Can anyone help? My father-in-law needs to build a hand car or pump car. The car is for a crazy! campng trip they go on every year. This years theme is hobos! The car will be used on a long driveway or grass.

He is going to make a wooden platform and use 4 old compact spare tires and weld up some axels. The car must stand up to two adults. We are not sure how to make the pump handles and drive shaft. Specifically, we do not know the gear ratios, we are thinking of using the sprockets and chain from an old motorcycle. We also want to make sure the handles move independently from the wheels, that is the handles only move up and down when someone wants them to, otherwise we are afraid someone will get hurt.

Does anyone have some plans from actual hand cars? We could easily adapt them for our project. Thanks for your help!

try the following link

http://www.handcar.net/build/

sc 'doc' lewis

You'll have to make some modifications, as the traditional handcar drive wasn't clutched; the handles went up and down as long as the car was moving.

Just a thought; how about four bike wheels (lighter than compact car wheels) and drive the coaster brake hubs with a crank and sprocket. that way the handle will stop when the critter coasts, and the brakes can be applied by pushing down on the proper handle. The car won't be reversible, but should be light enough to just turn around.