Home Built UTV

[burner1]

Seems so many UTV's are built for "Playing". I needed an off road truck so to speak.

I originally bought a Cushman. It worked out for what I needed but I soon found the rear suspension to be impossible for anything but concrete. So I made a triangulated 4-link and airbag suspension. Worked out well and I did use it a lot but it was a junk vehicle in need to total overhaul.

Cushmans were not really put together to be overhauled well and I was looking at making some changes. So, I built my own of road truck from scratch. I just thought I would share it with you. This is the short version. It is electric BTW:

 

[Sprinklerman]

Sweet

 

[square1]

Nice. How many hours do you have into the "modifications"?

 

[ovrszd]

Discuss the power system please?

Awesome Fab work. I'm envious.

Thanks for the post.

Welcome to TBN. Don't be a stranger!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Is that a circle burner sittin in the corner or a Buggy?? My Gang really like Buggies.....

 

[burner1]

Thanks guys,

I don't know about hours but it took about 2years here and there. I have many other side projects so I was glad I got it done.

I started originally with Cusman Truckster axle from parts. It had a 2-speed gearbox attached to the front:

The gear box was a 2:1 reducer. I looked at some numbers and thought the axle ratio of 8.2:1 might need more speed. I turned the unit around and set it up as a speed doubler. I am powering it with a D&D ES 15-6 electric motor.

I was greedy. In low gear it goes 28mph. I really have no need to go any faster and I have never set up the actuation to shift to 2nd gear. I am getting a rumble form the coupler though. I have the pulleys and belts to set up a reduction. I will make first gear closer to 18mph with top speed closer to 35. It will increase the TQ in low and if I drive 25 down the road I don't have to have the foot on the floor.

Since it is home built I had the State Police do an inspection last week so I can get a DNR tag and drive it to a few of the neighbors on the roads.

 

[burner1]

The steering rack was from a MGB. I cut down and welded it to fit the geometry. I am running with about 6 degrees of caster which is too much. I need to make an a-arm change to fix it. Not hard but getting the front springs off with a compressor is a pain.

The front uprights are from Honda 300ex. Has 4 wheel disk brakes. I set up the rear calipers outside the wheel. They would not fit inside the wheel:

You can dive down in my photo directories. There are a lot more photos.

 

[burner1]

Is that a circle burner sittin in the corner or a Buggy?? My Gang really like Buggies.....

View attachment 450499

That's a vintage Nascar; another distraction:

http://www.rc-tech.net/cars2/NC/Nascar/Lumina5.jpg

 

[ovrszd]

That's a vintage Nascar; another distraction:

I love Distractions!!!!!!

 

[GPintheMitten]

Wow. Nice.