A duffel bag may suffice when you go on a day trip. However, carrying it may strain your shoulders if it is too heavy. If you're looking to ease the burden by putting wheels on your duffel bag but don't know how to, don't worry because we researched what you need to do.
To add wheels to your duffel bag, you'll need to do the following steps:
- Sew in two Velcro straps on one end of the duffel bag.
- Assemble the rod with wheels.
- Strap the rod of the wheels on the Velcro of the duffel bag to test and adjust as necessary.
Keep in mind that there are a lot of materials that you need to use to assemble this. However, if you don't want to spend on a new duffel bag with wheels, you'll want to follow the steps in more detail. This guide will help you by adding wheels to your duffel bag.
Steps On Adding Wheels On Your Duffel Bag
In some ways, having a duffel bag on hand is more manageable than bringing a suitcase when you're just going out for a short trip. Duffel bags are easy to carry around in areas with only a staircase or uneven terrain and don't take up too much space when it's not in use.
If you're bringing many things in your duffel bag and carrying the bag for a long time, you might injure your shoulder. You'll want to opt for a duffel bag with wheels to lessen that possibility. Buying a new one is an option, but you can also try putting wheels on your duffel bag.
The steps on adding wheels to your duffel might seem short, but before you can start, below are the following materials that you will need:
- Duffel bag
- Two thick Velcro strips
- Sewing machine
- Sewing kit
- Aluminum rod
- Marker
- Four shaft collars
- Wheels
- Allen wrench
- Hack saw
- Two thick rubber bands
Sew The Velcro
Grab your duffel bag and decide which end you want to put your wheels on. Ideally, you want your duffel bag to have a handle on one end or have the handles long enough so you can pull the bag while wheeling it around.
Once you've decided which end you want the wheels to go to, flip your duffel bag over so you can see its underside. Get your two Velcro strips which should be around 6" long. Peel off the rough side of each Velcro and place the soft sides lengthwise on each side of the end of your duffel bag.
You'll need to get a pin to lock the Velcro pieces in place while you sew them in the sewing machine. Make sure that you sew each side of the pieces.
Once you have sewn the two soft pieces of Velcro, you can stick the rough side with the soft side of the Velcro. After sticking each piece back together, you'll only need to sew the bottom edge portion of each Velcro to secure it in place.
This way, you can open up the Velcro on one end, slide the rod with your wheels between the soft and rough sides, and not have it fall off the other end when you pull your duffel bag.
Assemble Rod With Wheels
The next thing you want to prepare is the wheels for your duffel bag. Grab your aluminum rod and place it on top of your duffel bag. Make sure that the rod fits the size of your duffel bag's wheel. You want to put it horizontally across where your Velcro pieces are.
The rod will act as your measuring stick where you want to place your wheels. Mark the areas where you want your wheels placed with your marker. Remember to make sure that the wheels won't hit your duffel bag. After marking them, it's time to put in the shaft collars.
Each wheel will have two shaft collars, with one on each side. With that, insert the wheel and shaft collars accordingly and ensure that your wheels are situated where the marked areas are.
Once they are, tighten your shaft collars with your Allen wrench. You don't need to tighten it too much to give room for any adjustments.
Strap The Wheels In
Now that you have your bag all set and your wheels attached to your aluminum rod, it's time to test it out so you can adjust the placing of your wheels. You'll need to separate the Velcro straps, place the rod in, and secure it by sticking the Velcro together again.
The rod might move side to side while placed in the Velcro and when you take the wheels for a test run. To avoid that, put rubber bands on the rod and set them on the outer sides of each Velcro strap to prevent the rod from moving around.
At this point, you'll probably want to make some adjustments to the wheels if they're too far or near the duffel bag. If you need to fine-tune your work, mark the areas where you want to position your wheels again, take the rod out of the Velcro straps, and adjust the wheels as necessary.
You may also have an excess amount of aluminum rod sticking out of the wheels. Once you're happy with the spacing of your wheels, you can take it out of the Velcro and use your hack saw to cut off excess parts. With that, you now have wheels for your duffel bag that you can detach on the go.
Types Of Duffel Bags
You're mistaken if you think a duffel bag is only available as those with or without wheels. There are many types of duffel bags with unique designs and advantages.
Barrel Duffel Bag
Typically seen as the go-to bag for athletes or people who go to the gym, the barrel or round type is a simple, lightweight bag that's perfect for bringing around the city. It has a simple design of a linear zipper that goes from one end to the other, making it easy for users to access their things immediately.
Check out this round duffel bag on Amazon.
Squared Duffel Bag
The squared duffel has a much sturdier shape, making it more durable than the barrel. While it may seem bulky, the squared duffel's body allows good protection for your belongings.
Here's a square duffel bag on Amazon.
Cooler Duffel Bag
This design is for going out on a casual picnic and wanting to keep some drinks cold. Instead of bringing a hard plastic cooler, the cooler duffel bag can insulate your drinks and keep your drink cool.
Look at this cooler duffel bag on Amazon.
Backpack Duffel Bag
This doubles as a backpack and a duffel bag, with shoulder straps and a handle if you want to carry it by hand. Those who constantly bring multiple items to work or school can benefit from using this type of bag.
Try out this backpack duffel bag on Amazon.
Rolling Duffel Bag
Finally, the rolling duffel bag is like a cross between a duffel bag and a suitcase. It has two long straps you can use for a handle to carry the bag, but it also has wheels and a retractable handle to pull it along.
Get this rolling duffel bag on Amazon.
In Conclusion
A duffel bag is convenient if you have a quick trip. If you want to avoid putting too much burden on your shoulders for carrying your bag, you can put wheels on it. You can do this by sewing in Velcro on your duffel bag, assembling your wheels on a rod, and strapping the wheels in the Velcro.
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