Electric Beach Cart build!

[Quinc]

Been going over how to build one of these in my head for a while without breaking the bank. You can fill the outside of a barn with what I dont know so if you have an idea or suggestion let me know!

Goal:
Launch ski into the ocean and leave the cart floating in the water while I ride.
Haul kids and ice chest, portable hot tub I recently built, firewood, etc etc

Materials:
Lawn tractor wheels 20x10-8 $FREE
24v 500w 6:1 gear reduction motor $105
lifepo/AGM batteries, haven't decided yet $60-100
3/4" live axle with keyway $25
sprocket $30
420 chain $15
Gokart axle odds and ends $40
Pillow block bearings/impregnated brass $25
Scrap metal

Plan:
I got my inspiration from a trailer dolly. My plan is to build a 2 wheel cart fully contained with an adjustable ball hitch on it. This way I can add a hitch to my current beach cart to haul down to the water, then unhook it and push the cart by hand rest of the way into ocean. The ball will also be used as a pivot for steering (still need to figure out how to stable it for back and forth play) and I will make a long handle that will have a throttle and fwd/rev switch. Obviously these plans can and probably will change as the build progresses.


Here is where it sits currently. I have been slowly cutting and tacking together a frame. Once I have it all figured out I might redo it in aluminum. but most likely just paint it and call it good.

 

[generaldisarray]

is it going to look like one of these ?

Meet The Best Tugs Lineup

This is a great introduction to all Best Tugs products. See why it is the best tug on the market.

www.besttugs.com

 

[jeepcreepcj]

I like it! I have considered doing a similar setup, using the 24v drive motor and controller from an older electric mongoose scooter. Never did because of time and concern w waterproofing it. I was thinking of mounting the motor up front by the winch/handle and do a shaft drive to a snowblower gearbox or something similar. Might not be enough reduction with that alone, however. Curious to see how yours works out!

 

[Quinc]

is it going to look like one of these ?

Meet The Best Tugs Lineup

This is a great introduction to all Best Tugs products. See why it is the best tug on the market.

www.besttugs.com

That looks impressive and expensive!

I like it! I have considered doing a similar setup, using the 24v drive motor and controller from an older electric mongoose scooter. Never did because of time and concern w waterproofing it. I was thinking of mounting the motor up front by the winch/handle and do a shaft drive to a snowblower gearbox or something similar. Might not be enough reduction with that alone, however. Curious to see how yours works out!

You really need the gear reduction motor. Few videos on youtube of people using scooter motors and the carts go 20+ mph, but no power/torque for the sand.
This is the motor I am going with along with a 60T sprocket.

Electric Motor GEARED 6:1 500 Watt 24 Volt+Controller f Quad Trike Go-Kart DIY 784956420487 | eBay

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You can use this website to calculate speeds/sprocket sizes:

Go Kart Gear Ratio Speed Calculator

www.bmikarts.com

 

[Sanoman]

Sub’d This looks interesting

 

[Quinc]

I welded and then removed with a hammer and re-welded multiple times as I went making changes. But here is the very rough proto type. Learned a lot about the ball hitch idea; it doesn't work. I have a new idea involving square stock and using a pin top down for the pivot point. Also need to have that pivot point as close to the center of the axle as possible. And stole the handle off a harbor freight cart.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

Awesome idea! Nothing worse than having to move a bunch of skis around after a long day of riding. Have you seen the machine that blaster frank built out of a Skag walk behind mower?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Almost thinking it needs to be a 4 wheeler setup. This way the connection point is not tilting down

 

[CD155MX]

Could a 3rd caster wheel setup be helpful?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Could a 3rd caster wheel setup be helpful?

View attachment 418807

That would help when going one direction, but not the other.

 

[beerdart]

Almost thinking it needs to be a 4 wheeler setup. This way the connection point is not tilting down

Or Tracks like some snow blowers.

 

[Quinc]

Awesome idea! Nothing worse than having to move a bunch of skis around after a long day of riding. Have you seen the machine that blaster frank built out of a Skag walk behind mower?

Yes! that thing is awesome, but probably wont fly on the komifornia beaches. :

Almost thinking it needs to be a 4 wheeler setup. This way the connection point is not tilting down

The other two wheels are on the beach cart. I'm thinking having 2" square coming off the cart and going into some 2.25" square on the mover will be rigid enough. Just need to find some.

 

[generaldisarray]

 

[Big Kahuna]

Make your handle rigid. Did not even think of that!!!!!!

 

[Quinc]

That is the video that gave me the idea for the ball hitch. I am going to play with the pivot point and see what happens.

Thanks!

 

[DAG]

Be safe out there guys..

https://www.facebook.com/102308909857388/posts/4754022471352652

 

[Quinc]

Went from trying to do it quick and easy to over engineering it with a completely new design. Have it so the ball locks against the hitch and remove any extra play, added a bearing for the ball to spin in for smooth steering. Also have some side to side suspension built in.

The round plate under the ball screws up to lock against the bottom of the hitch




Spring gives it a good amount of side to side room for going over uneven terrain.

 

[Quinc]

Test drive tonight! Needs a chain tensioner. And waiting on the batteries to come. Tossed in a couple deka etx's out of the skis for the test ride.

 

[Quinc]

Ended up adding a third/wheel as a kick stand to keep it from slamming down when I unhook the trailer. Cut about 10" off the axle to get the wheels as close together as possible.

 

[Harbor]

Ended up adding a third/wheel as a kick stand to keep it from slamming down when I unhook the trailer. Cut about 10" off the axle to get the wheels as close together as possible.

Pretty clever how you did the kick stand and magnet…