Thread: Horse drawn herse.

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I realize that I am new and may be posting this in the wrong forum. May the powers that be correct me...gently.

I am a few years behind in building props, so, I am now starting my horse drawn hearse.

The requirements of my project are
1. It looks realistic at a short, 5-6 foot, distance
2. That it be cheap.
3. That it is easily disassembled an stored
4. That it is cheap.
5. That each section is light in weight, for storage.
6. That it is cheap.

To meet objectives 2,4,6 I am starting early. I have scoured, and will continue to, yard sales, Craig's List, Thrift shops, Big Lots, Dollar store.
I have gotten free oak finials from a yard sale, 2x4s from a neighbor.

This project is not a sprint, nor a marathon, just a slow meandering down the path to the grave yard.

The most expensive part appeared to be the wagon wheels, so I decided to build my own out of 2x4 and schedule 40 1/2 inch PVC.
There are 12 sections of 9.5 inch (on the long side) 2x4 cut at 15 degrees at each end. This makes a 36 inch outside circumference wheel. Once dry I will cut out the circular shape.
To make a 48 inch wheel use 12.75 inches on the long side of the 2x4's with the same 15 degree angles.

The hub is another problem. At first I thought of making is like the rest of the wheel, out of segments cut at 15 degrees, but this was too small to cut right with my tools.
So, 4 2x4s cut at seven inches, next to each other, then 2 more at cross angles. This makes a 7x7x3 inch block. I will draw a circle on it and cut this out. Then drill holes for the 1/2 inch schedule 40 PVC. Use 2" drywall screws to secure once drilled and spokes are in.

Picture 1 is of the 12 sections of 2x4 with the ends cut at 15 degree angles.
Picture 2 is of the sections glued and clamped.
Picture 4 is of the 2 different size wheels clamped.
Picture 5 is of the hubs glued up and the 4.99 crow decoy from Bass Pro.
Picture 3 is of a Bucky wearing the 4.00 mink stole from Salvation Army Thrift Store.

As I said before, it's a long meandering project, not a sprint. Part of the work has to wait until it is warm enough to work outside. In the mean time I will post as I go. I welcome all feedback, thoughts, comments, ramblings.

try pvc for the spokes and hub.

Wow what a great solution to a problem. I always love cheap solutions to problems!!!! Great job!

I suggest that you explore the forum by using the advanced search function, search the props section for "horse drawn hearse" many of your questions have been discussed. best of luck and remember plan for storage

Here's a link to the one I built last year.

Project 5 the Hearse Student's Thread

I went for indestructible over lightweight.

Fortunately, I have the space to store it in my garage and actually use the hearse and under it for storage.

If I was going to make any changes to mine, it would've been to round the spokes with a router.

Definitely was a fun project

Sounds like a very well thought out plan and the start looks good!
We do cheap as well. Prop building just wouldn't be as fun if you had to pay full price for everything. Cramps the creativity!

MsM

Originally Posted by MsMeeple

We do cheap as well. Prop building just wouldn't be as fun if you had to pay full price for everything. Cramps the creativity!

MsM

I have a quote from Propmaster posted on my bulletin board at work..it goes something like: "Even on the cheap, haunting is not a poor man's hobby"


But if you look around, you can save a few pennies...for instance, the glass for my hearse comes from a double paned sliding door that I got at the Habitat for Humanity Resale store for $10.

This is the design I came up with, all sections will be bolted together and be able to come apart, I've made it the dimensions of a piece of plywood so limited cutting and what not, I'm sure the design will change when I got to actually building it though, I look forward to seeing your progress.

We made our hearse in sections so that it took me only about 20 minutes to take it down, but light weight? Even when striving to keep things light, we wound up with it weighing probably 250 lbs. We could have saved a lot of weight if we hadn't made the front axle steerable or used plexiglas for the windows instead of leaving the sides open.

That is a pretty sweet set up. I wish I could learn how to do things like this, it's pretty cool.