The EZ Built HD Cart by Steve Schaibel?

Hey guys..anyone out there have any experience with building your own cart using Steve's plans?  Steve Schaibel - which I have heard good things about - has a "Build your own cart" product out there.  I was just wondering is it worth building your own or just going out and buying one?  And is it easy enough to build?  'cause I am by no means a handy man.

Cajun man


Hey guys..anyone out there have any experience with building your own cart using Steve's plans?  Steve Schaibel - which I have heard good things about - has a "Build your own cart" product out there.  I was just wondering is it worth building your own or just going out and buying one?  And is it easy enough to build?  'cause I am by no means a handy man.

I don't know but I would like to see what people say about this.

I ordered the plans, got them 3 days ago and have been watching the 4 DVD's many times.  Wish I had the money to start building now, looks like fun!  Steve does a good job videoing the building process and gives plenty of information to almost too much, that is a good thing, some people need more than others.  I'm a retired electrician, I built my house, and I have a shop that I build custom bunk beds in so I feel confident in building a cart myself.  Might be a challenge to some people.  Gosh, I might be challenged myself-we'll see!

Let us know how it goes.

What is the link to that web site?  My web search only brings up "Roadfood" and this thread.

hotdogprofits.com i believe

http://www.buildahotdogcart.com/

This is another option we are looking at due to a questionable seller.
I'm interested in ordering the plans as a close friend is an incredible handy man - made his own margarita machine that works perfectly - cost was about 350.00

The upside is a custom build complete with the colors of your choice. I understand the exterior is painted and I'll check to see if this meets code in my area. (Dallas) If the exterior is white (hard to keep clean) you could custom design some exterior decals depending on the event - maybe even create them for a corporate outing or grand opening. (Yeah, I own a vinyl cutter)

The downside is that part of the allure for a special event or party is a SS cart that is "an authentic NY style hot dog cart"

Hi Folks,
 
I lurk and read here almost daily but decided to register and log in just so I could reply to this thread.
 
If you need or want to get started on a tight budget, this is DEFINITELY the way to go.  I can't stress enough that Steve has nearly eliminated any barriers to entry for anyone who wants to get started in the business and is willing to work at it.
 
The red cart pictured on his site is mine.  I just finished it this weekend and had my Health Inspection yesterday morning.
 
Despite what could have been many obstacles to success including problems importing a trailer from the U.S. forcing me to find one locally built and adapt to a different size mid-project, a lack of luan plywood necessitating the use of construction-grade fir, having to freehand all of the cuts using a 20-year old hand-me-down jigsaw over the edge of my front stoop, and of course a 100% complete and total lack of any experience or skill on my part, I still managed to get everything put together into a really decent and striking self-contained cart that tows and pushes like a dream, has the size and capacity of a WillyDog Hummer or All American Hot Dogger, and passed the Health Inspection with absolutely flying colours.  All told, I still came in for about CAD $1,000. total, almost half of which was the trailer.
 
For me, the very best part of this experience is that now I know absolutely everything about my cart, how it works, and how to troubleshoot anything that can possibly go wrong.  I was even able to customize the height of the cart body to accomodate my 6'5" height, elevating the top surface to save my back while cooking or reaching into the cooler.
 
I am not associated with Steve Schaible other than the fact that I am an elated customer and remain most grateful to him for providing me the means to take control of my own future.
 
 
 
 

I seen your cart on Steve's site, looks great, it's good to see a color other than yellow.  I bought Steve's plans and have been studying them for a while.  I'm impressed and can't wait to get started on building mine.  Got to find startup $$$!  Good luck with the business!!  Randy

I had a hard time following the directions for my kids toys that I had to put together at Xmass. I could only imagine how this would turn out.

BBQ Dude


All told, I still came in for about CAD $1,000. total, almost half of which was the trailer.
    

First time poster here. Just an observation BBQ Dude, but i'snt the cart used in these plans just this Harbor Freight Utility Trailer? I am just wondering because you said half of the $1000 was the trailer alone, but Harbor Freight has that one for $190 dollars.

I am interested in purchasing these plans as well, but I am looking to build it for under $600-$800. The less the better, but I do not plan on skimping on anything.

Hi Flashbox,
 
The plan does indeed use a Harbour Freight Trailer, which is definitely the best way to go, and is what I had originally planned on using when I started building my cart.  Unfortunately, after my cart body was built I found out that it's is a HUGE hassle to ship a trailer transborder from the U.S. into Canada.  $100.00 shipping, $100.00 Customs Brokerage fee, Undisclosed Duty amounts that Canada Customs wouldn't commit to until they saw the trailer, and the biggest B.S. of all is that since a trailer is a vehicle, I would need to undergo a $350.00 government inspection to determine that it meets Canadian safety standards.  I was really panicking because there were absolutely no similar small trailers around at all - almost everything was 4' x 8' and a couple were 4' x 6' - Way too big.  Thankfully at exactly the right time I found a Canadian-made 4' x 4' galvanized trailer for $449.00, which was still 8" too wide for the cart body but I managed to gloss that over by using the little leftover 'shelf' to mount a second  LP tank under the BBQ Grill. 
 
In short, since you are in the U.S. you can use the Harbor Freight trailer with no problems and spend much less than I did.
 
 

Oh my, some of the best trl.  manufactures are in Canada. Trailers I pulled where from Ontario, make anything you want from the largest trucking trailers to the smallest push cart. Investigate. They will make anything you want. was there every three years to revamp and redo some problems , but when you haul some of the most expensive Yachts in the industry have to keep up.

BBQ Dude,
    Thanks for clarifying. It was funny because I have been looking at his website for the last few days trying to put the list of items I would need together in my head and determining what kind of money I would be spending and Harbor Freight came to mind instantly when I thought of cheap trailers. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing :)

What in the heck are you talking about curby?

Ok some people put coolers in the carts. Made from poly carbs. heat and the the poly carbs will kill you dead.

So what do you suggest Curby?  My city, and would rather NOT say where at the moment - will NOT allow a vendor to have anything on the ground.  No ice chest, no box, no nothing!  Everything has to be on the cart.  They do this to enforce a neat, clean, uncluttered area. (I guess)
 
So where do you propose the cooler go?  As I see it - with these requirements - it is going to have to be somewhere near the heat source.

 I guess you could have someone fabricate a SS holder and removable rack on the side of the cart?

waydeg


I guess you could have someone fabricate a SS holder and removable rack on the side of the cart?

Do you have to have refridgeration on your cart to pass the requirments?

ok, call me silly...but what is a "SS" ? 

And Refrigeration on the cart QUICK? ...no I do not think you have to have it on the cart - but how else  do you keep drinks cold if you don't have some kind of cooler box?

Cajun man


ok, call me silly...but what is a "SS" ? 

And Refrigeration on the cart QUICK? ...no I do not think you have to have it on the cart - but how else  do you keep drinks cold if you don't have some kind of cooler box?

Sorry, SS = stainless steel
Don't most commercially made carts have a cooler built into them? I think Curby is talking about your "drop into a slot" Coleman cooler???? 
Just my guess.

Any suggestions on a different type of cooler to put in this cart? Can you buy a stainless steel cooler to drop in?

Wouldn't this qualify as "off the ground" for most health departments?
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/stainless-steel-party-cooler--120-qt.


I've seen other stainless steel coolers - Coleman has a 54qt cooler but it may not fit in most carts, if any.
I'm guessing this would fit into the plans of a custom cart like a "build your own".

I must admit - a pretty sweet looking cooler there Waydeg....but nope here in Columbus, OH - everything has to be self contained on the cart (at least that's the way I understand it to be - and I spoke to the "MAN" just this week). 

Cajun man


ok, call me silly...but what is a "SS" ? 

And Refrigeration on the cart QUICK? ...no I do not think you have to have it on the cart - but how else  do you keep drinks cold if you don't have some kind of cooler box?

Ice.  That's all you need. Lasts all day and I live in Ca.  It gets 100 degrees and the ice still holds well. Just install an ice chest in the cart with a drain pipe. 

That was my plan there Quickie!

Cajun man


That was my plan there Quickie!

For some reason I was under the impression you were talking about a refrigerated unit.