Mini A Arm Buggy for Kids

[boostinjdm]

Why don't you forget about the different versions and just have an entry level with so so parts and and a race ready with good parts, then just use the same frame for both. It could be a hair on the short side with a wide mid section so you could put in a single adult size seat or two smaller kid size seats.

[TutTech]

BMX1253,
I don't know about being that good but I will say yes to taking pride in my work.
I have worked on this several times and taken it a part several times. I want it to be right, safe
fun, well liked and work great. So to that I do take pride in my work.

I will have the prototype done tomorrow.
After that I can then build a kids or bigger kids small adults version where if the adult is not to big or don't mind squeezing in version that will be just at 8.5 feet so can go on a trailer sideways still and the adult version of 9 to 9.5 feet depending on engine, tranny etc.
The reason for the different versions is because of requests.
I have 3 I need to build not counting myself one if I get the time with racing and all so that would be 4. of the two seaters. Then we as a group want to get a single seater together to see about racing etc. with it.
That's just the friends and family in my group that want one so far and have come and seen it.

I mostly need to finish the prototype and get some suspension going on to check everything out.
If it all works out then actually produce one and fully build it with motor etc. and take it to the dunes and see what breaks. I am going to use pretty much over kill stuff so everything should be fine.
Not to mention I built these for a living and race them so I should be pretty close in the ball park
of what I need. But you can never be totally sure so testing must take place so that's where
this car grew into more of the adult version so we can see what to do to make one for testing.

Believe it or not this frame will more than likely never get used.
I will never finish it because it is not clean enough for me.
Not just that but it's a prototype and I new that from the start.
See goes back to pride and all, so I will make a new one that will be going to the desert as the test car. I just think it needs to be clean and look good also while it's being put through it's paces.


Thanks for the kind words and I really do appreciate it. Comments like that is what keeps me updating my post as I know people enjoy seeing others work and getting ideas etc. I know I do
when you guys post your stuff.

[TutTech]

Boostinjdm,
There has to be two versions do to a kid trying to reach the pedals, steering wheel, seeing over the dash, smaller seats, seat belts etc. Not to mention a smaller car so it's easier to handle for a kid.
Atleast that's what we saw when my nephew tried to sit in the car and it was already to big for him.

These will be serious mini buggies and not a toy they will come equiped anyway my family and friends wants to set them up from mild entry level like you say to long wheel travel, turbo goodness.
If I sell them then I would want people to have the options all ready to go too. Like a kid version, race version, single seater, 2 seaters etc.

These versions also do not count for my 3rd version of each car the race version I will do one day that per rules will need to have all thick wall tubing. No one would want thick wall tubing unless racing for both weight and the extra cost etc. Full Micro stubs and disc brakes, bypass shocks, heavy duty arms, parts etc. So this will be a much beefier and expensive yet cool version I hope to build one day.

So I want to work out a lot of things right now before I get to far ahead and have answers to these questions with the prototype frame.
I now know for example the length of what my smaller kid or young adult version will be.
I know what size the adult version will now be depending on engine etc. if someone tells me I can
either add for say an rpm or jeffco FNR instead of just having a short back and run only a sprocket
like the kids car. So the adult has 6 more inches in the cage so an FNR can be installed as I know adults will want stuff like that.

Anyways I think it's not a big deal to work out both versions at the same time.
Yes it takes me twice the work but what's it been 2 weeks or so and I am going to be done
tomorrow and all wrapped up with a note book full of info on how to build both versions.
So I think it's a good thing.
Not sure if you saw my floor pan and mid rail section I can now make next to one another and then combine with my fixtures and make my cars come together much quicker?
There is just a simple 6 inch difference when setting up one car or the other in both the cab
and rear end. So pretty simple really. Or atleast I think so.

Maybe I might have time to start the actual test car and move from prototype to test buggy this weekend?
Very cool.

Thanks for the input and questions.

[fl250driver]

shweet build

[sicksand]

Tut we are just glad that your building them and we want to get an idea of your finished mini kids buggy?I know that I will be curious to see how the suspension and the testing hold up?I love the fact tat they are small and for the kids?Keep up the good work,and are you going o run shet metal on the sides or fiberglass,plastic,etc....

[TutTech]

Thanks fl250driver!

Sicksand I will start out with aluminum on the buggy versions and the suprise stuff coming up John and I have talked and we very well may try getting some plastics going on you never know?

Well lets see the kids version ended up not being as small as I had hoped.
I can try to make a smaller version but for now It turned out a little bigger than I had hoped for.
The kids version is more for a little bigger kids and small adults could shove in for short rides
or if small enough no worries.
The kids version is about 8 feet 6 inches depending on motor etc.
The cab just needed to be bigger to fit pedals, seats etc.
This is ok as the kids get older they can just upgrade there motor but ya a little bigger than I had hoped. I wanted it under 8. But with my design etc. it just seems like I just go over that by an inch or two.

The adult version is right at 9.6 feet plus an inch or two. Higher sides, larger cab and larger motor area.
The race version will be 9.6 feet or even 10 feet to make room for a big fuel cell etc.


Ok well how about an update for today.
Ok finished the frame with the changes and final webbing for now.
The car is sitting at a final frame stage.
Now to move onto making an actual car copied just like it but in one shot no mistakes.
This frame is well complete and is done as far as it's going to get.
Here are the changes and webbing all done. Please note that future cars webbing will not be like
this but because I had to add 6 inches this car had extra webbing added.




Ok knowing what changes need to be done and what needs to take place to make an adult version I went a head and started on my first test car. This car will get built fully and be out testing soon.
This is for my brother and will have some cool changes to it just to be unique for him and John that they want to do. Some Suprises in store.
Here is the cab all set up.


I will post more as I get time.
Thanks for looking input is welcome.

[yummi]

Morning Tut,

Such a good job you do.

Can I chime in? Maybe a cross / diagonal bar at the roof from one corner to the other? And one at the "B" pillar area directly behind the seats from top to bottom? I am the last guy to know about frames - these two bars always made sense to me though. Course looking at the other frames in the picture, maybe I am just ahead of myself? I see the blue car is still around? If work was busier .......

[TutTech]

These guys are smaller lighter sand frames so some stuff may or may not go in.
I have a down bar from my B pillar behind my seat down and I have one from my front A pillar down?
Not sure on what you mean?

You should see my old frame and friends of my frames now being built today.
No x bracing or cross bar no window support nothing and they roll and they are fine.

I just over build. As these will be sand cars my brother and them may or may not put them in.
Its up to them.
As for the bar behind the seat down you will get more bracing there when all the shock mounts are done and mounted. Then depending two shocks etc. you will have 2 up right bars, 1 more diagonal
and extra bracing etc.

This frame as it sits connects in 10 spots from the roof down already.
That's at least 4 more places then a lot of cars and 6 more than some cars. Plus those cars roofs are usually like a foot taller than my roof too and they hold up in a roll. My brother has been over 3 times forward in a roll when jumping and at least over on his side like 5 times. No X or anything and his sand frame with lighter wall tubing is still holding up with his big motor etc.
This car will weight half as much and has already 4 more spots of connection to the roof and more probably to come.

Anyways Ya you might be ahead of me as I said the x will maybe go in after radiator etc. then cross brace etc. Plus more when the shocks go on too. So more to come on the completed addition.


Thanks though and good looking out.



Oh and Blue is here getting prepped it leaves hopefully today.

[CABRIOLET]

Tut- how are you planning on doing the rear suspension? A arms or VW style trailing arms?

[TutTech]

Trailing arm design I may actually build a fixture up to make custom ones or if we can find someone who makes some for a decent price in a longer size we just may buy them.

Depending on the size and what not a set of 3x3 trailing arms would work very well.
You can get up wards of 16 inches with those.

We are looking into even longer arms and maybe wider pivot points etc for them also to increase wheel travel on some more custom cars.
But for now the 3x3 trailing arms will be plenty and get us up and going.

Here is an update.
Ok now that the kids prototype is done and we know what changes we want to do to the adult versions and changes Mike would like to make on his own personal car I was able to get started.
Here is another shot of it under way.


Changes include lower roof, higher sides, 6 inches longer so far.
Thanks for all the feedback, input and help everyone it's been really appreciated.