Andreas Larsen wanted a way to bring his bike repair setup to festivals, markets, and events around town without spending a small fortune to do it.
Traditional event cargo bikes and culture carts? They were clocking in at several times more than he wanted to spend.
So he designed his own, built it from off-the-shelf components, and made the whole thing open source so anyone could do the same.
The result is a beautifully practical, endlessly versatile event cart built around IKEA’s BROR work stand — and it comes in at around €450.
“We wanted to do more events outside — both in our own workspace, but also around town,” Andreas tells us. “The BROR work stand was the perfect fit together with a bicycle trailer.”
The trailer hitches to the back of a bike, works just as well indoors as out, and is a perfect little mobile workshop to take to festival sites.
Andreas set his up as a mobile bike repair station, but that’s just one idea — the whole concept is designed to be adapted, remixed, and made your own.
The best part? You don’t need to be an experienced maker to build one. The open source guide is designed with complete beginners in mind, keeping every step as simple as possible.
So whether you’re dreaming of a mobile coffee bar, a market stall, or a pop-up library cart — this might just be the build that makes it happen. Let’s take a look at how it all comes together.
What You’ll Need
- 1 IKEA BROR workbench
- 1 VEVOR bike cargo trailer
- 1 sheet 12mm plywood
- Various battens and trim pieces
- 2 IKEA SKÅDIS white pegboards (30” x 22”)
- 2 IKEA SKÅDIS black pegboards (14 ¼” x 22”)
- 8 D-Ring anchors
- 1 Jockey wheel
- 1 Clamp bracket
- Various screws, nuts, washers, bolts, and angle brackets
- Optional IKEA UPPDATERA cutlery inserts, light reflectors, right-angle toggle clamp
- 1 30cm support handle
- Grinder
- Circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Clamps
- Adjustable wrench
- Hex key set
- Center punch
- Metal file
- Basics — Power drill, screw gun, pencil, tape measure, hammer, marker, ruler
Obviously, this how-to gives you a quick glimpse at creating this mobile cart. But if you want to recreate the hack, you definitely want to check out Andreas’ full build guide. He provides an extensive list of required tools, supplies, and components, including specific sizes, as well as optional upgrades and accessories.
IKEA Hack Your Own Bike Trailer Storage Workbench
1. Assemble and Customize the Workbench and Trailer
Put together the BROR workbench and the bike trailer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Customize the BROR by removing the four drawers and the metal stabilizing cross from the back of the shelf. Reinsert the screws.
Remove the bottom drawer rails and frame, then reposition one level up on the BROR. Cut the legs just below the frame to ensure everything is level, and file off sharp edges.
Remove the metal frame from the trailer and place it aside for later. Take out the 20 self-tapping screws; you don’t need them, and set the plastic mat to the side for later.
2. Prep the Plywood and Install on Trailer and Workbench
Cut the plywood to size. You’ll have two pieces — one to fit the pegboards and one to fit the plastic mat from the trailer. Leave a perimeter around the plastic mat and mark screw holes with a pencil. Attach the plywood panel to the trailer frame.
Remove the screws from the back of the workbench and place the frame on the other piece of plywood. Align it with the bottom and sides and attach.
3. Add Wood Trim and Pegboards
Clamp wood trim to the workbench to attach SKÅDIS pegboards and components. Use angle brackets to get the workbench onto the trailer. Reference Andreas’ guide for complete, detailed instructions.
4. Fit With Accessories
Add drawer inserts, containers, organizers, and other components as desired. Reflectors are recommended if you plan to use the cart for evening events. The hacker added a 30cm support bar to the cart for easy maneuvering.
Cost of this hack: The build was priced around 450€ (USD520), tools not included. (A lot better than $3,500!)
How long did this hack take? Roughly 8 hours for one person building it, or half that if two people collaborate.
More Tips On The Bike Cargo Trailer Hack
The hacker says, “There is already a small electric network inside the cart. The input is an IEC male plug that can be attached to an extension cord. There are four outputs, so people can run any type of electric device they may like.” If you plan to use the electrical outlet, set up the cart within range of an outlet and bring an extension cord.
He also says that the most frequently asked question concerns the bottom drawer. “Due to the design of the cart, the drawer cannot be pulled out fully because of the wheel and frame.” They recommend storing rarely used items in the drawer and accessing it by removing the drawer above.
What do you like most about the hack?
Andreas shares that he likes the simplicity of the hack. “Anyone who sees this build, understands without any explanation what it is and what it does. Most people like the fact, that it can both be pushed around by hand or mounted to a bicycle.”
What to pay special attention to?
He adds that “it was quite satisfying that very few holes had to be drilled into the BROR workbench. Most mounting holes could be reused with a longer bolt when applying the plywood.
Also, the black SKÅDIS on the sides are almost invisible, while the white one “pops” together with the light plywood.”
Looking back, would you have done it differently?
“I would have oiled all wooden parts before assembly,” he explains, “And found a better solution for mounting the SKÅDIS boards on the side.”
How Will You Use A Workstation on Wheels?
Initially intended for a mobile bike repair cart, this on-the-go workstation has plenty of possibilities.
- Mobile tool cart for home use, pulling it from the garage to the driveway, backyard, or any other work area
- Quick portable setup to work craft events or kids’ parties
- Outdoor gardening center
These are just a few more ideas for this creative cart, but tell us your thoughts! How would you use this multi-functional, portable powerhouse?
Get the IKEA Bike Trailer With Storage Workbench Guide
The build guide can be found here. They also welcome suggestions for improving the design and would love to see others’ results. So make sure to share your hack with them (and us!) once you complete it.