I've never used a wheelchair, but I think you're supposed to partially deflate the tyres, so it absorbs bumps better. We did 'borrow' a wheelie bin one time years ago and that worked somewhat OK :).

There are cheap dollies available that run on plastic pipe. I tried using one once and wasn't too impressed, but it kind of worked.

Ah, this is the one we used:

http://www.b-hague.co.uk/Universal%20Tripod%20Tracking%20Dolly%20D5.htm

I'm guessing you could probably put something like that together for a few dollars if you're good with your hands. It's basically just a frame with some wheels and some plastic pipe.

Edit: Oh, and I found a picture of the wheelie bin 'dolly' 🙂

Big downside was no suspension to absorb bumps. I think we had the camera operator hold the camera by hand in the end so their body absorbed the bumps instead.

Robert Rodriguez used a wheel chair in El Mariachi. They didn't deflate the tires but they didn't need to because the scene was on hardwood or tile floors or something.

I've heard of skateboards being used (with someone gently pushing the cameraman/skateboard). I imagine rollerblades might work too. Anything to remove the bounce of a human step but still allow the human body to absorb the bumps. Add a primitive steadicam and you might have something as long as the ground is somewhat forgiving.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA