The Festival Sledge

[JackA-C]

Hi there,

 

My name is Jack Abbott-Cragg and I am doing My A-Levels at a sixth form in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. One of my A-Levels I take is product design i for my Final Product i am required to Design a product that solves a unique problem.

 

One idea i have is called the 'festival sledge'. This product would act as a Sledge with wheels so you can wheel your stuff from the gate to where you are camping which then folds into a camping chair. I know from personal experience that how much effort it is to carry 4/5 bags for 20-30 mins and how tiring it can be. I think that having a robust thing that carries your things and is also your chair.

 

I would really appreciate it if anyone could give me any feedback or possible ideas to enhance this product!

 

Thanks,

 

Jack

[russycarps]

You arent the first person to think of this. Back to the drawing board I'm afraid.

 

http://www.anchorsupplies.com/snow-festival-sledge.html

 

Plus, it's a crap idea isnt it if you think about it. Have you heard of gravity and friction? How easy do you think it will be to drag a heavily-laden sledge? You're not dragging it across the frozen plains of antarctica.

[mjsell]

Its not a bad idea by any stretch of the imagination. Like Russy said a sledge probably isn't the most ideal thing, you would need wheels.

 

But if it was possible to make a sturdy wheeled product that folds into a comfortable chair and wasn't overly expensive then you are definitely on to something. Must be difficult though.

 

I like your thinking though

[Rufus Gwertigan]

A sledge with wheels? Surely that's a trolley? Anywho I would be concerned about the number of folding/moving parts that may give. I think I would stick with a decent trolley rather than a multi use gadget.

[viberunner]

Have the wheels optional. If the ground is very dry you don't want to be dragging it, but in the mud you don't want to be relying on wheels. The one pictured doesn't have any kind of lid (or covering net) so items are going to be prone to falling off.

[t8yman]

you wouldnt be able to produce something of the quality needed to do the job for cheap, and i doubt people are prepared to spend £100+ for such an item, i know I wouldnt, and im a lazy twat with a decent amount of disposable income. I would buy a £30 wheelbarrow and that would do.

[viberunner]

The trouble with a wheelbarrow is fitting it in your car when it's laden with camping kit. And beer.

 

Actually a wheelbarrow that disassembles, flat slot-in sections for the sides and base, a couple of clip-in handles, a wheel that clips-in somehow, but flat-packs, would be brilliant.

[JackA-C]

Thanks guys, i know my original idea was 100% perfect but you have certainly directed me!

 

Thanks again

[kaosmark2]

i know my original idea was 100% perfect 

ego

[viberunner]

ego

 

I like a person who knows their own mind.

[kaosmark2]

I like a person who knows their own mind.

[viberunner]

 

 

A man who knows his mind if not his place.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

The trouble with a wheelbarrow is fitting it in your car when it's laden with camping kit. And beer.

Actually a wheelbarrow that disassembles, flat slot-in sections for the sides and base, a couple of clip-in handles, a wheel that clips-in somehow, but flat-packs, would be brilliant.

Or you could just buy a roof rack and shove your barrow on top.

[viberunner]

Or you could just buy a roof rack and shove your barrow on top.

 

 

Best casual use of the word "just" I've seen in some time.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Thanks guys, i know my original idea was 100% perfect but you have certainly directed me!

 

 

I am intrigued - in which direction have you been pointed (assuming you meant wasn't instead of was)?

[Comfy Bean]

Jack, as vibe says you've got to design this round getting it in the car I think so it has to fold. A folding chair with wheels has already been invented of course. You want fat tyres for when it's muddy and a set up where the wheels can easily be clicked on and off would be good for getting it in the car.

I'm thinking something resembling a shopping trolley made from 2 wheelchairs facing each other, with wide wheels, that opens up to form 2 seats that face in the same direction and have a little table in between. Ideally involving canvass to keep the weight down. The perfect valentines festival gift :-)

[JackA-C]

Wasn't* i meant to put

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

A sledge with wheels;

 

 

So, you could use it as a real sledge in winter and a transporting device at festivals whereby you clamp on the wheels and bracing unit. You'd want to use bigger pneumatic tyres than the solid wheels on this diagram.

[sheffieldlady]

I stumbled across this 

 

 

It's a Kayak beach trolley but should give you an idea on what is possible. I'm not sure a sledge would be an ideal solution for festivals. I have seen people end up with sore / cut hands from dragging a sledge a long, people seem to have more success with trolleys which have pneumatic tyres, they are more robust and suited to mud / bad terrain. 

When defining your problem - try to focus only on the problem - in this case, carting stuff around a festival is your problem. Have a look into the best solution for this - try not to have a pre-convinced idea on it being a sledge, design to the problem is the best advice any designer can have. Once you start doing that and take a step back from what you want the end product to be - you will design something which should be functional.  

[JackA-C]

I am intrigued - in which direction have you been pointed (assuming you meant wasn't instead of was)?

i now realise that the main focus should be on making it fit into a car rather than turning into a chair.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

i now realise that the main focus should be on making it fit into a car rather than turning into a chair.

 

Thanks for responding. It would defintely need to fit into a car or vehicle. If you got it right (ie collapsible) then people could get it in to the storage area of a coach too. However, it's cars and the like where loads of kit is being brought that it would come in to it's own. Good luck.