How to build a sandpit with folding seats and wheels?

Question

Hi all,

I'm thinking about this build, but it won't have a permanent spot in my yard so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to put wheels on the bottom. They'd probably have to be decent sized and not just caster wheels for hard surfaces because it's on grass. I was thinking something like a wagon where you drag the front wheels which are steerable and the back wheels stay straight. Will the weight of this make it untenable? The yard is pretty flat, just normal uneven grass but no hills.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/67782

Noyade · Answer

Evening @OopsOhBoy

This guy seems to have made a large 'cupboard' laid on its back with doors and massive looking castor wheels - but maybe only 100 mm of sand inside? Looks doable if you can find the wheels…

https://www.reddit.com/r/redneckengineering/comments/sfrm4g/sandbox_on_wheels/

MitchellMc · Answer

Hi @OopsOhBoy,

The first issue you'll need to overcome is that the sandpit doesn't have a solid bottom, so it can't simply be picked up and moved around without first constructing a suitable base.

With a sufficiently strong base and some large, pneumatic-style wheels with bearings, I think making it mobile could be possible. Your wagon-style idea with fixed rear wheels and steerable front wheels sounds like a reasonable approach. Just bear in mind that many of there inflatable wheels have max weight limits.

The bigger consideration will be the weight. If I recall correctly, this sandpit took around 27 bags of sand, or roughly 500kg, to fill. Once you add the weight of the timber structure and a suitably reinforced base, you're potentially trying to move well over half a tonne. That would be more than many of weight ratings for wheels.

Even across relatively flat grass, that's going to take some effort to move, and the base, axles and wheel mounting points would all need to be designed to comfortably support that weight. I'd probably consider using less sand if mobility is an important part of the design.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell