list the different frame types

[alloffroad]

I am new here and to the mini buggy world. I was wondering if there is a list and some basic pictures of all the different types of frame and buggy set ups. I want to get a start on my first ground up build.

[K-fab]

Welcome to the site.

The list would pretty much be found by reading through this board - go read around the Projects in Progress area.

What do you plan on using your buggy for?
Dunes?
Woods?
Desert?
Dual-sport?

How big are you thinking?
Single seater?
Two seats?

What about a power plant and transmission?

Loads of different options and ideas and they can all be put together as desired - Your imagination is a pretty decent place to start.

[Gene]

Welcome to MBN!

That is a good question and would make a good post. Since that does not yet exist a good place to begin is Projects In Progress and visiting web sites to see what they sell, be it complete cars or plans.

Some plans to see include Buggy Innovations, Rorty-Design, Edge, Badlandbuggy and myabe a few others.

Frame style descriptions include A-arm, trailing arm, semi-trailing arm, cab forward, etc.

Terms to learn about include rake, camber, caster, ackerman, spindle or king pin inclination, shock angle, etc.

It's complex at the beginning and makes more and more sense as time goes by, especially after building, driving and learning the consequences of your decisions.

Good luck and start studying!

[alloffroad]

I want my first build to be a 1 seater for the wooded trailes here in the sierra nevadas'. It will see some dunes but very rarely. Mostly hard pack and rocky trails. Some fast open roads and some tight, narrow trails. I definately want a 4x4. I was looking at the 4x4 buggies that some of you folks have build and I just am amazed at the perfomance of them. The terms from the earlier reply I recognize all except "ackerman". I will try to compile a list and post them. I think it would be a good starting place for us new to this sport looking for a first build. I used to have a Polaris Scrambler 500. It was a 4 stroke sport type with a push button, on-the-fly 4x4. The thing would climb anything. 500 cc will probably be the power base but I want to be able to shift gears using a centrifigle clutch and a transfer case to allow for a super low gear for rock trails.

[alloffroad]

I found that Rorty-Design buggy comparison chart is about what I was looking for. It gives me an idea of what to start researching. It looks like the R21 is going to be a start.

[K-fab]

Rorty makes some really good stuff - very well engineered and his support is second to none.

As far as making the machine 4x4 - that's something that you may want to discuss w/Bob (Rorty). I don't believe that there are any plans out there for a machine that includes front wheel drive, but that doesn't mean that it's not doable, by any means - just means you have to get creative.

Rorty's cars are set up as rear wheel drive machines using bike engines and sled engines. He's incorporated using the RPM transmission in a couple of his designs - this will be where you'll have to do a bit of engineering and figure out how to put something like a quad transmission setup in it.

I'd look at using something like the Can-Am (Bombardier) 800 twin quad drive train and power plant. It's darn near bullet proof, makes around 80 hp (I think), has EFI, a CVT (no shifting, just stab the pedal and go) and is a great engine all around. I know of a UTV that's probably 20% larger than a Rhino that uses the Can-Am drive train and the power plant has no problems pushing the machine around - even in the dunes with four idiots riding in it. (and I can get you info on where to get the drive train and talk to someone that's installed quite a few of these into off road machines - just let me know if it's something that interests you.)

[TutTech]

You can take a look at this topic here for more info also
LINKS TO RAIL BUILDERS AND PART SUPPLIERS

Plus you may like the ridge runner? Here is the link to the forum section on them
Ridge Runner

Good luck keep us posted.