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)

  • lemonwood@lemmy.ml
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    4 days 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).

  • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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    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
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      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!

  • garbagebagel@lemmy.world
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    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
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      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!!

  • davel@lemmy.ml
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    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
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      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

      • bloubz@lemmygrad.ml
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        4 days ago

        Who are these people? What’s all this drama on the liberal side of Lemmy (I’m actually interested)

        • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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          Did it turn out to be all that you had hoped it would be? Or did it seem like meaningless petty Lemmy drama that was just is a waste of everyone’s time?

            • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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              Please show me any news articles in my news communities that I’ve posted that are AI.

              What news do you think I’m “spreading”? Left news? Because you are a conservative and hate left news, you think I have some strange plot to spread news?! lol Ok, so too bad, I’ll keep posting left-leaning news articles.

              If you don’t like the news that I post in my communities, feel free to post your own. Lemmy can always use more comment, so have at it.

              But none of that has anything to do with this post or this community. Please stay on-topic.

              • NewPerspective@lemmy.today
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                You get me confused with the many trolls following DJM around. One has an AI girlfriend, one is into weed, one calls you Aaron, none of them are me.

                I’m not here to explain credibility to you. I’m here to expose you.

                • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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                  Why would I care if trolls are following DJM around?

                  Lemmy is full of fixated trolls who follow people around. I know you follow me around, but you don’t scare me if that’s what you think. I find stalkers pathetic, but not scary.

                  None of this has anything to do with this FuckCars post, or this FuckCars community.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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      Oh, mine is a transphobe who used to run a conservative comm here on Lemmy. So even more lame! lol

      Maybe we can trade!

  • quick_snail@feddit.nl
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    After you build this, you’re going to know why nobody sells them.

    Please post a follow up with everything you’ve learned.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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      Good points! Well with my building skill, it’s doubtful I’d get one working. But you make a good point about maybe that’s the reason they are not sold!

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    Depending on your capacity needs maybe it would be easier to attach a bag to the handlebars where there’s more stability and control, something like this

    kick scooter with bag attached to the handlebar post

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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      I’ll try that, but my brain seems to think that would be less control. But I’ll see what I can do. Thanks!

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    Wouldn’t it be easier to modify a bike trailer than start from scratch? I’ve no experience with this, but I’d presume one of the axle connector models might be fitted with some imaginary custom peg to account for the few inch height difference. Obviously trailers that connect up by the bike seat would not work, but what about this sort of model? Also, does searching for “scooter trailer coupler” help?
    pic this one has its own kickstand --> pic Or maybe just flip the post on a model like this? pic

  • namezukurz@discuss.tchncs.de
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    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
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      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

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    I think you’re going to find that your scooter isn’t really up for pulling much more weight beyond yourself.

    If you are unlucky enough to cross that first hurdle, I fear you will quickly discover that the brakes are not able to stop the inertia once you get going.

    I wish you the best of luck. Please keep safety in mind.

    • PapaSkwat@lemmy.todayOP
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      Good points. My scoot does seem pretty powerful, and I was more or less just gonna haul groceries on it, just more than I can fit in a backpack, but you bring up good points as I have no experience with hauling anything behind it. Thank you!

  • JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip
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    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

  • grue@lemmy.world
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    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
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      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!

  • megopie@beehaw.org
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    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
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      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.