2006Vehicles and Mounts forum
Building a budget rickshaw vehicle from plywood and steel for camera work
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A functional rickshaw can be constructed using plywood, gas pipe, wheels from a tool supplier, and a vehicle seat for approximately $215 in materials
- A center post welded from steel combined with wooden frame construction using screws and glue can produce a usable rickshaw in about five hours of work
- A heavier solid rickshaw design contributes to stability and reduces tipping risk
- The seat height should be positioned lower relative to wheel height for ergonomic comfort
- A removable center pole simplifies transportation of the completed rickshaw
- Spacing adjustments between the base and seat can be used to modify the overall height without redesigning the pole
Depends on
- The builder acknowledged the design had issues including excessive weight, wheels spaced too far apart, and an uncomfortable seat height
- The narrow wheelbase makes it difficult to position equipment beside the rickshaw during use
- The design was completed under time pressure and prioritized function over optimization
- This was built as a specialized camera platform rather than a general-purpose vehicle
- The high pole mentioned by the builder works well for some mounting configurations but may not suit all use cases