Kids Cart Pimping!

[thenavyone]

Hey everyone I have found an old thread on kids carts which has been really useful: /topic/161032-kids-cart-pimping/page-3">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/topic/161032-kids-cart-pimping/page-3

This will be the first Glasto we have taken children too, so am trying to prepare well in advance. I will have my son with me (8 months when we go) and my friend will have her 8 and 1.5 year old - going to be a new adventure for us!

Anyway, I just wondered if anyone had any tips on things to do to the cart in terms of modifications that haven't already been covered in the other thread? also if any posters from that original thread were still knocking about and wanted to share anything they had learnt?

Thanks

[neilloggie]

We saw some brilliant ones at Camp Bestival last summer,ones done up like a VW Camper van,Stobart truck spring to mind,have a look on their web site there might be some pics?

[funkyuk]

The garden trolley wagons you see / use at festivals are good but very cheaply made. The wheels / bearings split / fall apart and break. A 5 day glasto farm really takes its toll, they arent designed to do 20-30+ miles of farm over a weekend. I wore 3 wheels over last glasto - bearings on the wheels went. (my wagon is the VW bus in your thread link above). If you are / know someone who is handy with a welder, set of spanners, strengthen where you can, and take spare nuts, bolts and wheels. I bought a complete set of replacement wagon wheels and tyres for camp bestival for about 25 quids on ebay. make sure the bolts holding the hubs are tight.

Happy building.

Sadly I may have to ebay the VW wagon as the kids have now outgrown it..... or maybe it will make Camp Bestival 2013...

CIMG7571 by The Andoid, on Flickr

Edited January 24, 2013 by funkyuk

[thenavyone]

Thanks Neiloggie, i will see what I can find!

Funkyuk - I am so glad you replied! We love your VW camper, I have so many question about how you made it but maybe buying it might be a better option of your serious about selling it? It will go to a loving home if that counts for anything. What wll you use for your little guys this year though?

My father in law in an engineer so hopefully he can toughen her up? I was lookig at these wheels http://www.humpalumpa.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=cPath=47_61 but they are so expensive, I'm not sure if they are woth the investment?

I'm hoping to take my little guy every year

Thanks agan both.

[redmosquito]

We were part of that original thread, though ours was nowhere near as good as the camper!

We just got a garden trolley, cut some hoopla hoops in half, attached them to the cart with jubilee clips and used sticky Velcro to stick on a waterproof cover. Inside was a piece of foam, a sheep skin rug for warmth and comfort and a few of my lads toys to keep him happy (including a steering wheel). We also rigged up some straps to the side to attach some chairs which we found really handy to keep out of the mud.

We found the cart worked fine over Glastonbury and didn't need any repairs other than tightening the bolts every day. Spares are always a good idea though.

I'll post some pics of it if I can when I get near a computer with some on.

[thenavyone]

Ohh thanks redmosquito, pics would be fab! How many children do you think we could get to sleep in it? We are really hoping to get the 2 little ones in there.

Did the velcro keep the cover on? I would be worried about heavy rain somehow being too much for it?

I know it's still months away but i am so so excited for my babies first glsto!

[thenavyone]

oh also - how did you get them there? Fold flat & then assemble on site?

[redmosquito]

The Velcro system worked fine, no issues in the rain at all in 2011. We used it for a festival in September and our boy who was 2 at the time fitted in it fine with no problems, we have an new addition this year whose going to be 8 months come June but we're not sure yet if it'll be big enough for the both of them to sleep in it. (Ours is the smaller version).

We go in a campervan which has a full length roof rack so getting it there isn't an issue, we just take off the handle, fold down the sides and chuck it up top. I'm not sure how people manage it in cars though to be honest.

[thenavyone]

I don't really have a car - I have a fiat multipla, link here if you don't know what it is: http://www.cartestreport.com/car-test-report-fotos/fiat-multipla-4.jpg

We remove the back 3 seats and put the tent etc in there but we do travel quite light usually. Although might change this year with the sproglet! We do have some inflatable roof bars too though thinking about it.

[thenavyone]

cheeky bump! Going to buy my trolley in the next few days if I don't hear from funky uk. Have had a good google for other ideas too - bestival had some sort of competition for thm last year.

[Freddiesdad]

hi all,

was so happy to find this thread! im glad its not just me that has been looking into ways for upgrading my little mans transport for this year!

well this is my progress so far -

/gallery/image/3940-img-20130203-00049/">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/gallery/image/3940-img-20130203-00049/

/gallery/image/3939-img-20130203-00047/">http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/gallery/image/3939-img-20130203-00047/

so its no where up to the standard of the VW camper but imm happy with the results so far.

the only problem i have now is how to rig the roof?

i was thinking of using those bendy tent poles to create a semicircle going from front to back but im not sure how well its gunna work.

if any one has any suggestions/ bright ideas let me know

cheers,

Freddies dad

P.S. funkyuk i am in awe of your work every other dad who had their kids with them must have hated you!

[thenavyone]

Yay, another pimper! I've heard half a hula hoop makes a good structure for the roof? Yours looks massive - where is it from? Also love the cool box

[quiet guy]

Three semicircle hoops equally spaced down the length, cable tied to the frame of the cart and then a length of thin pole across the top and tied to the hoops to give the frame a bit of rigidity. Then drape over whatever cover you have for shade or rain cover..

[abdoujaparov]

we also use one of the garden trollies...for the canopy, we used some old tent poles and the metal wire from a cheap garden cloche. A section of tent pole on either side, the base of each pole fits into a hole in a sheet of plywood (which makes a floor for the trolley) - the curved wire from the cloche then forms an arch between each pole. Three on each side. The canopy is made from a piece of canvas tarpaulin, with brass eyes along each side, fixed to the trolley and poles with cable ties. A full length piece of foam cushion for comfort and a couple of pillows, blankets and solar powered lights and Bob's your auntie's live in lover

[MIXFEST]

hi all,

was so happy to find this thread! im glad its not just me that has been looking into ways for upgrading my little mans transport for this year!

well this is my progress so far -

so its no where up to the standard of the VW camper but imm happy with the results so far.

the only problem i have now is how to rig the roof?

i was thinking of using those bendy tent poles to create a semicircle going from front to back but im not sure how well its gunna work.

if any one has any suggestions/ bright ideas let me know

cheers,

Freddies dad

P.S. funkyuk i am in awe of your work every other dad who had their kids with them must have hated you!

[thenavyone]

The cushions look home made to me? And some sort of plastic? We're trying to design storage into our trolley - like the bit the kids sleep on lifts up and underneath there storage space!

[OobieJoobs]

Just posting here to mark my place. I'm taking my son who will be 2 and a half, my sister will be bringing her 17 month old. We have a trolley like throne above and hope to modify it, though no where near as well as you have.

[redmosquito]

We found some hoola hoops cut in half made for a good roof structure and we just attached them to the sides with some jubilee clips. My wife then cut down a trailer cover for a waterproof top.

We did think bout storage but just didn't get round to it in time but we make some straps so we could attach some camping chairs to the side.

[thenavyone]

How's the pimping going guys? We are taking our a bit too seriously (perhaps!), spent this morning drawing up some 'plans' and a list of materials. We're thinking of making the roof supports out of wate pips and connectors, what do you all reckon?

Not long now! Gt my tent up in the garden too just checking it over #veryexcited

[strangegoose]

Im giving my nieces trolley a coat of red paint today . Then i start work on the roof . Im having great fun making it look awesome for her first Glasto. First Glasto aged 1 years old , how great is that !

[thenavyone]

Very cool strangegoose. I'm taking my son who will be 8 months and my sister is taking me neice who will be 15months. I'm so excited to share this with them

[000Lou000]

Hi guys

I've just bought one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/trolley-children-garden-classic-carriage/dp/B007AEFVGC

for my 8 month old, its really a practical question.

What tools and spares if any would you take in case of repairs?

It will be a disaster if it falls apart and i've got nothing to fix it with.

[redmosquito]

Hi guys

I've just bought one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/trolley-children-garden-classic-carriage/dp/B007AEFVGC

for my 8 month old, its really a practical question.

What tools and spares if any would you take in case of repairs?

It will be a disaster if it falls apart and i've got nothing to fix it with.

[kat_]

Not sure if this is any good for those bringing little 'uns

Edited May 11, 2013 by kat_

[dave666]

We took the large garden trolley you can get off here http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=200348&pf_id=LS6256D

It worked like an absolute dream! We changed his nappy in there, he napped in there and we used it as a sofa at the main stage! (Wychwood)

Was very big for our 6 month old but it'll be perfect when he's older, the smaller version was still good but we found it handy having the extra space.