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Posts posted by wired2moon
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I'm thinking of adding wheels in some way, shape or form to my Skywatcher 200P Dobsonian for portability - mainly wheeling it in and out of the garage but also *maybe* across short grass in the local playing field (a pretty good observing site). My idea is simple (like me) - to screw braked castor wheels to the base of the rocker box. I'm wondering if others have done the same and what the results were like? Here are the choices I am toying with:
- wheel configuration; 3 or 4?
- 4" or 5 " wheels (at the moment I'm thinking rubber castors)?
- brakes on all or some of the wheels? (and will the brakes keep it still enough for observing)?
Should i be looking at bigger wheels, perhaps pneumatic?
Would I be better to screw the wheels to a reinforced wooden board and just lift the scope on and off the board?
Is there a better way altogether to achieve simple portability?
I've seen advice on the internet about using hand/sack trolleys but this seems to me more of a faff than it needs to be, plus I imagine there would be challenges getting the scope on and off the trolley toe, with or without feet attached.
Ideas, views and your own experiences welcomed!
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Fantastic forum with a great bunch of folks providing views from pretty much all angles - happy to be on here!
Ta,
ZG
Adding wheels to Skywatcher 8" Dob
in DIY Astronomer
Posted
Decided on a 3/4" plywood platform with 4 x 5" braked wheels. Will cut holes for the baseboard feet and swivel bolt head so rocker box can sit flush. Nice that i don't have to make holes anywhere in the rocker box itself. I read about someone in the US who took this approach successfully. Importantly i've decided i won't need to wheel it over grass, just in/out of garage. Otherwise a hand truck or wheelbarrow attachments would be better. Have ordered parts and will post how it goes.
cheers for the input