Is there a DIY way to keep my wheeled case from tipping?

I have a Samsonite Laptop wheeled case My friend gave me it when he sold me my laptop.

I love it only issue I have is the fact it tips over when you put stuff in it. When empty no issues it stands fine.

Is there a DIY way of fixing this besides leading it up against the wall?

I thought this may be cause by the case being old but I have read a lot of reviews on wheeled bag/cases and seems to be a common issue.

 

training wheels?

 

depends... i take it that it has wheels on the back side and the feet on the front end is not enough to support the load when you put stuff in the front of the bag?

well, i don't know how the front feet is fastened to the bag, or if it has a rigid structure in the front side for you to attach something...

some bags such as tumi is just a matter of removing the screw, getting a bigger or longer piece and putting it in there...

actually, without really looking at the bag, it's hard to tell...

maybe some pics?

 

I was thinking if I could rig something to make like a tripod for the front it may work. It is standing up because it is empty at the moment.

 

what about putting some weights in the botom?
If you are wheeling it around anyway - something to counter-ballance it?

 

you should be able to drill those rivets out easily... and replace it with some nice machine screw and lock nuts.

now, see those footing on front of bag? it's not going out far enough.. only if that can go out about 2-3" more... then it should hold.

do you have access to someone with some machines? like a band saw or scroll saw?

 

My friend could do it but, if I went out 2-3 inches wouldn't it just fall backwards instead of standing?

My laptop sit in the back. Front is for pens, etc then files then the laptop area.

 

well, the bag flips back over the wheel or to front over the legs?

what you'd like to do... well, i was thinking about this a bit...
get a metal/steel tube... bend it on a U shape, then take the bottom of the U and fold that portion down so that it becomes your legs...

the open end of U you should find ways to fix to the rear frame via screws... the front of U before the bend should fix to the front frame of the bag.

it seems your bag has semi-hard frame inside... ie: plastic liner for the shape... you can use this to fix the tube... and replace the feet entirely...

but is it worth all this work?

 

My friend told me to live with it or buy a new bag too much work and he not going to do all that work for me.

I looked at some other bags but I have no idea if they are any better. The tiping over front legs seems common

 

yes they are...

the only ones that seems to stay right is the hard rolling cases like the ones the flight attendants use...

it is doable... just not worth the effort imo.

 

I told my friend what you said and he said could drill out the legs then get a heavy thick 2-3 inch square piece of metal and screw it on top of each feet. I think this may not work because it tips over front.

So making it heavier in the front will not stop it from tipping in my eyes.

 

His idea is to raise the front section compared to the back section.

If you draw ou the forces, this would result in part of the contents weight acting backwards - however, this bears the risk that if the content is too heavy - especially is top-heavy, the bag my tip over backwards.

 

Ok, honestly, i'd just carry a separate bag for some other stuff... i understand the utility of such rolling cases, i travel for work as well... but it's a lot of work...

but anywhoo... here's some images for you to think about.



basically, the front leg is too far inside and too close to center of gravity of bag... furthermore, the center of gravity of bag shifts when you load the front pockets.

so moving the position of the legs would be an ideal solution except that it's a semi-rigid case, hence the bottom of the case in the main compartment has structural layer, but the front pocket areas don't... the weight will just make the bag sag onto and over the legs/feet whatever you call em...

the new leg HAS to be fixed onto the structural layer within the main compartment.



drill out the front feets
drill holes on the rear wheel plastic frame so you can have solid point to fix your new leg

-take a length of strong metal tubing... Alum is ok... copper is too soft...
-bend it to get a U so the size is appropriate to your bag
-bend the closed loop end of the U so when fixed o your bag, it will act as new leg
-flatten the ends of the U and drill holes for your machine screw
-measure and drill holes to fix the new leg to the front section of the bag in the same hole used for the front legs.
-use machine screws of appropriate size, with lock washers on the bags.

make sure that the screw head does not touch any laptop sections.

done...

but again, this is just one monkey's idea... do this at your own risk...

oh, and one more thing... don't let the tubing kink... it will make it very VERY weak... i was told that adding sand inside the tube prior to bending will help it bend without kinking...

dunno how much load the bag carries... but well... i'm sure you and your buddy can figure out what kind of material to use.

 

My friend looked at that and said that makes more sense and he could have my bag back to me next week. I am now waiting to see how it ends up.

Thanks for the help.

 

glad to be of service...
post some pics when it's done...

one thing tho...

you do realize that the bag will no longer flip open as it used to... right?
the main compartment zipper, the way it's positioned tells me that it opens and the lid flips out... this fix will basically prevent that from happening...

 

So I won't be able open the middle to put my laptop in? I could see that being a major issue.

 

nah, what i'm saying is that it will not open 180 deg as it used to...

see that patch of fabric between the zippers of the main compartment? (basically the first zipper from back...) that flap acts as a hinge as well.

right where i wrote "fasten..." in the pic above... that is where the bottom flap folds over to open 180 deg...

i'm having second thoughts now...
shortening the new leg so that the hinge stays intact would be ok... but dunno if it will still be rigid enough to hold the weight of the front...

 

My friend fixed it different then what you had. He used some hose type tube that you use underground to run sprinklers. He said he drilled in to the front legs to attach it. He said he saw opening the bag to put in the laptop issue right away.

He said the tube is black. I think it in the pvc family. He said it works good just will not be able to carry it on a plane. I will get it back today and post some pictures. I never fly so no big deal.

 

<a>Laptop bag[/URL]

It works great and I can remove it if needed. It is a very tight fit. I push it all the way in lineing it up with the back wheels looks better

 

cool, glad that it worked!

sprinkler pvc pipes? lol... whatever works bro...

 

It is strong as heck and looks good. There no need to worry about kinks or anything. If for some reason I don't want it I can removed it but it will take some doing cause it is in the holes tight.