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Transportation Issues
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Categories: Projects and equipment; Commerce and business

Word count/read time: 471 words; 2 minutes

To a certain degree, Vehicle size will dictate what can be sold, the quantity, footprint of the display area or booth size, and other factors. My booth contents require the biggest vehicle possible. Even then, it's a scramble to fit everything.

One drawback to having this much is getting everything from car to booth, the so-called last mile. Even with a dolly that converts into a cart, it still takes at least two, sometimes three, precarious trips.

My cart has partially collapsed despite never approaching its weight limit. Flimsy construction and substandard materials encourage the 2" solid rear caster wheels to seek out soft surfaces and bog down. Unpaved or rough terrain is like quicksand.

 
Just before surgery, hacksaw in hand, Captain Obvious visited.
 
The replacement is an extra-heavy duty garden cart with pneumatic wheels. While it needs modifications, it would take much longer to make my own from scratch. The main concern is a speedy assembly/disassembly because it is too bulky to fit inside like it is (ironic, since I literally have the largest SUV by cargo space).

Modifying it to such an extreme was a lot of work. Setting it up and breaking it down multiple times per day should save overall time. Compact or not, fitting it inside was still going to be a PITA.

Just before surgery, hacksaw in hand, Captain Obvious visited. Mount it to the roof rack fully assembled and be done with it. There's like half an acre up there, plenty of room for this thing.

Getting it to the roof rack easily will take some planning; a good sled with guide rails and a pulley should solve that. Some people forget their roof rack is loaded until they hear that distinctive crunch on a low structure. Fingers are crossed. Knock on wood.

Then again, a trailer hitch cargo rack would eliminate some hassle. It'd be nearly as much work: disconnected while unloading, stored or put back in afterwards, repeated multiple times each day. Someone's gonna wear road grime and grease, this heavy and bulky beast.

Ultimately, the best would be affixing a tongue to the cart so it can be put directly into the trailer hitch. All it would take to free it is undoing a mounting bracket and a few connectors, easy peasy!

The weather does whatever it wants. Shrinkwrapping the cart might stop it from getting soaked...let me know how that goes. It will need rinsing. A full plastic garden sprayer does wonders. Refills shouldn't be an issue under normal circumstances.

Anything from the heavens spells nightmare dirtiness so a cover or tarp is crucial for the last mile. My displays will get ruined if too wet. I have and will get wet and frozen so extra clothing is a good idea. Plan for the worst and expect the unexpected.


Posted by M: January 15, 2025


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