Homemade offroad buggy

farm boy00 · Sep 3, 2018

Anyone ever build a big gocart/offroad buggy? Thinking of doing one. Wanting to use a motor and tranny out of a motorcycle/dirt bike or 4 wheeler/3 wheeler. But maybe using a ranger or small Isuzu rear axle and creating a drive line somehow then trailer spindle, bearings, hub, and tires for front. Have a ranger to part out and an old small trailer that's only a yard trailer (has 5 bolt tires).

Going to be for my senior project for school and i do know I will be putting in about $500-600 into it but want to scavenger parts as much as possible. Planning on independent front suspension (IFS). I think so far I will have to build most parts still for it.

Has anyone done similar that van give out any pointers?

4570Man · Sep 3, 2018

Don’t skip the front brakes. Why cut up a vehicle to make a cobbled up version? Modify the four wheeler or ranger to suit your needs.

farm boy00 · Sep 3, 2018

4570Man said:
Don’t skip the front brakes. Why cut up a vehicle to make a cobbled up version? Modify the four wheeler or ranger to suit your needs.

Have to actually "build" something. Only thing I actually have is a $200 non running project ranger that has been collecting dust for 3 years now that I'm parting out soon.

This isn't really a "suit my needs" build besides to do something that most high schoolers wouldn't do and pass so I careen graduate class. It is just going to be a toy that I want to build too keep around for a while.

4570Man · Sep 3, 2018

Can the ranger be made to drive? Pull the cab, shorten the frame and fabricate roll cage

farm boy00 · Sep 4, 2018

4570Man said:
Can the ranger be made to drive? Pull the cab, shorten the frame and fabricate roll cage

But that would be doing a whole other thing. It wouldn't be "building" it like my previous post says. Whole point of the senior project is that we have to apply knowledge that we have learned throughout the years at school.

For this to actually be allowed it cant be just hacked together, hence building something nice.

MoArk Willy · Sep 7, 2018

Years ago....maybe 40 plus, a buddy had a destroyed 63 Chevy. One night, after removing the body and selling the parts...fender, doors, etc. we were left with a chassis, engine and drivetrain. One thing led to another and we got out the saw and started cutting.
Those frames had an X member which we cut out. Then we put the ends together and welded it. Before we knew it we had the seat tacked to the frame, the steering wheel column in place and this bastard of a design was ready to go.
That's what you can do in about 6 hours with a case of beer, a welder and a couple of bored guys. Nearly impossible to drive but ridiculously fast, on or off road.
We sold it for parts in a week or so after playing in the snow with it.

rockingclawhammer · Sep 10, 2018

Check out this bad boy...I just think this is cool.
Predator 6.5 hp tow truck pulls 18 wheeler - YouTube

Jstpssng · Sep 10, 2018

if you have time, post pictures as you start and work on your build. There are members here (not including me) who can give you pointers and ideas as you go along. What is your Ranger, a pickup or a UTV? If a pickup, one thing that would create an interesting challenge would be to build an independent rear suspension.

ruffdog · Sep 10, 2018

When in HS I built a three wheeler. It had a MG rear diff with a snowmobile secondary clutch adapted to it with a custom made shaft/flange. The fan cooled SkiDoo TNT640 engine mounted above so the clutch lines up. It had a simple dirt bike front suspension and was all connected with a simple steel frame.