Kids Buggies - plans and components?

[gdr]

Dern's DIY build has got me thinking about making a little off road buggy for the kids a la Honda Pilot. good way to check out my welding on someone else and would give me something to do over the winter. Also would not result in wife ordering me to sell Ultima first. I'm thinking along the lines of a smallish bike or industrial engined thing (15hp?) with long travel suspension. Have tried grass track karts before but lack of suspension is pretty nasty.
Anyone know of existing plans available for such a thing or a good source of donor components for small diff, suspension and steering bits?

[dern]

Go for it, my daughter keeps trying to get me to abandon my car in order for me to build her one.

Ron Champion has produced a build your own buggy book which does have it's flaws (apparently) but may provide inspiration.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Regards,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 9th November 19:57

[Funderbunk]

Here's a place that sells plans for some off-road karts -

www.desertkarts.com/

Here's a few links with free plans -

http://mxk.com/1ykplans/ykmenu.htm

www.skynet.ie/%7Esteviewdr/

Of course, I'm not sure these are what you're looking for, but there you go...

[Meeja]

dern said:

Ron Champion has produced a build your own buggy book which does have it's flaws (apparently) but may provide inspiration.

Which you can actually get from Amazon

[gdr]

Thanks guys. Lot of good pictures of components etc on the desertkarts.com site for kart suspension and maybe worth a plan purchase and I guess possibly worth importing some bits - like these long skinny coilovers. Where could get that sort of thing in UK?
Other sites, and as far as I can see Ron Champion's book, are related to unsprung grass track karts. Will be worth buying RC's book anyway for tips on welding tubes etc etc. I have tried both grass karts and Pilots and there is absolutely no comparison even ignoring power difference. Reflected in cost and complexity of course.
I had thought about using small car bits but probably too heavy for kids kart.
If I make any progress on this I'll let you know.

[dontlift]

gdr,

where are you located?

A friend of mine has several of these rotting in a barn ready built if you are interested, also if you need honda engines GX160 etc we have plenty lying around

[gdr]

dontlift said:

gdr, where are you located? A friend of mine has several of these rotting in a barn ready built if you are interested, also if you need honda engines GX160 etc we have plenty lying around

I'm near Aberdeen so probably a bit far, although living up here, you do get used to traveling the length of the country to get stuff. Do the kits in your mates barn have suspension?