4X4 steering welding cart

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Ok guys and gals, two years on this thing. Unlike most, I bought a cart with my welder, of course had to modify it to my specs, was to flimsy, tank holder sucked etc. I needed to weld, not make a cart. Anyway, over time I have been playing with and building a cart to suit my own needs. I started out with a MM135 and added a Synro180SD (thanks for the help with the pulser Duane). So I need a cart not for one, but TWO welders.  I had to address two things. One . making it easy to move around and position. Two , use it in the yard with a generator (135 only) by towing it with a garden tractor. So I came up with this. Use in the shop, or out in the field. It has 4 wheel steering, park anywhere once you get used to the steering. Also I used a throw away clothing rack with adjustable heights for the front handle. this allows me to extend the handle up to 8 feet and keep the mig hose straight, for working  up in the air, truck  roof tops etc. You will notice two bolts protruding from the bottom of the steering handle.  This is for a  hitch  to my lawn tractor.One pin out and the handle comes off, and the coupler bolts on, thus allowing me to tow it around the yard. At 250 Lbs, the Syncrowave on the bottom makes a low center of gravity. I have towed it and it travels fine, bottles and all. I am building a generator trailer to attatch to the back of the cart for power to the MM135. I am going to be building a 50 x 10 lean top roof for my farm machinery , all  made of steel. No Need to carry a welder every day back and forth with a mile of extension cord. Its not done totally yet, a few more mods, But at least it is now usable in the shop. As for the Blue boxes, the little one is a tackle box from the dump, it contains tig accessories,and consumables.The bigger  blue box (milwaukee circular  saw box) also from the dump , Houses my Miller Elite  welding helmet, sleeves, gloves, welding hat, batteries, etc.  The top platform is stainless sheet from the scrap yard, the bottom is stainless expanded metal I, (COUGH), bought new. The front and rear steering axles are from snapper rear engine riders. Just a note, if you suck with math, dont attempt to figure out the geometry of 4 wheel steering with out a few beers and a lot of time on your hands. This project doesn't hold a candle to some of the quality builds I have seen on this site, but its mine and I am proud of it. Oh and the fenders are a 78 sportster front fender cut in 4 pieces, not for vanity,  just to keep weld sparks from blowing the tires. The tank bracket is ONE, yes ONE pin., no chains no bolts,no adjustments, and  best..no rattle. all of my tanks fit(I have three) diferent names. Will post more pics  of the build.         Wrench. Attached Images
Reply:Wrenchit,At high speeds, does the steering action change from opposite angle to same angle like the GM Quadrasteer trucks?  (just kidding )Seriously, that's a neat cart.  Do you mind if I copy your rod holder scheme.  I also like your wheels/tires alot more than the casters I used.  Even though mine are rated for 2x my loaded cart weight they still take some effort to move around.Great job and thanks for posting.Miller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:Here is my  crazy way of figuring out the steering radius..so it would work..lol Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by BTDWrenchit,At high speeds, does the steering action change from opposite angle to same angle like the GM Quadrasteer trucks?  (just kidding )Seriously, that's a neat cart.  Do you mind if I copy your rod holder scheme.  I also like your wheels/tires alot more than the casters I used.  Even though mine are rated for 2x my loaded cart weight they still take some effort to move around.Great job and thanks for posting.
Reply:For the ones that want to copy, the nuts were rewelded on the plates about 6 times to get the steering right. then I cut the Snapper rods and threaded them to aquire  mini adjustable tie rod ends off a MTD tractor. The alignment on this thing is better then  my Caprice Classic...
Reply:cool, nice job. wish I had the money for one tiny little project right now. but I don'tHH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:Wrenchit:Nice job on the cart!! Good pix's of it as well.One MAJOR error I noticed in you design and fabrication, and I hate to point this out. But in the interests of completeness and proper craftsmanship........There is NO beverage holder......Seriously, I like the way you dealt with the steering geometry. I'll have to keep this one in mind. I'm also interested in your ideas for your equipment shed. I have to put my collection under cover soon as I've been painting up a bunch of it and the intense sun where I live does a number on paint real fast.Thanks again for posting the pix's.Glenn.Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Man what a great Idea. Hope you don't mind if I keep this one in my back pocket for the next cart I may need to buildHarold MulderMiller 211 AutosetHTP 201 Invertig with water coolerHardinge Cataract Quick Change Lathe
Reply:Good job. I bet you can get this in some tight places. What's the turning radius?
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireGood job. I bet you can get this in some tight places. What's the turning radius?
Reply:Here are  few more pictures of the cart the way I use it for my mig machine, It keeps the lead up and off the floor and straight so no wire bunching in the cabinet. Attached Images
Reply:Two more pics. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by StampederWrenchit:Nice job on the cart!! Good pix's of it as well.One MAJOR error I noticed in you design and fabrication, and I hate to point this out. But in the interests of completeness and proper craftsmanship........There is NO beverage holder......Seriously, I like the way you dealt with the steering geometry. I'll have to keep this one in mind. I'm also interested in your ideas for your equipment shed. I have to put my collection under cover soon as I've been painting up a bunch of it and the intense sun where I live does a number on paint real fast.Thanks again for posting the pix's.Glenn.
Reply:That's pretty neat, the bellcranks are nice.Fenders too."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice build Wrenchit!Thanks for posting it.Next you'll have to work up an oblique "crab" steering option. So why the O2 cylinder? Good Luck
Reply:[QUOTE=denrep;378704]Nice build Wrenchit!Thanks for posting it.Next you'll have to work up an oblique "crab" steering option. So why the O2 cylinder? Good Luck[/QUOTE  Just the color, green tank is straight argon, brown tank is 75/25 argon/co2. eventually I will paint them blue..lol
Reply:i like you made the handle to assist in keeping the wire running smothly for your mig while working. that should keep the lead from bending to much were it connects to the welder. nice cart indeedIf you like my stuff you can find me on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/theangryanv...ngryanvilforge
Reply:I like it....How do like the pneumatic tires?
Reply:I like the pull handle idea, nice way to keep you gun off the floor too.Salas Repair General Welding & Fabrication
Reply:Originally Posted by BilldacatI like it....How do like the pneumatic tires?
Reply:I use large diameter wheels on some of my cart creations also, but I just don't trust pnuematics. Maybe you could wrap a second innertube around the air-filled one and add some of that green slime stuff to ward off punctures before they happen.Very clever design though! Attached ImagesCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny