How to Make a Bike Cart for a Dog

It is usually easy to take a walk or a jog with your dog, but it can prove to be difficult to keep a dog on a leash while riding your bicycle. Therefore, you may want to consider using a bike cart for your dog so you do not have to leave him at home. These carts often resemble small trailers that can be attached to bicycles. They also can be used to carry bulky items.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Scribe
• Vise
• Hack saw
• Metal file
• Welder
• Welding rod
• Drill
• 10mm-drill bit
• Grinder
• Adjustable wrench
• 25mm x 25mm 16-gauge square tubing
• 20mm x 20mm 18-gauge square tubing
• 20mm x 20mm angle iron that is 32mm long
• 10mm steel rod that is 24mm long
• 2 front bicycle wheels
• Plywood

Instructions

1. Take the large tubing and square one end, measuring and marking off sections of the following lengths: 50cm, 16.25cm, 77cm, 16.25cm, 50cm, 16.25cm, 77cm, 16.25cm. Use the saw to notch these marks, but do not cut completely through the tubing.

2. Form the main frame by bending the tubing at the notches to make a rectangle with blunt corners. Tack-weld the joint where the ends come together.

3. Cut two 95cm pieces from the large tubing for the wheel-support tubes and a 45cm piece from the large tubing for the cross brace. Weld the braces in place.

4. Cut four 25cm sections of the small tubing and weld the posts at the corners of the rectangles. Cut two 95cm pieces from the small tubing and two pieces about 46cm to weld to the frame between the corners. Measure about 23cm pieces to create support struts between the inside wheel-support tube and the top rail of the cargo box.

5. Cut an 85cm piece of small tubing, making notches and drilling a hole 10mm from the end. Attach the tow bar that has been created at a 45-degree angle to the main frame in the middle of either end.

6. Create a hitch pin by cutting a section of 10mm rod to a length of 6cm. Create the pulling handle by cutting a piece of 10mm rod to a length of 18cm. Insert the bicycle hitch pin in the vertical hole in the tow bar and weld it in place. Insert the pulling handle through the horizontal whole in the tow bar and measure it so that it extends an equal distance to both sides. Then weld it in place.

7. Cut two lateral braces 35cm long and a structural brace 20cm long and weld them. Create wheel dropouts using four 8cm sections of angle iron.

8. Cut the cargo floor out of plywood or galvanized tin to fit the cargo box that has been made. Grind the welds and paint the trailer with rust-prevention paint. Attach the wheels to the dropout and attach the trailer to the bicycle with a strip of inner tube.

Resources

• Building dog bike carts