Build a PVC Fishing Cart for the Beach, Pier, or Lake
After many requests and several design refinements, we’re proud to release the long-awaited FORMUFIT PVC Fishing Cart Plan — a versatile, durable, and portable cart built from 1-1/4 in. PVC pipe and Furniture Grade PVC fittings.
The PVC Fishing Cart is designed to serve multiple roles: as a fishing pier cart, a beach gear carrier, or even a garden supply caddy. It holds coolers, tackle boxes, chairs, and drinks — all while being lightweight and easy to roll across sand or pavement. The handle folds back into the frame for compact transport in the trunk of a car or SUV, and the open PVC sockets double as convenient rod holders.
The Cage Frame
The main frame acts as a durable, rectangular basket built from horizontal 1-1/4 in. PVC pipe and connected using PVC Tees, 3-Way PVC Elbows, and 4-Way PVC Tees. The open-ended top fittings allow you to store fishing poles, umbrellas, or small tools vertically.
Two front legs stabilize the cart when it’s not being pulled and can be adjusted to match different wheel diameters to keep the base level.
The Folding Handle
The cart handle uses two uncemented 1-1/4 in. PVC Slip Tees, allowing it to pivot up and down for storage and transport. This simple addition makes the entire cart more portable — unlike rigid designs that can’t easily fit into a vehicle.
The Axle Assembly
The axle setup gives the cart smooth rolling stability on rough or sandy surfaces. It’s composed of a steel rod and replacement mower wheels, with spacers and axle caps for secure rotation. Caster Fitting Inserts act as the axle supports for the steel rod.
The setup includes:
- (A) Steel 3/8 in. rod (cut to length)
- (B) Steel or nylon spacers
- (C) Replacement mower wheels
- (D) Axle cap nuts
Customization Options
Wheel Size: Adjust the front leg length for larger or smaller wheels to keep the frame level. A wider or thinner wheel may require changes to the axle length.
Plug-In Add-Ons: Create a removable tabletop using Table Caps, extra pipe, and a piece of plywood — perfect for bait prep or cleaning fish.
Length Adjustments: You can extend or shorten the overall frame length by modifying the longitudinal PVC pipes to fit different cooler or tackle box sizes.
Color Options: Use FORMUFIT Color PVC Pipe or PVC PipeSleeves to personalize your cart in your favorite team or outdoor colors.
Get the Free Plan
Download the complete PVC Fishing Cart Plan from our Free PVC Plans Library. You’ll find full cut sheets and a downloadable SketchUp file to help you build confidently.
Thank you to all our customers who shared feedback and dimensions during development — your input helped create one of our most practical and versatile PVC projects. We’d love to see your finished builds! Send photos to info@formufit.com, and we may feature them on our blog or social media.
6 comments
This is exactly what my friend Bob needs to build. He’s got the materials and I can help.
Thanks to you, it’s a win, win situation.
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I have been looking for this a long time.
Thank you.
Willie Goodman
I can’t wait to try this out. Thank you for sharing the plans!
Looks better than most of the homemade carts. Sort of a take off on the CartMakers PVC cart, but no where close. So how does this fit in your car? How do you get all of those glue joints straight before the glue sets up? At least good PVC, not those junky metal units from Sams/Costco.
I can’t wait to buid a cary of my own.
Thanks!