I have an old, empty 100 gal propane tank.....and a 2 yr old daught. I'm gonna build her a belly tanker. Bicycle wheels, go-kart style steering, maybe even an engine. The hardest part is gonna be making the flat end not flat. I think it'll be really cool. And, most improtantly, it'll get her involved even more in this dying hobby of ours.
That is a pretty cool idea. I imagine it would be easier to whip one up from scratch, rather than modifying a propain tank... maybe?
I think that's a great idea! I have always intended to build a fenderless jalopy in the backyard when I have kids. Teens cars are fairly squarish at a glance, so it wouldn't be hard to use 2x4s and plywood to build something half-way convincing.
Watch out when cutting open propane tanks there is a fluid in the bottom that Really stinks (and I dont mean Propane) and it will make anything it soaks into stink. Dawg
Being all steel, won't that be awfull heavy?.......Also, if it crashes, how is the kid gonna get out?? Could get killed.
Well, Mr. Nader, The empty tak weighs about 35 lbs. I'm not an idiot. I'll make sure it's safe for her before she gets in. It'll prolly be pedal power for starters and we'll move up to an egine later.
Knew some guys that made one from one of those cylindrical trash cans with the spun round top on it (you know the ones with the swinging door?) It was fairly light, easy metal to work, and already aerodynamic.... then they painted it brown and called it the "Turd" (university guys ) Flatman
Not that it's my business, but for a two year old thirty five pounds is crazy heavy for a pedal powered anything. Add the weight of a drivetrain and steering setup and you'll be pushing fourty five.
Great idea. Use two so you can have both ends pointed. BUT, as mentioned the stink in propane is an oily substance that is added and it will stink, forever. Also they are a bit heavy for a pedal car. How about 20 gallon barrel(s) with stainless salad bowls for ends?
Did some measurin and the tank might be too small in diameter. I like the barrel idea. And the MOON tanks sure would be cool but oh so expensive. The salad bowls is a neat idea.
IMHO, I would think that it would be like making a toy out of an old gas tank and I wouldnt try it for fire safety reasons not to mention the stink. Bob
Pete, I like the barrel idea also with the stainless salad bowls, How bout using a stainless beer keg instead of a barrel? When my kids were that young I bought them repop pedal cars. Couldnt get anything done in the garage when they would race up the driveway trading paint! By the way, I have 3 girls! Now they moved into the bike stage, havent figured out that trading paint is alittle more painful now! In a coulple years I have a bumper car with a briggs 7 horse I will let them play with......The best thing I have done with them is taking them down the 1/4 mile in my S/C Rambler last year at the Blue Suede Cruise. I think that got em hooked more than anything else. To your 'dying hobby' comment, I think the hamb is a good example that it is on a rebound. My generation isnt into it nearly as much as the younger guys in my opinion. But I like your thinking of starting early to get your kid involved! Have fun....
What about copper electric immersion water heaters - not sure what you'd call them over there. Being copper they are really light, they are torpedo shaped and once the electric element is gone they useless and are thrown away.
Yes....unless we save it. I'm not talkin' bout the 'I saw Jesse James do it on TV so I'm gonna try' people. I mean the ********, eat, sleep. live and love hot rods people hobby.
I see the headlines now "MAN BLOWS UP CITY BLOCK IN FLINT" along with a cartoon like picture of a soot faced Pete with hair sticking straight back soot covered too. Forgive me I couldn't resist On a positive note it could bring people back to Flint as a tourist attraction.