Originally Posted by
harshbarj
I was originally thinking of wood, but figured it would be too weak and heavy to use. It would save me a bit of weight in one way as I do want to place a deck on it, and being wood, it would just be simple to attach a sheet of 4x8 ply. But then would come the problem of wheels and how to attach it to my bicycle. With metal I can see a way of working it, but not with wood.
I have lots of time to plan as I don't need it till spring (around April or May).
On the contrary, wood is very strong. It's no coincidence that the first airplanes were built almost entirely from wood. The trailer I mentioned building is made from 2"x1"X1/16" rectangular tubing, and that stuff is approximately 0.04 lbs. less per linear foot than a 2x4.
Attaching a plywood deck is simple in either method; screw or nail onto a wood frame, use carriage bolts with nuts for steel.
And as for attaching wheels to a wood frame, simply use 4" square steel plates, with milled slots for the axle. (doubled-up junction box covers one finds in the electrical department of hardware stores do nicely for this, in lieu of plate stock)