Survival Wagon Idea - Recreation Or Reality TV

[infamous]

Originally Posted by Turtle

___I may have the opportunity to try the wagon out soon; I have to move out of this house in 3 weeks & if we don't find a big house soon enough for us all I am moving into a campground.
___The one I have in mind is closer to St. Helens & about $8 or $10 a night. Of course out there I won't have the web, but hopefully it's not too long lasting.
___Will any of you have your wagon ready by then?

I'm going to be very busy this summer so I'll need to wait until this winter to put mine togeather. With Drag racing and family vacations already planned, there is just no time left for me to start this project. I will also need to spend some time with my mother, she is 87 and in ill health. I live in Ohio so that means another trip because she lives in Missouri where I was born and raised. Any how, this winter I plan to begin putting my wagon togeather. I do think this is an unusually good idea Turtle, and am looking forward to getting started.

[Turtle]

___Drag racing?! Now there's a good group to put the wagon idea in front of! Nothing like a bunch of gear heads to come up with optimal wheeled equipment.
___Of course I'm aware I have some pretty outlandish ideas, so I always appreciate gettin' the nod because I seldom know which ideas are hair-brained.
___I had an appointment today with a state social worker & I told him I might have to camp with my wagon; he said if I pay to camp I won't be considered homeless! Of course in my wilder plans, I have myself saying screw all this stuff & just hit the road with the wagon.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by Turtle

___Drag racing?! Now there's a good group to put the wagon idea in front of! Nothing like a bunch of gear heads to come up with optimal wheeled equipment.

Woot! Think ya kin put a nitro-fueled engine on the back of it and pull a sub 4.5 second quarter mile? You'll need to have bigger wheels and space for the 'chute...

Burnin' rubber,
Buffy

[Turtle]

___GETE Of course powering the wagon is entirely contradictory to the idea of pulling or pushing it. Not only philosophically but practically as the burden of fuel is prohibitive. My roommate Ace suggested using the electric power system to drive the wagon, but there just isn't enough juice.
___In the few uses I've made of the battery backup I can see already that the ins/outs requires careful monitoring. 100 amp-hour battery & the formula Watts = Amps * Volts, plus the ratings on my equipment must all receive consideration.
___Since for me this is more than a theoretical enterprise, I have learned considerably from hands on practice. My wagon is no where near optimized, lacking among other things a brake; do you really want to try & slow a 500 lb wagon on a hill without a brake?
___Keep up the great ideas on this!

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by Turtle

...slow a 500 lb wagon on a hill without a brake?

Yow! 500 lbs? Boy, you're gonna need some hydraulics and some big disks for that!!!

Cheers,
Buffy

[Turtle]

___Again, I have to stay practical. My wagon fully loaded is just under 500 lbs, Fairly easy pulling on flat ground, but I haven't ever taken it very far pulling. I have moved it into & out of a pickup bed at about 250 lbs (oh & we used it to get the Christmas tree one year) & one guy can do it but you need to rope it up and/or use one of the winches. I have a hand winch (come-along) with a 2000 lb capacity & a throw of 6 ft & an electric 12V winch with a rolling capcity of 2000 punds & a throw of 30 feet.
___After quite a few brake ideas, I'm leaning toward a simple lever that drags/digs in the ground.

PS I don't use the term "gear head" in a derogatory manner. The knowedge these guys have on bearings, mechanical linckages, etc. is invaluable in putting together one of these wagons.

[infamous]

Hey Turtle; Geeezzzzz, 500 lbs, I quess you'll need to stay away from the mountains, Huhhh??

[infamous]

Hey Turtle; Just had an idea: Why not put a mast in the middle of your wagon and hang a sail on it. If you study seamanship a little, maybe you could apply it to a land based craft??

[Turtle]

___Great idea! I have driven a sand rail once & it's funny I was just thinking how I could use that 6 foot box kite I've been talking about to pull the wagon under suitable conditions.
___I fully intend to take it into the mountains; as a camp vehicle there is no reason to make any haste. If I get tired, I stop & set up camp. If a hill is too steep to pull up, out comes the winch & taclke.
___Earlier on I mentioned my canceled trip in Gifford Pinchot Forest & this is rugged mountainous terrain with a few logging roads. The beginning of my route is a 30 degree hairpin climb for a mile or so. I'm hoping if I actually get there I have convinced a pusher to accompany me.
___On the seamanship I have familiarity, but in the wagons present configuration I'll need submariner status. I have basically resolved to cross that bridge when I build it.

[Turtle]

___Well I've done my move & have the wagon kit at the new place & as my other housemates haven't made the move yet I have been eating the freeze dried meals I have onboard. They taste pretty good (I have been buying them but had never eaten one), but I have noticed a little heart burn; this may be due to the high sodium content in them or simply the extreme anxiety I'm having over moving.
___I originally had dried beans, rice, & canned meats on board, but they don't keep well over a year or so & they weigh considerably more than the freeze dried stuff. Someone bought me one freeze dried meal that heats itself, you just add water; the label says it expires in 2029!
___Well, keep those wagons & ideas rolling!