All-terrain cart for hauling gear

[Fishwalker]

I have lot’s of preparedness items, but one thing I don’t have is a good way to manually move heavy items efficiently, especially over long distances if necessary. In my search I found a few options that could work, but required lots of time to make or were very expensive. Then I discovered a company called Polymule that has set up an Indiegogo campaign for an extremely durable hand cart. It is a stupid simple cart that’s built to last.

I’ve backed the campaign myself and would love to see this go into production. Here’s the link to the Indiegogo campaign:

https://igg.me/at/polymule/x/14396232

I'd love to hear of other's experiences in making/buying gear carts, etc. Once there's no power we'll be doing a lot more manual work. Kind of makes me want to get a horse.

—————

Here are a few details about the cart: (3 colors to choose from btw)

High capacity: will haul 400 lbs. of gear easily.

Uphill Assist: The cart has a hub system that can be engaged that locks the wheels from rolling backward when hiking uphill.

Integrated kickstand: the pull handle pivots down to the ground to level out the cart for loading.

All-terrain: 28 inch no-flat tires with 20 inches of clearance.

Portable: 2 minute assembly and it can quickly fold up and stow for transport and can be used as a vehicle cargo carrier on a vehicle roof rack.

Reinforced polymer: UV stable and high-impact resistant even in sub-freezing temps. Similar polymers are used in military-grade applications.

No maintenance: it has sealed bearings, and you’ll never get flat tires or need to replace bolts or screws.

All-weather cover: made of durable rip-stop fabric with oversized zipper and nylon straps.

Rear handle: there’s an additional handle that can be added to the back allowing a second person to help transport extra heavy loads over rough terrain.

5 year warranty

 

[Maverick]

Maybe in the flats it would be doable just not here.

 

[Fishwalker]

Maybe in the flats it would be doable just not here.

Curious, do you have a preferred method of hauling gear for scenarios requiring manual power?

 

[Mountain trapper]

Curious, do you have a preferred method of hauling gear for scenarios requiring manual power?

Horse, donkey, mule. Let them do the work.

 

[Fishwalker]

I agree with the animal companion method. My challenge at the moment is how to store enough food for a Winter or two.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I agree with the animal companion method. My challenge at the moment is how to store enough food for a Winter or two.

Unless you had enough land and equipment, you'd have to buy or trade for their hay. When I was a kid I had a couple pack donkeys. They're easy keepers, pack a lot of stuff and don't eat a lot of hay in winter. Depending on where you live, donkeys can survive pertty well on range land.

 

[Mountain trapper]

.

 

[DrHenley]

Maybe in the flats it would be doable just not here.

Here either, the narrow wheels would sink into the ground.

I have taken my 2 wheeled lawn wheelbarrow hunting in case I had to get something out really heavy. It has tires wide enough to get through the soft ground.

 

[Maverick]

Curious, do you have a preferred method of hauling gear for scenarios requiring manual power?

Here either, the narrow wheels would sink into the ground.

I have taken my 2 wheeled lawn wheelbarrow hunting in case I had to get something out really heavy. It has tires wide enough to get through the soft ground.

I use a toboggan here.

 

[Maverick]

Depending where I'm hunting I'll use a toboggan or pack mule if going in horseback, a lot of areas are muddy, big rocks, down timber and steep rocky cliffs, the wheeled carts would be a hindrance in those situations including bugging out given I would heading in the same areas I hunt in this part of Washington.

 

[user 6493]

here ya go,,,,,

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Vik...VxbjACh1JCQ7jEAQYBCABEgKAKPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[drt4lfe]

It looks like you could remove the wheels and the wheel brackets on either design with a few simple tools and make it a sled when you needed it to be one.....

 

[drt4lfe]

I have lot’s of preparedness items, but one thing I don’t have is a good way to manually move heavy items efficiently, especially over long distances if necessary. In my search I found a few options that could work, but required lots of time to make or were very expensive. Then I discovered a company called Polymule that has set up an Indiegogo campaign for an extremely durable hand cart. It is a stupid simple cart that’s built to last.

I’ve backed the campaign myself and would love to see this go into production. Here’s the link to the Indiegogo campaign:

https://igg.me/at/polymule/x/14396232

I'd love to hear of other's experiences in making/buying gear carts, etc. Once there's no power we'll be doing a lot more manual work. Kind of makes me want to get a horse.

—————

Here are a few details about the cart: (3 colors to choose from btw)

High capacity: will haul 400 lbs. of gear easily.

Uphill Assist: The cart has a hub system that can be engaged that locks the wheels from rolling backward when hiking uphill.

Integrated kickstand: the pull handle pivots down to the ground to level out the cart for loading.

All-terrain: 28 inch no-flat tires with 20 inches of clearance.

Portable: 2 minute assembly and it can quickly fold up and stow for transport and can be used as a vehicle cargo carrier on a vehicle roof rack.

Reinforced polymer: UV stable and high-impact resistant even in sub-freezing temps. Similar polymers are used in military-grade applications.

No maintenance: it has sealed bearings, and you’ll never get flat tires or need to replace bolts or screws.

All-weather cover: made of durable rip-stop fabric with oversized zipper and nylon straps.

Rear handle: there’s an additional handle that can be added to the back allowing a second person to help transport extra heavy loads over rough terrain.

5 year warranty

It looks like with a few simple hand tools you could remove wheels and wheel brackets ? and make it a sled, a tall thin tire usually works well in mud just like on a 4x4 vehicle, the thin wheels cause less resistance than wide tires, a thin tire will cut through where a wide tire will try and push stuff ahead of it creating resistance, If the mud gets too deep neither one will work very well, wider works best when you need flotation like on sand...a small block and pulley like people use to hang animals would be a good addition to keep with trailer just in case...

 

[Fishwalker]

Interesting, I never thought of using it as a sled. The polymer would slide better than other materials. Throw a few old skis on the bottom and you'd be in business.

 

[jontte]

or you do this,you,your dog or horse will supply the muscle power needed..

 

[Silent Earth]

There is a photo knocking around on the web of a prepper trailer, its made from a tiny two man aluminium flat bottomed square fronted skiff type boat it has two bicycle wheels off a mountain bike that can be removed by simply unclipping the QD wheel nuts, and it has two old skis mounted along the bottom of the hull for deep snow.

 

[Fishwalker]

Quick update for any who were following or interested in the Polymule cart. Their indiegogo campaign is 99% funded. If you want to get in on the introductory pricing you'll need to do it in the next 6 days before the campaign closes. I'm excited that they'll fund their idea. It's not for everyone or every situation, but it does fit a need that I have. We're at an interesting point in history. All of the red flags of an economic downturn are flapping in the breeze. It will be interesting to see where things go in the coming years.

Here's the link if you want more info on the cart:
https://igg.me/at/polymule/x/14396232

 

[lonewolf]

horse, pony or a donkey and a travois, keep it simple.

 

[Fishwalker]

For most people a four-legged friend won't be an option. I completely agree that simplicity is paramount.

 

[lonewolf]

how about a large dog?
I don't think a tyred cart is feasible in the long term, replacement tyres and electricity for welding repairs would make it irrelevant.
I favour natural materials.

 

[Fishwalker]

When you look at the early pioneers who traveled to the West they typically did better with horse/oxen pulled wagons. I'm not sure how well repairs could be made on the trail, but probably easier than many of the modern carts today. In a really desperate situation, the oxen were used for food.

The cart that Polymule is offering does have non-flat tires. You'd have to use it for hundreds/thousands of miles before wearing out the tires. It is also completely toolless.

 

[lonewolf]

I wont be travelling that far, I'll only be looking for something to bring back a deer or a wild boar on.

 

[Fishwalker]

I'm also looking at the need to help those around me. In two weeks I'm moving to a new area. When I want to help my local neighbors it's about a 2 mile walk. If I need to get to alternate small towns it's about 10-20 miles. Small and light is best for those longer trips, but sometimes you need to take more gear or potentially people that are ill, aging, or very young.

 

[lonewolf]

i'll be using a bicycle for longer trips.

 

[Fishwalker]

i'll be using a bicycle for longer trips.

Yeah, I've got a bike for each member of the family. Plus a lot of repair tools. Bikes can be high maintenance.

In the past 10 years I've commuted over 12,000+ miles via bike. I've repaired dozens of flats, and replaced tires 4-5 times after wearing thin. I've even had to replace spokes probably a dozen times. Spokes are hard to replace, especially if you don't have access to the right tools, or even worse, if you don't have extras.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Wait, you are moving? Out of Utah?

I'm looking to head that way in a two year-ish time frame. Ogden, or close.

 

[Fishwalker]

Wait, you are moving? Out of Utah?

I'm looking to head that way in a two year-ish time frame. Ogden, or close.

Yep, we are moving up to Idaho. My job situation allows me to work from anywhere. I save about $9k a year just by moving north.

We'll have about 1.5 acres of land to use. It is also next to a small stream where I can set up a hydroelectric station to supplement power. Plus it has a 500 gal. propane tank which connects to a power inverter to run the water well. If the power/grid goes down I can get water for about a year. Kind of a playground for someone who's preparedness-minded.

 

[lonewolf]

Yeah, I've got a bike for each member of the family. Plus a lot of repair tools. Bikes can be high maintenance.

In the past 10 years I've commuted over 12,000+ miles via bike. I've repaired dozens of flats, and replaced tires 4-5 times after wearing thin. I've even had to replace spokes probably a dozen times. Spokes are hard to replace, especially if you don't have access to the right tools, or even worse, if you don't have extras.

I can ride double the distance I can walk and in half the time, its okay for leisure now and for exercise, but post SHTF I wont be going far from my current location, I think staying away from base for any length of time wont be safe and besides there will be too much work to do.

 

[user 6493]

if the going gets rough I am going with a mule,they are tough easy keepers

 

[Silent Earth]

FYI