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(or how to move your stuff around at the shoots)
If you have attended the National Shoots at Friendship,you know how bad the parking problem for shooters can get.I have found myself getting up at 5:00am,just to go find a place to park on the line.Park my truck,and go back to my camper to have breakfast,then walk back to the line to shoot.I figured if I was walking the distance twice I might as well do it when it was convenient,not when I had to just to find a parking place.That is when the "Friendship Rickshaw" was born.I can get all the gear I need for a day of shooting in it and walk to the line when I like.Looking at photo 4 you will see the following items in the cart: My large shooting box,lawn chair,cooler,gun case,and scope tripod.In the tubes on the back is a place for ramrods and targets.
I have purposely left out measurements for the cart so you can adapt materials at hand to your cart.Just use the pictures to give you the basic idea and build the cart to your needs.Looking at the pictures you will see that I used EMT conduit extensively.This material is cheap and readily available,and welds nicely with a MIG welder.Of course you must be able to bend the conduit,and I have included a neat and cheap homemade bender which will do nicely.
A few details to get you started.Photo 2 shows the base ,which is nothing more than a piece of 1/2 " plywood,edged with angle aluminum.It is bolted to the cross member on the front and bolted to a plate welded on the end of the handles on the rear.(Photo3).The wheel and axle assembly are comprised of wheelbarrow wheels and a 5/8 " axle.The axle is mounted to the frame with heavy duty conduit clamps.(Photo 3)I suggest the use of these wheels because they roll thru the gravel easily.Or bicycle tires would work nicely too,if you have them.Just mount them higher on the frame.
The side boards are made of canvas,but just as easily could be aluminum or masonite,but remember to keep it light.
Notice in Photo 4 that the handle is made from 1" conduit and 1/2" conduit.It is easier to bend the side members and top handle separately,then slide the handle in the end of the 1" pieces and weld.It could be made one piece,but is extremely hard to make all the bends and to get it to come out right.Make it easy on yourself.
Tubing Bender
This is an easy bender to make and will serve you well.I have bent 1" stainless steel tubing with a bender like this.Make it like the diagram and do not attempt a radius less than 9"After bending your first piece make a witness mark so you can bend the others like it.
Hope you have enjoyed this project and if you need any help just email me.mailto:flinttim@seidata.com
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