Out in the Paddock Mobile Work Trolley/Bench Designs

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I have just bought my first welder and I would like to solve an issue I have as my first project. This will be a mobile work bench - tool trolley, that can be wheeled out over a paddock that has rough ground.

Has anyone developed a design which may incorporate a foldout out work bench-top and storage in shelves for tools and parts? Something that is also very stable.

I will be using some wheels off some ride-on mowers to make the workbench portable. The main frame material will be steel. Not sure at this stage whether the bench-top will be a laminated timber or a square hollow section frame with a sheet metal top. Plus a couple of tiers of shelves and trays.

The other aspects will be stability and maneuverability for when it is sitting out in the paddock and moving it to and from the shed.

I have been using a Gladstone bag sitting on a moving trolley to transport the tools and parts. I use two sawhorses and an old plastic table top for the bench top.

Most of my spare parts vehicles are out in the paddock away from electrical power or secure storage. So it means having to unpack and then pack up all the tools and parts at the end of the day. The terrain is not smooth or that level.

Any suggestions will be most gratefully accepted!

Kind regards
Lionel

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Big, wide, large diameter wheels. And someone else or something mechanical to pull it.

[Mike Kelly]

Can you give us more detail about the size of the welder and how it is powered? If you have a long mains electrical power lead you will lose power over its length.. For your application a diesel engine driving a generator might be a better setup.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Can you give us more detail about the size of the welder and how it is powered? If you have a long mains electrical power lead you will lose power over its length.. For your application a diesel engine driving a generator might be a better setup.

Hello Mike,

Thank you for the reply Mike. The welder will be right next to the power point in the shed. The construction of the Mobile Work Trolly/Bench will not be an issue. The trolley/bench is the thing that will be venturing out into the paddock.

I would like some assistance in the design of a portable work trolley/bench that I would appreciate the most.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Big, wide, large diameter wheels. And someone else or something mechanical to pull it.

Hello Bruce,

Thank you for the reply. Yes I was thinking about two sets of rear ride-on mower wheels. I have a bit of a collection of dead ride-on mowers.

I was just thinking this morning of mounting one set of axles on a pivot point and constructing a fold-up triangular draw-bar. This would allow the trolley/bench to be pulled along by a living ride-on lawnmower.

For stability I also thought of some fold-up telescoping square hollow section legs positioned on the outside corners of the fold out work bench. It would make it adjustable and more stable on uneven ground.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lynn Eades]

Lionel, the obvious to me is a ute. Maybe not road legal, but with a flat deck and a tool box. Then you dont have to use time creating another project that takes you away from your priority projects. Drive it out there and drive back. Put an inverter in it maybe?

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Lionel, the obvious to me is a ute. Maybe not road legal, but with a flat deck and a tool box. Then you dont have to use time creating another project that takes you away from your priority projects. Drive it out there and drive back. Put an inverter in it maybe?

Hello Lynn,

Not without a large degree of irony... I am working on a tray back ute for working in the paddock. It is in the paddock. No it is not being towed into the shed. I did that once before and my good road registered daily driver was left sitting out in all types of weather.

I made a rule that the only vehicles going into my shed are ones that will be able to move out under their own power.

I also found myself working in the shed today and not having a work bench in the new shed - I was putting things down on a shelf. Then I was distracted. After I had absentmindedly put a nut and washer down on a miscellaneous shelf I had to go search for the right shelf. Also, why I was working on an engine I had mounted on an engine trolley I though how handy it would be having a mobile work trolley/bench right where I needed it. It would also prevent me wasting time finding something I had randomly put down somewhere.

There are workshop trolleys with a work bench available to be bought in the shops. However, they are not really suitable for use in a paddock.

I am still looking for where the hell I put my sun glasses after I took them off somewhere. Maybe I need more than a mobile trolley.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Back in the late mid 1980s I worked at a plant nursery. I just remembered the string of steam sterilisation media or potting-up-trolleys we used. After the contents of the trolley was steam treated to sterilise the media; each trolley was unhooked and towed out to where the potting-up was planned for the day. There were two sides that dropped down to form work tops. From memory they were made out of stainless steel sheet. My work-bench trolley will not be that salubrious.

A picture of the trolley work-bench is starting to become clearer in my mind.

Kind regards
Lionel