There aren’t many inexpensive options for something like in this picture. Sure, walking or biking is cheap, but carrying stuff, that’s trickier.

I have a great electric kick scooter (charged by solar), and since the grocery store is only a couple of miles away, I figured shopping without a car would be pretty simple.

I’ve walked there before, but with the heat lately, I wanted a way to carry larger grocery loads so I’d have to make less trips. I don’t really wanna have to use my car. I assumed there would be small cargo trailers made for kick scooters.

Turns out, not really. Most trailers are designed for bicycles or larger motorcycle-style scooters.

I found a few niche options people have built themselves, but they’re either more expensive than I wanna spend or require more fabrication skills than I have.

I’ve decided to try building one myself, but yeah, that’s gonna take some time since I’m new at the whole “just build your own shit” brigade.

As you all know, here in the US, living without a car is possible, but it often isn’t very convenient. The infrastructure and products just aren’t designed with that lifestyle in mind.

(Shout out to my downvote stalker. Right on schedule! Thanks for keeping me in your mind all day. LMAO)

  • JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip
    0·
    3 months ago

    Just pondering, modify a bike trailer? Whether that be connecting down to the scooter that way, or adding an upright piece to the scooter so the connection sits higher, or even attach it to a belt you wear. I don’t know about what other commenters are saying, but just wanted to throw some ideas out there

  • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    3 months ago

    I think the main problem is that scooters just aren’t designed for this, at all. They’re wholly dedicated to transporting one person with the smallest vehicle possible (while being easy to use, unlike onewheels or skateboards).

    As soon as you go up to a normal bike you can start hauling a perfectly reasonable amount of stuff by just attaching a basket on the front and rear, though yeah bike trailers really should be half as expensive as they are…

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      My scoot is pretty heavy duty and powerful. I was really meaning just one or two bags of groceries. Just enough that it’s uncomfortable to fit into my backpack, but nothing super heavy. 2 gallons of milk, cans of veggies, bread, etc. My trip to store is on smooth sidewalks. 1. 3 miles. Flat area.

      I jury rigged up something last night using a friends cloth wagon, and attached it to my belt. And it worked just fine, so I may just stick with that. Just looks silly, so I’m still gonna work on a better solution. Thank you!

  • lemonwood@lemmy.ml
    0·
    3 months ago

    They are expensive, but in Germany, every leftish person dreams of co-owning an electric cargo bike like this within their shared flat:

    I even know two such groups who are living the dream (not in my city though).

  • Caveman@lemmy.world
    0·
    3 months ago

    I’d suggest a backpack for carrying stuff. It can be a bit awkward when you carry more than 10kg or when buying toilet paper. For bulky light stuff some sort of straps might work though.

    If you want to increase the capacity permanently to dishwasher level then a cargobike with strapping becomes the only option. These are usually about a 10% of a price of a car with no running costs so if it prevents you from getting one it’s actually a very cheap option.

    • quick_snail@feddit.nl
      0·
      3 months ago

      This, but make sure the pack has an aluminum frame. You want all the weight on your hips, none on your shoulders

  • garbagebagel@lemmy.world
    0·
    3 months ago

    As a scooter rider myself, this setup seems unwieldy. My back tire already has a mind of its own and turning can be an absolute pain sometimes, I can’t imagine trying to also haul a bunch of shit behind me as well. IMO scooters just don’t have what it takes to do this kind of hauling safely.

    I use a large backpack and will tie smaller bags on either side when I do a big shop, or I just take the bus. Though I understand quick and reliable buses aren’t really a thing in a lot of the US so, sorry for you.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Good points. I am lucky because my area is very scooter friendly when it comes to smooth sidewalks and streets. Plus I don’t go very fast, so I haven’t had any issues. But you may be right about what a trailer would do. Thank you!!

  • grue@lemmy.world
    0·
    3 months ago

    Most trailers are designed for bicycles or larger motorcycle-style scooters.

    I think there’s probably a good reason for that. Among other things, your trailer would have to connect so close to the ground that you’d probably high-center going up even shallow ramps. Balance (both your balance riding the scooter and the front-rear weight distribution on the scooter + trailer combo) might be an issue, too.

    What’s stopping you from getting a bike and attaching a trailer to that instead? (Or getting a cargo bike, for that matter?)

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Good points. Mostly because I have a nice scooter that gets me everywhere. I have a back-up car. I don’t really wanna add a bike into the mix. But you have a good point so I may revisit that plan. Thanks!

  • namezukurz@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    3 months ago

    So whats wrong with a bike instead of scooter? In the US the electric conversion kits for normals bikes are probably more relaxed than here, i.e. easier to do.

    For me is also thought about getting a bike trailer and then maybe buy an electric bike down the road.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Nothing wrong with it, I just didn’t have one. But my friend is giving me their ebike, so my problem is probably solved now. Thanks

  • DJ Putler@lemmy.mlBannedB
    0·
    3 months ago

    downvote stalker

    Check the # of comments made by the people who reply to you. If they’re from certain instances, & are in the thousands with no posts, well… I won’t spoil the mystery.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Oh no mystery. I know exactly the types that have no lives and stalk people. My sister-in-law works in mental health. I’ve definitely heard some stories from her and recognize the patterns. I just hope they get the help they need!

  • megopie@beehaw.orgEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    I got my mountain bike that I stuck a mid drive motor on, and some hefty saddle bags. Was my main grocery hauler for a while. Moved recently and I’m only a few blocks from a grocery store now.

    My contraption gets a bit top heavy when the saddle bags are fully loaded because the battery is fairly large and back rack mounted. At some point I’d like to get a battery that mounts low inside the frame to lower the center of gravity, and just only put the big back battery on when I want to make a long trip.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Yeah, I found a friend who is getting rid of their ebike, and it just needs new battery, and he’s giving it to me for free. So I may have solved my issue.

  • RaspberryTuba [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    I don’t think scooters are at all standardized? With bicycles there’s a reasonable assumption that it’ll have things built certain ways that the manufacturer can hitch their trailer to.

  • TheoryofChange [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    For a while I had a bike trailer with a broken hitch, so I just lashed it to the seat post with two rather tight clove hitches and called it a day. Worked well enough, including on 10+ mile rides, that I failed to fix that for months. My point being, don’t overthink it too much, just build something and be prepared to modify it or go back to the drawing board.

  • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    3 months ago

    A 3D printer is your best friend for projects like this imo. You can get a used one that is still decent for like ~200$ usually. Maybe dont use for heavily loaded parts but for everything else its great.

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      3D printed plastic is a horrible idea unless you use special printers and engineering filaments that cost a fortune. Unless you just want to prototype a metal part eventually made by an online service like PCBway.