So I purchased the BOB Sport Utility stroller and it is everything I could have hoped for and more. Only thing is when my wife tries to use it while running errands, it is difficult to maneuver. I obviously didn't think this 100% through otherwise I may have purchased the Revolution as it has a swivel wheel in front. But, I do like the one I purchased because it is awesome for the trail runs and other off-road fun we enjoy and I think the smaller front wheel on the Revolution wouldn't work for some of the places we go.

Ok, down to the point. I am looking to make some kind of adapter for the front wheel of my Sport Utility so it swivels. Something simple that can be attached and removed with relative ease. I found this site that has replacement parts for BOB strollers and can't help but think if I put together the swivel portion from the Revolution I can somehow attach it to the Sprot Utility... I am hoping someone with way more engineering skills than I have will read this and hook up a fellow dad with the way to accomplish this. Thanks in advance everyone!

EDIT: I found this thing but don't know how to make it, any ideas?

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Dude, you are so far out there past me, I can't even see you. If it can't be assembled with an Allen wrench, I consider subcontracting. Good luck. Where's Nik?

HA! DC, this ain't made o' wood, cardboard or craft supplies... so I don't know why you're looking for me! My stroller customization consists of stickers.

Ok... So I'll try to fire the creativity synapses.

Cooringa, you've clearly got the right idea. Now, you just need the parts. And for that, I suggest the not always popular, but ya can find just about anything there, Craigslist, and yardsales. Find a few freebies or dirt cheap regular strollers with the swivel wheels. The biggest challenge is going to be the wheel platform. The parameters are fairly simple. Mounting mechanism needs to be the width of the current wheel axle of the Sport, and be a bar (or axle-like) so that it attaches in the same way. Don't try to reinvent the attachment point.

You'll need to finagle how that attachement point then fits on top of a wheel or set of wheels. (I really like the design of the photo above.)

Also note that the wheel/mount assembly needs to hold the "fork" of the stroller at the same height, so the child isn't tipping forward.

So, does that give you enough to get started? I don't suspect there's ANYTHING above that you haven't already thought about though. Keep us posted! This is good chit to share with all Dads (and Moms).

Nik, I was thinking along the same lines. I have been browsing the 'ole craigslist today for some cheap stroller that I can just part out. I have found a few, but now that I am looking, I really want to get a set of double wheels on each side (like the pic) not the single wheels that come on the "umbrella strollers." I have sent a few e-mails out and also put the word out with my family to keep their eyes out too. I don't want to spend more than $20 on the wheels, but I think I will find something.

I was thinking about the height thing this morning too. I have measured the height from ground to fork with the wheel in and will maintain that as close as possible. Less than 1 inch difference is my goal and should be easy to do.

I think I am going to make a mock-up with some PVC and once i get everything the correct way I'll get some heavier pipe to actually use as the assembly.

I want to assembly to utilize the quick release method the current wheel does so they assembly and original wheel can be easily changed out depending on use. I have it all mocked up in my head but since I screw up drawing stick figures, I am having a rough time drawing the design...

One more question. I think I am going to want the front wheel assembly to be shorter than the rear wheel assembly, but still long enough to maintain stability (right?). How much shorter does the axel need to be or is that up to me as purely an ascetic aspect?

Yes, you want the front wheels assembly shorter than the rear, so it will all still fold up properly. The front wheels need to fit BETWEEN the rear wheels (at least if it folds up like I think it does, like our jogger).

I've got an idea, also PVC based, but it's difficult to explain. I'll try to make time tomorrow to sketch it out.

A key part... the "quick release axle." Take the front wheel to any good bike shop, and show them. The only thing you need is the axle (with the nut on one end, and the quick release on the other). But wait on this, because it may need to be a lil' bit longer than the current one on the wheel. You'll see why with the sketch.

I'm kinda diggin' this. Thanks for the project brainstorm... on a project that I don't have to do! Woo hoo!

I've been working on this (mostly mentally) all day. I wanted to put up some pics of what I have going thus far. Really I haven't done anything, but I have taken measurements and acquired the quick release and attachment for it. Hopefully it will still work with what you are thinking Nik. Here are some things I've thrown together (each pic I guess needs to be attached separately):

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I am not sure what happened to my last two pictures...

This is the second edit of this post and the picture still won't work properly. Check out this link for all the pics.

I think I figured out some of my image issues and wanted to try and put one up again...

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Ok, good pics to show how it all fits together. Here's my idea. Basic PVC construction:

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This of course depends on what kind of wheel assembly you find. But you get the jist of how it connects to the stroller. Not the EASIEST, because you have to unscrew the quick release to put it through the pipes, but it'll work, and should allow everything to fold up still.

The elbows on the ends would also be rotated or angled down compared to the Ts in the middle, so the wheels are straight down. (Does that make sense? I should have drawn a side view.)

So keep us posted on how it goes and what you eventually end up with!

Scored a FREE stroller off Craigslist today! I now have my "parts" stroller to start working with. Here are a few pics of what I am working with.

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Here is another shot with some measurements.

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So apparently this site logs you out after a set amount of time making replying a little annoying, but I digress and will get back to my adventure.

I want to add some pics here of what I'm working with and what my thoughts are of how to proceed.

Here is idea 1. I can keep the cross bar currently on the assembly and work with it...

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However, I am leaning towards option 2 which has the wheel independently attached. I think I like this better in case I decide I need a different set of wheels...


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Ooo look! Spam! Grrr...

Anyway... Looks good Cooringa, but isn't the T piece between the fork just going to 'swivel.' With any weight on it causing it flop down?

I don't think so. I am going to use something like a pipe insulator tube to fill the void between the axel and the walls of the "T." I think that'll work since the wheels are the only part that turn.

That being said, you may be right about the center flopping down. If that ends up being the case, I will likely just return the parts I ordered and go with your original design. I am holding off on moving forward with this until I get those parts in... UPS says the 12th so I have some time :-/

Great thread. I am currently trying to convert my BOB stroller into a bike trailer.
Anyhoo, thinking about your conversion and I agree with Nik about the "T" toppling forward. Perhaps making some notches in the PVC with a jigsaw where the bike frame is and it might help it some.

I don't see PVC being a good material for the load you want to apply. Maybe if you insert a metal pipe that fits tight through your horizontal run to brace it a bit. PVC's not structural and degrades rapidly in sunlight, two big negatives for something like this. I'd see this as a great excuse to buy a welder and learn a new trade!

Give up the Cricut, Skate Boy! Imagine scrapbooking with a tig welder!

I think that steel is the best thing to use. even if your welds looked like bird poo, it would still work better than any PVC contraption. You can always rent a welder once you have all the pieces cut and ready. then practice a couple welds and give it a try. Sounds like fun to me.

Valid points. And someday I personally would like to do some metal work... however, welding is not very practical for what Cooringa is trying to accomplish here. (unless of course he IS a welder by trade/hobby, in which case I think this thread would be titled, "Look what I welded to convert my BOB Stroller.") Learning to weld for this project would likely end up being just as expensive (if not moreso) than just buying the other stroller set up.

Cooringa, any progress? You've got us DIY Dads fired up.


(Ben, there are metal working "Cricut" machines... they're called CNC machines. Some are lasers, some are wood routing versions. Don't think I've seen a welding version, but have seen plasma cutters.)

Ok, I know it's been a while. I was supposed to do this the week of the 12th because that's when my parts came in that I plan on using to attach this to the stroller, but as all dads know, things happen and projects get delayed. I am making the home depot trip today to get the PVC (for mock-up and if strong, end of project). More to follow as I actually move along with this instead of just talking about it.

Ok, so here are the supplies (minus some tools needed anyway). Not too bad price wise, the most expensive item was under $5 and was the paint.


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So my original design had the "T" connector miraculously connecting to the longer axel. I clearly didn't think this through. I decided to get two "T" connectors and try to pair them together with the upper housing the connection to the forks and the lower the connection to the wheel portion...


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So, now that I worked around the "T" connector thing, I needed to get the portion that actually connects to the stroller assembled. This seemed like a brilliant idea in my head but actually ended up being an epic fail. I think this will be easily worked around though as well...


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Ok, so here is kinda what I have thus far. As I explain in the image, the whole thing can rotate forward generating catastrophic failure.
EDIT: Now that I read back through the entire thread, I think this is what Nik meant when he said it would flop down. I misunderstood thinking he meant that it would essentially sag in the middle, but now understand. ((insert multiple curse words here)).
I just need to figure out how to secure the piece with the quick release inside the top portion and that will fix the issue. Shouldn't be too hard, I just don't have the energy today... More to come, I promise. I just work slow.


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