Best pier cart alternative?

Let's face it. Spending $100-250 on a cart you can use for a week or less each year isn't in the budget and just seems a waste. But the fishing backpack I use for the jetty isn't quite adequate for hauling everything I want to carry onto the pier. So I'm looking for a good alternative to a pier cart. Looked at wheel coolers, diy pvc carts, etc. What I've come down to as the best bang for the buck, as well as giving me some use at home is a garden cart, either the steel cart or the poly dump cart. Before I start seriously looking at models, is this my best alternative, or is there something better I haven't found?

This should give you some ideas ;-)

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...raptions-2949/

Definitely a lot of options. Which to choose...........

A cube cooler with 4 rod holders made out of 2" pvc,2 stainless bolt/fender washers to hold each and a bolt across the middle at bottom for the long butted rods worked well for me this year,cooler still works and a large flat surface to set a tackle box stool and a large net I bought while there

Any thing with wheels and area for storage, I started with a 2 wheel dolly that I added 2 caster wheels layed over for cooler and rods buckets and tackle bag, went to a long wheeled cooler with mounted rod holders, then wide wheeled cooler that I might still be using if I didn't find a good deal on a JR. cart used for 10 years and moved up to a Sr. Cart......might end up missing the jr. Cart in a few years....just felt cramped with it.....was able to increase the cooler size now with extra room for the tackle bag.....work in progress with the new one to figure out how things should be.....good enough for a future trip at this point

One thing to consider is the wheels. The small caster wheels don't roll over the pier planks very well or not at all over sand. I went with a garden cart with 2 inch PVC pipes tied on with cross ties. Sometimes the cart is on sale for $69. I paid $100 for mine at Home Depot because my other one broke while on vacation in PC. The other thing is those collapsible fold up carts but they don't roll all that well but are easy to pick up and take with you in a vehicle.

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Originally Posted by T-Boy

One thing to consider is the wheels. The small caster wheels don't roll over the pier planks very well or not at all over sand. I went with a garden cart with 2 inch PVC pipes tied on with cross ties. Sometimes the cart is on sale for $69. I paid $100 for mine at Home Depot because my other one broke while on vacation in PC. The other thing is those collapsible fold up carts but they don't roll all that well but are easy to pick up and take with you in a vehicle.

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Glad to hear from you! Please keep us in the know about Panama city piers in the out of area section, love to read/see about the piers to the east

I'd keep on the lookout for a used one , In the long run a Jr. or Sr. cart just can't be beat ,

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Originally Posted by ironman172

Glad to hear from you! Please keep us in the know about Panama city piers in the out of area section, love to read/see about the piers to the east

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I live in Atlanta but will be down the month of October and will report. Go to www.Baycountyoutdoors.com for a few pier reports. I think they post about once a week.

I use the large $60 folding wagon from Wallyworld, same wagon from Academy is $100. I use it a lot up here and works well down there.

Keep an eye on cabelas, academy or basspro. It's getting close to the time of year when they clearance fishing gear out. I got my cart from cabelas when they had it on clearance plus I had a $20 off coupon. It was a steal.

My jr cart went quick on here last spring.....always look here,pensacola fishing forum, or craigs list.....I got my new 310 sr. Cart off craig's list local (ohio).....if you are intergentic you can find some deals out there.....I have seen a couple at local flea markets here too, but too late when I saw them (already bought)not that I would have they were smaller then the jr. Cart I owned at the time
Good looking.....part of the fun of pier fishing.......for me anyway

Don't forget yard sales , But that depends on the area , I've seen them on the Atlanta craigslist from time to time when I'm looking for something else,

Fshntime has them on here once in awhile at a resonable price......you might already have somting around the house that might work.....use your imagination

There are pictures here of several wheeled cooler/pier carts, mine included. I've done some cheap mods to mine (including oversized lawnmower wheels) it pulls easily clears bumps with no trouble and has lasted 2 years so far with no signs of wear.- and it easily fits in the back seat of a Honda civic...

I've used the same small hand truck with a rod rack attached since 1992! Will try to find a pick tomorrow.

I used a convertible hand truck like the one in the link below forever (I think my brother is still using it). It can be used upright as pictured or the handle can be inserted the other way and be used as a 4-wheeled cart
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Milwaukee-8...Truck/50042446

My inlaws got me one of the folding carts with the nylon "bed" for Christmas last year. I knew it wouldn't hold up for what I wanted to use it for (daughter's travel softball and as a pier cart) so I exchanged it for one of the steel mesh utility carts at Academy. Add some PVC pipe for rod holders and you're set. My only regret is that I didn't get the bigger cart
Academy Sports + Outdoors Max-400 Utility Cart | Academy

I've even seen people using children's Red Flyer wagons as pier carts

You can use all types carts , Your only limited by your imagination and more important , $$$$ Thats what my wife said

My dad had this hand truck made in 1943, I've been using it as a pier cart since 1972...
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tid=6542&stc=1

Even the original wheels!

I used this old wheelchair for a couple years. Worked great!

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...-9-2011004.jpg

i just have the missus carry it out on the pier for me.

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Originally Posted by j. gravy

i just have the missus carry it out on the pier for me.

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Ouch, someone is pulling my leg!

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Originally Posted by j. gravy

i just have the missus carry it out on the pier for me.

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My hero ;-) LOL
https://i0.wp.com/motivateusnot.com/...94&ssl=1&w=640

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Originally Posted by will46r

I use the large $60 folding wagon from Wallyworld, same wagon from Academy is $100. I use it a lot up here and works well down there.

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Thanks will46r. I've been eyeing one of those wally-carts for a while, wondering if it would get me laughed off the pier (heck, it'd take a LOT of laughter to budge me!) Think I'll go buy one if the football tailgaters haven't snatched all them up yet.

Gee, mate! A gentleman would at least hold the 'brolly over her! (To keep the bottles dry, ya know! <chuckle>)

Somebody left a Walmart buggy down the street from my house.

The nylon collapsible buggie worked for me for years. I bought 8 rod holders and used zip ties to hold them in each of the corners. It held a decent size cooler, 2 tackle bags and supplies for an all day trip to the pier.
Best thing, it was cheap at a yard sale - and packed up neat for travel.
Highly reccomend for part timers that don't travel in a truck.

Reese hitch carrier solves some of the transporting problems for me and the cart....had to ulter it some with the bigger/wider cart this trip....Slim warned me I might have too, just added a aluminum plate for the tire to ride on.....I may miss the jr. Cart before it's over....

Here's my 30 year old cart.

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Originally Posted by CarlF

Here's my 30 year old cart.

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It's got that 'old towne Mobile' look ;-)

So it looks like this will be my pier cart for this year. 48 quart cooler on wheels. Found it on sale at Home Depot while returning something for a refund. Got a bass pro back pack for all my tackle. Only downside is limited rod storage. Can hold one rod with the backpack and one in my hand. Will probably have to work on something that doesn't involve putting holes in the new cooler so I can have at least four. May take my surf spikes and zip tie them to the handle or something.

Just bolt some PVC rod holders on the ends. Or mount em on a milkcrate and bugie it on the cooler!!!!just be sure and get the milk crate that is emblazoned " thou shall not steal",

One trip to the pier this year, I used a similar rolling cooler. I strapped my bucket and tackle pack to the top and carried 4 rods in one hand, pulled the cooler with the other. It worked.
But better advice is to attached 2 rod holders to each side!