCrazy]

The problem with most of the carts is they're only rated for 100-150 pounds and if you're taking gear in and hope to bring animals out that doesn't give you much room to add an elk to it.

I bought one of the "bikes at work" carts and used it last year on a "pack camp in five miles" type of hunt.  I have the smaller one, but it's still rated for 300 pounds.  The frame is laid out to hold two of the rubbermaid totes and we stacked stuff up from there... worked real well.

One of the guys made a cart before the hunt and it busted going in.  We couldn't get it patched back together enough to haul any weight, so we ended up loading the gear from his trailer onto mine and it still worked well.

Only draw backs are they are a little spendy and the tires could be a little beefier.

http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/

[MagKarl]

I built one several years ago.  It works great, hauled several elk out in one trip.  Not whole elk, but quarters, meat bag, and head.  Tried to load a whole elk one time and taco'd one of the rims but the frame held up fine.  Mine is set up to either be towed by a bike, or pushed/pulled by hand.  I think it's a good idea to be able to be used both ways.  If you can ride a bike pulling a cart with a whole elk in it on anything but a hard flat road you're a lot tougher than I am.  If you build your own, I'd recommend the largest wheels you can get, and large diameter thin wall tubing.   

[rasbo]

front tires from motorcycles work the best

[Dr. Death]

I have a Cabelas one that has been modified to fit my bike and also has modified push/pull bars. It works good, but I do have 2 issues. 1) The hard rubber tires are hell on logging roads. 2) I'd use those TUFF wheels instead of spokes also....

[CastleRocker]

I've built a few.  Here are some of the things I've learned.

You must have disc brakes, caliper brakes will NOT work.  (I learned that one the hard way, just take my word for it).

If you plan on packing an entire elk out in one trip, you better have handles on your trailer for your buddies to help push it up the hills.  

If you hook your trailer/cart to your seatpost, and you haul any weight, you will be very good at riding a wheelie by the end of your hunt.

You should choose whether you will be using this primarily on USFS trails or logging roads.  I have tried to make one trailer for both places...it doesn't work as well as having two different trailers.

Don't scrimp on the cost of the tires/hubs/rims/brakes.

Keep the weight as low as possible.  (I mean both the weight of the trailer, and how the trailer carries the load, I like the bottom of the trailer to be lower than the level of the wheel axle).

Bring spare tires as well as spare tubes, (again just take my word for it).

Build you trailer so it will come apart, it makes it easier to transport.

I use the same size tires on my trailers, as I do on my bike.  That way I only have to bring one size for spares.   A friend of mine has used his to pack out whole elk, twice.  The biggest issue is still the brakes.  I'm going to build another single wheel one that will be somewhat similar to a "Bob" trailer. Except with a full size wheel and 8" disc brakes.  They (single wheeled) very well on trails, and if I can build it strong enough, while keeping it light, I think it will be the answer to my needs.  I don't know which child's trailer hooks to your rear axle, but that would be a viable option for someone that doesn't want to build one themselves.

MagKarl is right on tubing.  I've used several different sizes, but like 1" aluminum, or 3/4" Chromoly the best so far.

[@RCHER]

Adding some more on this topic from the past...

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,20730.0.html

~ Good luck!

[Kain]

If I did modify my kid cart I think I would start by changing out wheels to full size tires.  The frame could not handle a half an elk but I doubt I could pull that much anyways.  Unless I was going downhill and then I would want trailer brakes.  All I need is a 300lb trailer jackknifing me off a cliff.   

[Fletch]

My cart is modified from a kiddy cart.  It looks almost identical to the one above in the link...instead of diamond plating I have a large rubbermade tub that fits in mine and does not move.  I can haul 1/2 elk or whole deer...they are nice to have...

[simondude]

i got a custom made one out of 1/2 inch steel tubing. it had about 10 inch solid rubber tires on it and is very sturdy/stable.

[tbotts]

i purchased a child carrier from Wal-mart to use last year on my elk hunt.  It worked okay for hauling my gear.  I used a piece of osb to make a better floorboard, as the canvas sagged too much.  Had to push the bike up hills.  It was easier coming coming out of course!  Mine attaches to the rear wheel axle. 
 Have not hauled any game on it yet, but no way to fit an entire elk or deer.  Would have to be quartered and several trips. 
  My hunting partner made his out of an old stretcher, by welding the bracket for an axle, using large bicycle wheels.  He also welded a bracket to attach to his seat post.   A deer would definitely fit in his cart and probably 1/2 an elk, but would need people to push up hills.