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kersploosh

Looking for Engineering idea for a harness to pull a cart (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/engineering

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have an elderly dog with a broken leg. Back in late 2019 I started hiking down by the river with the dog and have continued to this day. However she broke her leg, and then had to have surgery to add a plate, she is still unable to walk much during the healing. So I purchased a garden cart to tote her with us (my wife and my dog), but the extra weight and the quick harness I made are starting to make it too difficult.

Currently I have two equal length leashes attached to a clip on the handle.

The leashes crisscross my chest like Sean Connery’s bandoliers.

I have been thinking about maybe some replacement backpack straps, but I am unsure what to do with them on the back. Maybe a rope web of some sort, that attaches to the cart handle?

If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them, because I have a feeling even after her leg is healed I will still be carting her around for at least some of the hike.

Edit to add a picture of said dog, Mocha, this morning.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

A sled pulling belt might be more secure and will redirect the weight from your back and shoulders to your core and legs. Those are designed for heavy weights and have a wide strap so the weight is distributed over a greater surface

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This would be my suggestion too. If possible, I'd remove the cart handle and attach the belt with two lines as wide as possible on the steering bar (two lines, not one threaded through the belt) should help the cart to turn with you.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Oh, smart thinking!

[–] lurch 1 points 1 day ago

maybe check out climbing shoulder straps, but they are more for cases where something pulls from the front

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What about it is too difficult? Is your harness hurting? Or is there a jarring sudden load with every step?

Thank you for that wonderful image of Sean.

I imagine you're spending a lot of extra energy pulling up against the downwards component of the tension, and similar effects from the curved rigid cart handle. I agree with the comment that suggested a sled-pulling harness because more of your force would be in the direction you're interested on.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What about it is too difficult?

The additional 100+ lbs behind me. Also the leashes slide up press against my neck and down into my shoulders. I end up spending a lot of the time during the walk with the leashes off my shoulders and across my biceps. I was looking at the sled pulling belt and that led me to the sled pulling harness. I am going to pick up one of each and see how that works.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Yeah I think getting the attachment point down to your hips should help a lot. Less wasted energy working against gravity, and you'll be applying force more directly with your legs, rather than using a lot of core strength.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There’s wheelchairs for dogs if it’s just her back leg(s) that’s hurt

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

It is her front leg.