Ratrod bicycle trailer and soapbox

BartRidesEternal · Mar 21, 2023

Hi guys,

I know I have many builds in progress, but I can't keep the progress on this build from you.

Since I saw some awesome/beautiful ratrod soapbox ideas here on Ratrodbikes and ideas on pinterest, I had to do something with that.

My idea is to build a radio flyer / soapbox ratrod that you can hook up on your bicycle. Possibly with the front wheels off the ground, when hooked up. The pulling bar can be removed and used for pushing. And ideally the passenger/driver can steer too. Need a link-system for that.

Nice for playing with the kids and practicality for a day elsewhere or groceries in style.

Inspiration (not my pictures)

Parts I have so far:
Everything is second hand. I did order new bearings and will use new tires when necessary.

I have two front wheels.

Very wide! May use wheelbarrow tires in the end.

Getting an idea with that wheelbarrow tub.

Now looking for parts:
Steel chassis profiles.
Rusty or patina'd tub (wheel barrow or radio flyer).

Ideas/Notes:

Thanks for reading/watching!

Brian macumber · Mar 21, 2023

I've seen a few people pulling some wagon and wheel barrow ratrods at the swap meet very cool looking. Saw one that was lifted.

Son of Kradus · Mar 24, 2023

Way to go bart, will watch this with intrest

MattiThundrrr · Mar 24, 2023

I really like these two, really cool hotrod vibes:

That second one looks like a slammed T. However they are aimed in different directions, you need to choose, is it for hauling stuff, or will the little one be riding in it? You've got my brain in gear though, I'll be looking at wheelbarrows now...

BartRidesEternal · Mar 29, 2023

MattiThundrrr said:
I really like these two, really cool hotrod vibes:View attachment 227083 View attachment 227084
That second one looks like a slammed T. However they are aimed in different directions, you need to choose, is it for hauling stuff, or will the little one be riding in it? You've got my brain in gear though, I'll be looking at wheelbarrows now...

Thanks bikers!

Maybe I am pushing it, but I would like to haul stuff and take my daughters.

I found an rusty old wheelbarrow with a straight frame: normally with "Fort" wheelbarrows the frame bends to create a leg or support. But these matador wheelbarrows have a chassis that goes straight from the grips to the front. Perfect for a ratrod chassis! Curves included :thumbsup:

Pictures of the barrow and wheels. Then my ideas in a paintshop (took me an hour! Could have separated the tub and chassis in that time).

Base paintshop picture.

And another.

I turned the tub? around on the chassis and shopped the wheels in there. Pretty neat! Looks like "Mad Max Buzzards":

Bit dangerous...

I think about red rims, classic ratrod.

What y'all think?

Tallbikeman · Mar 29, 2023

BartRidesEternal said:
Hi guys,

I know I have many builds in progress, but I can't keep the progress on this build from you.

Since I saw some awesome/beautiful ratrod soapbox ideas here on Ratrodbikes and ideas on pinterest, I had to do something with that.

My idea is to build a radio flyer / soapbox ratrod that you can hook up on your bicycle. Possibly with the front wheels off the ground, when hooked up. The pulling bar can be removed and used for pushing. And ideally the passenger/driver can steer too. Need a link-system for that.

Nice for playing with the kids and practicality for a day elsewhere or groceries in style.

Inspiration (not my pictures)

After a lifetime of hauling dirt with wheelbarrows I see this. As they say once you see something you cannot unsee it. Wheelbarrow bins work so well as T rod style bodies. Excellent.

BartRidesEternal said:
View attachment 226943
View attachment 226944
View attachment 226945
View attachment 226946

Parts I have so far:
Everything is second hand. I did order new bearings and will use new tires when necessary.

View attachment 226947
I have two front wheels.

View attachment 226948
Very wide! May use wheelbarrow tires in the end.

View attachment 226949
View attachment 226950
Getting an idea with that wheelbarrow tub.

Now looking for parts:
Steel chassis profiles.
Rusty or patina'd tub (wheel barrow or radio flyer).

Ideas/Notes:

View attachment 226952
View attachment 226951

Thanks for reading/watching!

SwissGuy · Mar 30, 2023

My pictures, but not my build. I saw this one a few years back in Stuttgart:

horsefarmer · Mar 30, 2023

I think they call them wheel barrow pans here. Never seen one with ribs stamped in the side.
Would be cool to cut them open for louvers!

BartRidesEternal · Mar 30, 2023

Tallbikeman said:
After a lifetime of hauling dirt with wheelbarrows I see this. As they say once you see something you cannot unsee it. Wheelbarrow bins work so well as T rod style bodies. Excellent.

I know what you mean! After a visit on the scrapyard my head is exploding with such ideas.

SwissGuy said:
My pictures, but not my build. I saw this one a few years back in Stuttgart:

View attachment 227414 View attachment 227415 View attachment 227416 View attachment 227417

Awesome!! That thing is a work of art. Thanks for sharing that one.

horsefarmer said:
I think they call them wheel barrow pans here. Never seen one with ribs stamped in the side.
Would be cool to cut them open for louvers!

Certainly an great idea, they sell them in stainless steel most of the time here.

I feel a bit silly photoshopping my idea, since I had an 40 minute timeframe for cutting today....

Checkout the results, I am beyond stoked!