A few weeks ago I ran a story about dealing with windy conditions at your hot dog cart. Joe sent me pics of his solution. Check it out…
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I took these pictures Friday with winds reported up to 46 MPH by the Topeka Weather station. These pictures show how I keep the umbrella from tearing up. I purchased tarp clamps and bungee cords from Harbor Freight. The wind was so strong it blew my cart backwards with the front tire locked. I than had to block the wheels. My dad told me if I have a problem find a solution.
Thanks again,
Joe
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The best solutions are usually the simplest. Thanks for the pictures Joe!
Here is a link to the tarp clips:
http://www.harborfreight.com/multipurpose-tarp-clips-4-pc-68014.html
-Steve
Click the picture for a larger version.
Smart Dad and even smarter idea!!
Looks like a great solution…. Also good looking cart.
That is a brilliant idea… Thanks Joe!
Nice!
Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Good job, Joe!
Smart ideas! Your Dad was wise like my Dad. You have a very clean good looking set up. Continued success, thanks for the input.
Great idea. Habor Freight has everything. They also have folding wheel blocks that fit perfectly for small tires to stop carts from blowing away. Mr. Tiki.
Thanks Joe I appreciate the help with this the wind gusts here are a real challenge .
Love the quote from your Dad! “If I have a problem, find a solution”
that looks very effective and inexpensive. good job Joe.
Joe, where did you get that sweet looking duel propane tank holder? I would love to have one of those. Thanks for the great info.
The other problem with the wind is keeping the foil open long enough to get a hot dog and bun in there. Always seems to keep blowing closed. Does anyone out there use foil bags? I think a half- open foil bag would be great. Thanks.
Summer is almost here guys…Hot Dog Weather!
Thanks for sharing this, what a GREAT idea.
We already have a trip planned to Harbor Freight on Monday while picking up my sister at the airport in Las Vegas (100 miles each way).
Gee, Harbor Freight, Frys Electronics, Restaurant Depot, where oh WHERE will we fit Sis and her luggage?
We might have to make this in TWO trips if she has as much luggage as she had on the outgoing trip (smile).
Skip
effing genius 😉
Yep.
-Steve
i just hop the cart don’t fly away..lol great thinking
Tiki and Skip –
Harbor Freight is like a candy store for us slingers. I could spend all day there.
-Steve
P.S. I keep looking at those radio controlled airplanes they have. Still a kid at heart…
Thanks for the link Sam!
-Steve
To Joe and Lucky Dawg. The dual tanks are handy; but, they are spot welded to the frame. That is a severe weak piont. Go to your local hardware store and pick up several “L” brackets and bolts. Drill several holes in the frame, baskets, and “L” brackets and bolt the baskets to the frame via the “L” brackets. An extra bolt an inch or so from the top of the basket will help secure your baskets. That’s what we did after the basket broke from the frame and sent the tank flying down the road! Mr. Tiki.
this is the exact same umbrella i was using when i was having the wind trouble. this is a 8ft umbrella. i did try something similar to this, but in the end, i switched to the 6ft umbrella from ebay, that has hot dogs and cold drinks printed on it. it is a lot heavier material and it handles high wind with no problem.
Yes I went by that day to see Joe. I was set up down town. I gave up because it was so windy. wind was blowing 40 – 45 miles an hour downtown Topeka I gave up an i don’t use a umbrella. Joe had his all strapped down. He was doing fine. This is my first year an I’ve talk to Joe a couple of times an it’s help me out. So good job Joe an thanks.
Great IDEA!!!!!!! lucky for us in southwest Georgia we dont gave the Great wind problems… Sometimes , alittle wind would be nice to keep the gnats away(only if your from the south would you understand…south joke)Your cart is clean and it looks Great… Tom from Georgia..
Tiki – I bet that scared the you-know-what out of you and the other motorists!
-Steve
Smart! I think an even simpler idea is to drill a 1/8″ hole through the collar where the umbrella enters the body of the cart, insert a long piece of VERY stiff wire or a large nail and VOILA!, an anchor! This does not address the fabric flapping that Joe solves so well but does prevent the shaft from moving.
PS It is easier and probably simplest to drill the hole at an angle.
Another method of reducing the resistance is to use the LOWEST hole on the pole when extending the umbrella. This alone will keep the umbrella where it belongs in minor wind conditions.
hi
I need to add a fourth sink to my cart. anyone know where I can get one that is small like the others? They are about 4inches square.
Where do you get them for building a cart from scratch? thx
PS love these posts -very helpful and makes me feel like part of a supportive community–
thanks !!
Linda,
We make our sinks out of steam pans. Use whatever size you prefer. 1/6 size pans work well.
Glad you love the newsletter!
-Steve
Way to use your head Joe. I’m sure Dads proud. Nice setup too!
our (name brand) Umbrella has “pin” like connection and the pole is “screwed” to the cart – it is very clean and very secure – even in high winds! please visit our web-site to see photos – we actually have 2 umbrellas – they are offset and they look great! If you buy enough doggies (name brand) will give you an umbrella OR two! Thanks – sue and rena!
I hate wind…….
Great idea indeed. I’m in the south too. Summer is approaching so what about the BUGS!!! How does everyone else handle em’?
Steve, yep, I needed a new pair that day. No damage to the car fallowing. The tank bounced to the curb and came to rest. Mr. Tiki.
I have a great deal of wind here in northern Arizona, I have the umbrella bolted down by attaching a pvc pipe to the cart and the bottom of the umbrella goes through this into a stand filled with sand. i then drilled a 5/8″ hole through the pvc pipe and the umbralla’s base and pinned it with a bolt. Umbrella won’t come out. But my question is, how do you keep the burners lit?????
Thanks KZ!
-Steve
Great idea with the Umbrella. My cart has two tanks as well but sit on a metal shelf with a metal strap around them. Individual tanks can be removed so that I always have a spare.
Floridians all have excessive amount of nasal hair, to filter out the gnats, I learned that as a kid when I lived in Orlando Park.
KZ, have Steve help us to get together, with you included that would make THREE of us in Mohave County?
Steve, please give my email address to KZ, thank you.
Tom/Backyarddogs, we’ll trade with you, you take some of our Arizona Wind and we’ll accept your gnats.
Skip
Awesome work on the tie downs! That should keep you well away from OZ!
I have a hard time keeping my flames high enough (in the wind ) to keep a consistent heat. I feel like I’m just wasting propane. Is it just me or any suggestions. I would rather work in the rain then the wind lol.
The orientation of your cart has a lot to do with this. Try turning your cart so the wind is in your face as you stand behind the cart. You will be surprised at how well this works.
Does your business slow down in the wind? I hate to say it but if its tooo windy I wont even bother setting up but now that I have read your posts I just need to “man up” and adapt and overcome. You have been an awesome help BTW!
ALSO Thanks for the quick reply on my other post about keeping my burners lit. Boy, I felt stupid on that question because it was just common sense to re position cart lol! LIKE YOU SAID..The best solutions are usually the simplest.
Wind won’t keep folks from eating. Try it!
About those HF clips and bungee straps. I recomend using a grommet and string. I thinkyou could have a serious problem when not if one of those bungees got loose and hit some one. I have used those Harbor Freight tarp clips and they are great until they slip and they will causing the tension in your cord to injure or damage something. If you put a grommet or 2 in every panel I could see you hang other merchandise or point of sale material. Just my 2 cents worth.
I like it Peter! I believe Harbor Freight has grommet kits. I’ve used them before and they are quite easy to install using the included tool.
I have to agree with Peter. If that clip lets go in a high wind, the bungee cord is going to go flying with it. A lifetime ago I worked for a lawyer who had a case involving an injury from a bungee cord coming loose. He won so I’ve always been careful about bungee cords, although I think they are great invention. I’ll go with the grommets and twine.
Twine has no “give” to it. You’ll be tearing out your grommets in no time.
String it is, I was worried it wouldn’t be strong enough. With my asthma, I stay home in strong wind. Coughing all over the food is such a bummer!
Love the idea of facing the cart into the wind (strong breeze in my case). Always learn a lot, thanks Steve!
No problem Mary!
Very timely for me. Mine snapped yesterday on a pretty much non windy day. In a half a second a big wind came and there it went…for the 5th time this season. My husband fixes the poles with an inexpensive bamboo stick from the garden section of Home Depot but even that snapped yesterday. I will definitely be trying this advice here.
I am looking to replace my umbrella I’m a newbie this year although I’ve had my cart almost 3 years…..Any ideas where to locate a new umbrella I’ve searched everywhere I can think of. Ty.
Contact the manufacturer of the hot dogs that you sell. Sometimes they have promotional umbrellas that they will give you.