Utility Cycling - Stube axles/mono hubs, or whatever you call them...

...I'm not sure how we refer to them, you know the kind of hub/axle that attaches to the frame of the trailer (or indeed the bike/trike) on one side only, rather than on both sides as with normal bicycle wheels.

Where can these be obtained from? I would much rather use them for my trailer build if I can. I am always looking out for a kiddy trailer to take apart, but they're few and far between.

I don't remember seeing any home-made trailers that used this kind of wheel attachment - are there any examples?

Thanks

If you have access to a welder...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0387.jpg
Cut the heads off some bolts.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0388.jpg
Shove it into some square tubing with a couple holes drilled into it to help the welds adhere.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/IMG_0390.jpg
Tack weld it and grind smooth.

Use nylon lock nuts http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41LuyfymtKL._AA160_.gif to secure wheels like this (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200331764_200331764) or this (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1030_1030).

Awesome, thanks. I do indeed have a welder. So basically the protruding bolt just goes through the hub as the axle, and then you put a nut on the open side? And the wheel/hub rotates *around* the axle such that the square-section stuff could be welded onto the bottom of the trailer to stick out the side?

Would normal bike wheel hubs do, or would I need ones actually like you linked me to?

Awesome, thanks. I do indeed have a welder. So basically the protruding bolt just goes through the hub as the axle, and then you put a nut on the open side? And the wheel/hub rotates *around* the axle such that the square-section stuff could be welded onto the bottom of the trailer to stick out the side?

Would normal bike wheel hubs do, or would I need ones actually like you linked me to?

No! I thought of doing this very thing for one of my trailers as I was trying to stop the wheels from splaying out due to them being cantilevered. I tried my local hardware store for threaded rod/bar but the thread didn't match, they sent me off to an autoparts shop. Same thing again, guy told me you need a METRIC FINE THREADED BAR this is the thread used on bike wheels.

Try it yourself? get a nut of a bolt the same size as your bikewheel nut (mine were m10) and try put it on your wheel. It'll go on but only so far (you wont be able to tighten it) as its not the correct threading.

Try taking one of the nuts off you bike wheel and take it to your local ironmonger/hardware store and see if they have threaded rod/bar that'll fit you nut.

Regards
Tom

PS... I'll show you in pictures Why you need threaded bar for the wheels you already have? (you do have wheels?) Other wise you'll need to splash out on NEW wheels plus bolt(s) with head removed or rod/bar that will fit your new wheels.

Awesome, thanks.

Glad to help.


So basically the protruding bolt just goes through the hub as the axle, and then you put a nut on the open side? And the wheel/hub rotates *around* the axle such that the square-section stuff could be welded onto the bottom of the trailer to stick out the side?

Yes.


Would normal bike wheel hubs do, or would I need ones actually like you linked me to?

BossCat pretty well covered the reasons it'll be a headache to try and use "standard bicycle wheels". I'm sure there is some way to do it but for a couple bucks less than what I posted above you can have these (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36054) or these (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43612); and if you need a little bling, they come in gold too (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41475).

Here is a diagram of a wheel - broken down.

http://www.bikewebsite.com/rhubfw.gif

AXLE
Whatever BOLT-(with head removed as HandsomeRyan suggested) THREADED ROD/BAR has to pass through your wheel, fit though the threaded BEARING CONES and also be able to take the NUT that holds the wheel in place.

If you dont want to splash out on new wheels and cant find threaded rod/bar of the right thread the only other alternative I can think of is take your bike wheel nut to a machinists shop and ask if they can thread you up (at each end) a length of bar that will fit your nut.

You'll end up with something like this...

http://trailersfromtrash.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/023.jpg?w=400&h=300

Failing that you'll have to cantilevered your wheels. I use wheelchair wheels for my long haul/camping trailer im in the process of making - They'll take a lot of weight...
http://uk.geocities.com/topcattc@btinternet.com/newtrailer3.jpg

Regards
Tom

I made my flatbed trailer using the hubs from wheelchair wheels, built them into 20" wheels form a childrens bike. It is posted in one of the sickyes in this forum.

People who built tadpole trikes used to use BMX axles (the heavy duty competition kind, not the kids toy kind). Simpler mounting for a trailer as they don't have to steer.

People who built tadpole trikes used to use BMX axles (the heavy duty competition kind,Yes, both 14mm (.55") and 15mm (.59") diameter axles are available. The 14mm variety are much more common and there is also 14mm chromoly axles available if you need a little extra capacity. Instead of using bolts as HandsomeRyan suggested, just weld one end of the 14mm BMX axle to each end of the tubing. Then simply hacksaw-off the excess threads on the unsupported side. Here's the wheel to which I refer:

http://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Electron-Front-Wheel-14mm/dp/B001CK2P1E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1250394098&sr=8-12

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Xrk6IlF-L._SS500_.jpg