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)

  • namezukurz@discuss.tchncs.de
    1·
    4 minutes 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.

  • DJ Putler@lemmy.mlB
    1·
    42 minutes 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.

  • Caveman
    1·
    1 hour 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.

  • 56!@slrpnk.net
    1·
    3 hours ago

    Could you maybe attach one of these to the scooter? I have no idea how scooter trailers connect. One of them things with 2 wheels for moving heavy things. Idk what they're called.

  • JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip
    4·
    5 hours 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

  • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
    2·
    6 hours 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.

  • garbagebagel
    17·
    10 hours 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
      71·
      10 hours 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
    9·
    10 hours 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
      31·
      9 hours 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!

  • Tanis Nikana
    17·
    14 hours ago

    I got a downvote stalker too. I think mine’s just a regular old transphobe though.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      181·
      12 hours ago

      Oh, mine is a transphobe who use to run a conservative comm here on Lemmy. So even more lame! lol

      Maybe we can trade!

  • davel [he/him]@lemmy.mlEnglish
    14·
    14 hours ago

    Shout out to my downvote stalker.

    It’s a lemmy.today user, so you may want to take it up your admins. They’re also reporting you for being a “DonaldJMusk astroturfing account.”

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
      111·
      12 hours ago

      Yeah, he’s been following me around for almost a year saying that. It’s been disproved many times, and I don’t even post any content that DJM would even like. How would I be a sockpuppet account since I don’t post the same content or even know, see, or care what DJM posts? lol

      So the stalker just follows me around and downvotes whatever I say regardless of content.

      Looks like my stalker was a mod of a former conservative community on here, so he seems upset that I post left-leaning articles? Or he hates me because I’m socialist? Or he doesn’t like solar power? No clue. I can’t seem to understand his beef. But the dude will downvote and then rush to send me the “popcorn” emoji in DM’s. LMAO

      Some Lemmy’s just gotta be creepy I guess. lol