[Diablo Blanco]

I can easily imagine the ringed parts popping out in short order, but with some pegs and slats you might be able to get them to stay put by laying the slats crosswise across the wheels. For lube you could use animal fat, slime from stagnant water or even feces if you're desperate enough. Be an interesting project nonetheless. You're right, an akhio/travois sled would be much easier to build and maintain.

Taking your suggestion of proximity reminded me of something I used as a kid not being strong enough to move some large objects. You could rig a zip-line/Z-pulley system if you have enough 550 cord and 2 D-Rings.

For example if you have to move large game or even a log too big to carry, you could run a line between trees spaced about 10 - 15 meters apart. Throw a loop around your object and use a Z pulley line with the 2 D-rings to hoist it up to your line. Fasten the D-Ring directly attached to the loop to the line and remove the Z pulley line and extra D ring. You can now slide the object along your line. When you come to a tree where you need to change over to the next line, use your second D-ring before removing the first. Keep changing over between lines to get your object where you want it. You could even do this with less than 40m of 550 cord if you remove the first line as you get to the second and just keep rotating them between trees.

Of course your lines would have to be high enough to account for line sagging and to keep your object off the ground to reduce drag.

With more materials one could fashion an even better system. I would prefer 4 pulleys and climbing rope.

You don't even need trees to do this. Think about a ski lift. If you had enough line from start to finish and could tie it off securely with a little slack. Using three 10 ft poles tied off at one end to make a tripod (tie the bottoms so they don't slip out too far) Make three tripods. The tripods could substitute for trees.

I wonder what other kinds of 'tools' people can come up with in a forest.

EDIT: to answer TR's Q on Beans

They have some nutritional value but more of a traditional/ritual value to me more than anything. Nearly every Adventure, Challenge, Deployment, Hardship or Victory in my life has been precluded by beans. Not intentionally but it just happens that way. Might as well continue the habit.

Besides BBQ Baked Beans are delicious! Dessert and Dinner all in one!