math: what size box do I need?

[scrubbyfish]

I tried to reduce my dependency on the forum... have been using measuring tape, chairs... paper and pen sketches...looking for online calculators... and I'm back to you guys!

I'm ordering online a deck box.
The largest/weirdest item it needs to hold is a razor kick scooter that won't fold: 33" tall, 29" long, 4" wide.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/like/371310995207?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=116

What dimensions of box will fit this upright (preferred), otherwise diagonally?

ETA: Prospector pointed out the crazy-obviousness of the upright sizing, lol. Not sure why I glitched there. The (cheaper) deck boxes I've found max out at 24" tall, so really what I'm trying to figure out is the smallest dimensions I can fit this in at all. Then I can continue looking online for the first cheap one with those dimensions or more.

[Le Poisson]

Ummm... a box with interior dimensions to match those of the scooter - 33" X 29" X 4".

My experience has always been that building decks/sheds/boxes for outdoor use you come out ahead vs buying a kit or a bunch of plastic. And its not hard to do. I built one for garbage cans and raccoon proofing recently. Its survived a year without any critters, So I guess we're good.



See the writeup on our blog: http://frosthaus.blogspot.ca/2014/05/the-trash-cabana.html

That project started off as a deck box for garbage cans, but as I got going, it was easier, and only marginally more expensive to go full sized, so I opted for bigger.

[scrubbyfish]

Ummm... a box with interior dimensions to match those of the scooter - 33" X 29" X 4".

lol, yes. I'm laughing so hard at myself right now. So, I will edit the opening post...

Thank you also for the tip re: building something myself. Will look at the link.

[velocistar237]

The largest/weirdest item it needs to hold is a razor kick scooter that won't fold: 33" tall, 29" long, 4" wide.

What's the deal with it not folding?

[scrubbyfish]

What's the deal with it not folding?

Oh, that's another good point! I don't know, and we're afraid of breaking it. The scooter has huge sentimental value to my 10 year old (and he uses it regularly), so we haven't dared push it.

By the way, velocistar237, your post on the "teeth/age" thread made me laugh so hard that said 10 year old came in to see what was up. He laughed so hard, too, and your post made him want to join the forum immediately.

[Le Poisson]

Our kids have one and I can't fold it either. SWMBO does it in a second, but not so much for me.

I could math out your problem, but its easier for you to do it with a piece of string. Tie or tape a piece of string from your handlebars to the tail of the scooter. Now measure to get the the distance from the string to the wheel. The shortest distance between the wheel and string is the height of your box, the length of the string is your depth. Add a couple inches to each dimension to be safe.

Or do math using the numbers you gave us.

[Le Poisson]

Using real-live math...

a^2 + b^2 = c^2
29^2 + 33^2 = c^2
c=44

Therefore the box needs to be at least 44" long - the hypotenuse of the triangle formed by the scooter.

Now we get into trig... I hope you remember grade 10. I did this on a scrap of paper while being distracted by freeway diversion rates and tryin gto figure out the trip generation of a proposed casino's impact on them, so double check my math.

First we figure out the angles of the corners of the triangle.

Cos∞ = 29"/33"
∞ = 48.69°

Since I know that corner, I can use it to figure out the height of the triangle.

Cos 48.69° = height/29"
height = 19.143"

Now add a couple inches to everything to make sure the box will close, and for wiggle room, and I would get a box at least 48" X 22"

That seems huge for a scooter. Did you at least collapse the handlebars? Double check my numbers.

[scrubbyfish]

I could math out your problem, but its easier for you to do it with a piece of string. Tie or tape a piece of string from your handlebars to the tail of the scooter. Now measure to get the the distance from the string to the wheel. The shortest distance between the wheel and string is the height of your box, the length of the string is your depth. Add a couple inches to each dimension to be safe.

Okay, I tried and tried this, but I think I'm missing something.

HOWEVER, your words did then give me the idea to:
-measure 24" from wall
-put base of scoother inside the 24" line
-lean scooter to wall

What I saw then was that one handle leans up to 30". I think this means that:
...if a box is 24" deep (i.e., front to back), it must be at least 39.5" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter, instead of 32/33".
(And then yes, wanting to add space around.)

And
...if a box is 26" deep, it must be only 28" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter.

Does that seem about right?

[scrubbyfish]

We cross-posted...

I hope you remember grade 10.

(I remember that I failed it, does that count?)

Those equations were very sexy! I find it amazing to watch that kind of process.

While I didn't understand the equations, I think we might have arrived at the same results, considering I was assuming a 24" available depth, and you added more room for wiggling. So, I think I've got it. I hope.

[Kaspian]

You know what I was thinking?  Every week in our local Kijiji (we don't have a Craigslist for where I live) people are trying to give away these beautiful solid wood entertainment centres which usually even have doors on the front.  The spendypants' are trying to get rid of them because their new 60" TVs don't fit in them properly.  So desperate to get it out of their house--they're going FREE.  Most are made of really crappy chipboard but I've seen people trying to give away oak!  A little muscle, a saw, and some outdoor weather-proof wooden porch lacquer could very easily turn one of those into a respectable looking, little shed.  Wooden armoires are also something I'd keep an eye out for. 

But both of these would need some aesthetic work though so the neighbours don't ask why you have indoor furniture attached to the outside of your house.  :)

[velocistar237]

Might either of these help?

https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/Razor_A_Troubleshooting#Section_Can_t_fold_the_scooter_up
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Sharper+Image+Razor+Scooter+%28Wheel-e+Series%29+Teardown/14175

By the way, velocistar237, your post on the "teeth/age" thread made me laugh so hard that said 10 year old came in to see what was up. He laughed so hard, too, and your post made him want to join the forum immediately.

:)

[NotJen]

I could math out your problem, but its easier for you to do it with a piece of string. Tie or tape a piece of string from your handlebars to the tail of the scooter. Now measure to get the the distance from the string to the wheel. The shortest distance between the wheel and string is the height of your box, the length of the string is your depth. Add a couple inches to each dimension to be safe.

Okay, I tried and tried this, but I think I'm missing something.

HOWEVER, your words did then give me the idea to:
-measure 24" from wall
-put base of scoother inside the 24" line
-lean scooter to wall

What I saw then was that one handle leans up to 30". I think this means that:
...if a box is 24" deep (i.e., front to back), it must be at least 39.5" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter, instead of 32/33".
(And then yes, wanting to add space around.)

And
...if a box is 26" deep, it must be only 28" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter.

Does that seem about right?

No, I think that means you need a box that is 24" x 30" (the height your measured on the wall) x 30" (the length of the scooter).

[velocistar237]

The largest/weirdest item it needs to hold is a razor kick scooter that won't fold: 33" tall, 29" long, 4" wide.

Is this with the telescoping handle all the way in?

[Le Poisson]

I could math out your problem, but its easier for you to do it with a piece of string. Tie or tape a piece of string from your handlebars to the tail of the scooter. Now measure to get the the distance from the string to the wheel. The shortest distance between the wheel and string is the height of your box, the length of the string is your depth. Add a couple inches to each dimension to be safe.

Okay, I tried and tried this, but I think I'm missing something.

HOWEVER, your words did then give me the idea to:
-measure 24" from wall
-put base of scoother inside the 24" line
-lean scooter to wall

What I saw then was that one handle leans up to 30". I think this means that:
...if a box is 24" deep (i.e., front to back), it must be at least 39.5" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter, instead of 32/33".
(And then yes, wanting to add space around.)

And
...if a box is 26" deep, it must be only 28" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter.

Does that seem about right?

Try this then... You have kids, so you have sidewalk chalk (Don't lie, I know you do, and if you don't, then you have washable markers.

Lie the scooter down on the sidewalk. Now make the smallest triangle you can, that the scooter fits inside. It will be a right-angle triangle because the scooter is L shaped. If it isn't, then you need to open the scooter the rest of the way.

Grab something with a square corner like a box or an actual framing square.

Make a line between the hypotenuse of your triangle and the opposite corner.

Measure how long that line is, and how long the hypotenuse is. Those are your height and length requirements.

Also Google has a built in calculator just for this question: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=height+of+a+triangle+calculator (sorry about using LMGTFY, but I couldn't get google to direct-link.)

[scrubbyfish]

-measure 24" from wall
-put base of scoother inside the 24" line
-lean scooter to wall

What I saw then was that one handle leans up to 30". I think this means that:
...if a box is 24" deep (i.e., front to back), it must be at least 39.5" tall to accommodate the unfolded scooter, instead of 32/33".

No, I think that means you need a box that is 24" x 30" (the height your measured on the wall) x 30" (the length of the scooter).

ohmygoodlord (at me!). i don't know why i can't track a number from one line to the next. argh.
thank you, notjen!
yes, your post accurately reflected my math and understanding. i should have said 24" x 30" x 30". that's what I meant. (but because i didn't realize my tracking error, i would have been looking for the 39.5+ height.)

[scrubbyfish]

See, that's why I always end up here, at the forum...
Many smart people!!
Who think of things I don't think of!
And who see when I write one number in one line then change it in the next!

My brain is a bit embarrassing to me in these things, and I really appreciate all the understanding, patience, kindness, and simplified instructions! I like hearing the ways to figure the stuff out, and am very happy to learn.

You're right, velocistar237, its handle is telescopic! I measured for full height (preempting kid's frustration by leaving things for ready-use is good). But with the links to the fix pages, maybe we can resolve the entire size issue and preempt frustration.

Try this then... You have kids, so you have sidewalk chalk (Don't lie, I know you do, and if you don't, then you have washable markers.

Nope! :)     I am so happy to say we have neither. I realized the other day that our lifestyle is "glamping" (glamorous version of camping). We have very little stuff. We're quite transient, renting and frequently moving, hence my goal for cheap, light, moveable. (But it should also be decent for neighbours to have to look at.)

Once upon a time we had sidewalk chalk. It was the first inspiration for a deck box, because they'd get soaked in the rain and crumble.

Kaspian, the idea re: entertainment center is a great one! There's also a wood box very nearby that I might be able to snag. It just needs a good cleanup. We'd actually be storing it on our covered patio, so it doesn't need to be waterproof.

[scrubbyfish]

Was not able to locate a box that would hold it even diagonally -and for time/effort/renting/moving/etc prefer to buy vs build.

So...Pulled the scooter out this eve, watched several videos and diagrams re: folding. A combo of tricks from different sites finally did it! It's so little now! Thanks, everyone! Now I can look at some smaller, cheaper box options.