For the fourth time in twenty years, I'm stuck behind several feet of flood waters. Road is mostly clear, but there can be sections of 2-300 feet that are impassible. Some places might be a foot deep while others are ten feet deep or more.
A few people use kayaks, canoes or other standard craft. But that means carrying (portage) them between flooded sections as well as any supplies or cargo.
I'd like to basically drive the roads as normal, wheeled on the dry portions, boat the flooded portions without loading/unloading.
Ideally, I'm thinking of a flat hard bottom due to the potential of shrubs, stumps, fenceposts and so on.
I can see adding a standard single axle shaft with 8 or 12 inch trailer tires on the rear and some kind of steering axle on the front. Or a single wheel like a tricycle.
On water drive could be a trolling motor. Land drive is the issue. A simple chain/sprocket drive seems the easiest. But what to do for a motor? 12VDC with a battery? Small gasser? How would speed be controlled? Simple throttle cable on gasser?
I don't care too much about axle bearings rusting since it would be on dry land 99% of the time. Standard trailer axle bearings should suffice as long as they have grease zirks.
Yes, there are factory versions, but they are WAY out of my budget. I'd like to stay under $500 if possible other than the boat itself. I can find those pretty cheap used, even if I have to reseal the hull. I know I can get or make a rear axle unit for $100 or so.
A few people use kayaks, canoes or other standard craft. But that means carrying (portage) them between flooded sections as well as any supplies or cargo.
I'd like to basically drive the roads as normal, wheeled on the dry portions, boat the flooded portions without loading/unloading.
Ideally, I'm thinking of a flat hard bottom due to the potential of shrubs, stumps, fenceposts and so on.
I can see adding a standard single axle shaft with 8 or 12 inch trailer tires on the rear and some kind of steering axle on the front. Or a single wheel like a tricycle.
On water drive could be a trolling motor. Land drive is the issue. A simple chain/sprocket drive seems the easiest. But what to do for a motor? 12VDC with a battery? Small gasser? How would speed be controlled? Simple throttle cable on gasser?
I don't care too much about axle bearings rusting since it would be on dry land 99% of the time. Standard trailer axle bearings should suffice as long as they have grease zirks.
Yes, there are factory versions, but they are WAY out of my budget. I'd like to stay under $500 if possible other than the boat itself. I can find those pretty cheap used, even if I have to reseal the hull. I know I can get or make a rear axle unit for $100 or so.
