How To Convert A Roll-Off Dumpster Into A Go-Kart
If it has four wheels, you can make it into a go-kart. At least, that is the philosophy of anyone who has ever converted a four-wheeled anything into a go-kart. If you want a go-kart that can double as a mini-tank, then you can convert a small roll-off dumpster into a go-kart. Here is how you can manage it.
Step 1: Cut All of Your Needed Holes
You will need to cut:
- Two-window sized holes on the front and back of the dumpster
- A windshield-sized hole on each side of the dumpster
- A few holes cut out of the bottom of the dumpster so you can connect your wheel to your axles and your gas and break pedals to the go-kart engine and your breaking mechanism.
Because most roll-off dumpsters are heavy duty metal or steel, you will need a blowtorch to cut the holes. Be sure you wear the proper protective equipment, which includes welder's gloves and face shield.
Step 2: Attaching Driver's Wheel, Axles and Breaking Mechanism
Dumpsters are very low to the ground, so you will need to turn the dumpster onto its back. Right now, your dumpster go-kart only has four disconnected wheels. You have to connect two wheels together with an axle and a drive shaft so that when you turn the wheel inside the go-kart this set of wheels will turn the whole dumpster in the direction you want it to go. The other two wheels will naturally follow the path of the driving and turning pair. You may be able to use a go-kart drive shaft kit to make this work, but you may have to modify it since the wheels on the dumpster are slightly farther apart than the standard go-kart.
Next, because there is no room outside of a dumpster to attach a braking mechanism, you only have two choices. Install an emergency braking system which will drag your dumpster go-kart to a stop, or build a simple wheel-braking system from inside the dumpster that exits holes cut out just above and behind all four wheels. You can find plans for kart braking systems online, but you might have to get a little creative where roll-off dumpster go-karts are concerned.
Step 3: Driver's Seat and Engine
Because you are, essentially, driving a box on wheels, you will need an engine and propulsion system that can give you enough of a push to get going and enough power to keep it going. That said, your engine may have to go inside the dumpster with you, and sit behind you and/or underneath your driver's seat. Your only other option is to build a "trunk" off the back of the dumpster that will hold the engine in place, but it might create more drag than push. As for your driver's seat, you can reuse some of the metal you cut from all four sides of the dumpster to create windows and windshields. To keep it from singeing your flesh on hot summer days, you can wrap the seat in non-flammable cloth or construct a wooden seat over the metal structure.