Bicycle Mechanics - Converting a Bike Wheel?

I'm building a bike trailer for my surfboards. I have the plans all worked out in my head except how to attach the wheels. Is there a way to convert a bike wheel so it can be attached by a single nut on one side of the wheel? I would like this to be done as cheaply as possible. So far I'm thinking i can keep it normal and just tighten the bold on the outside all the way in and the inside bold will tighten to the trailer.

Will the create any problems?

Thanks for your time.

Ray

I'm building a bike trailer for my surfboards. I have the plans all worked out in my head except how to attach the wheels. Is there a way to convert a bike wheel so it can be attached by a single nut on one side of the wheel? I would like this to be done as cheaply as possible. So far I'm thinking i can keep it normal and just tighten the bold on the outside all the way in and the inside bold will tighten to the trailer.

Will the create any problems?

Thanks for your time.

Ray

Ray,

If you can find a couple of old clunker front tires that use threaded axles instead of skewers, then simply remove the nut from the outside, and then place both nuts on the other of the wheel. Sandwich the "fork" of your trailer between the two nuts and torque 'em down tight. You can build your "forks" out of heavy L brackets with one side slotted to accept the axle. Of course, this design will place weight only on one side of the wheel, but it should last a long time as long as you don't carry too many large coolers full of beer along with your surfboards.

Another idea would be to use 2 old forks mounted though a couple of pipes set at an angle (or perpendicular to the ground if you want a tall trailer) with a bolt through the fork tube and the pipe so they don't swivel. Then you can use any tires you can get your hands on, threaded or skewered.

Yes you can.
This is a question for recumbent trike builders.

http://www.ihpva.org/Builders/

Yes you can.
This is a question for recumbent trike builders.

recumbent trike builders, i'm told, use hubs that are designed for fatter axles in order to be able to attach the wheel at only one side. Of course, your trailer will probably carry less weight. But it will also spread that weight over fewer wheels. it seems to me you might twist off the end of your axle by carrying more than one surfboard on a trailer like that, but it depends on the weight of your surfboards.

You could get hubs designed for wheelchair use, or look in the McMaster catalogue for industrial wheels. Reworking a standard bike hub for one sided use isn't really feasible.

I'm building a bike trailer for my surfboards. I have the plans all worked out in my head except how to attach the wheels. Is there a way to convert a bike wheel so it can be attached by a single nut on one side of the wheel? I would like this to be done as cheaply as possible. So far I'm thinking i can keep it normal and just tighten the bold on the outside all the way in and the inside bold will tighten to the trailer.

Will the create any problems?

Thanks for your time.

Ray

Ray, im thinking if you can find an old pair of front wheels and some Dexion, (that grey shelving "L" bracket stuff) you can be in business really quick. just get a runner on each side of the wheel, so that you don't have the axle loaded on one side only, I have no experience, but I think it may cause it to fail if you dont.
or, if you have a bit of scratch, see if you can get a couple of wheels like the ones on a "Chariot" trailer?
they have axle's designed for single sided mounting. and I think that the trailers are good for about 45kg

Good luck, show us some pic's when you get it done!