"Light trucks", that is, worn and converted cars, freed from almost all parts of the body, have long been popular in many countries. The first home-made cars for off-road racing and sand dunes appeared in the 50s of the 20th century in America.
What is the difference between buggy and other cars
Common to all cars is the presence of 4 wheels, a frame, a body, an engine, a gas tank, brakes, a driver's seat and a steering wheel. There may, of course, be other common parts. And how is homemade buggy different from its car counterparts?
- With his own hands, it is traditionally done without a body with a skin, doors, hood and trunk. The body of this homemade product is a tube frame welded to a support frame.
- Instead of the windshield, the driver is protected by a metal mesh with small cells fixed to the front arc with band clamps.
- Do-it-yourself mini-buggies in the form of a compact lightweight car. Its weight is usually about 300 kg.
- Most often, parts and assemblies from different brands of machines are used for assembly: the engine from VAZ, the shock absorber from Zaporozhets, and the parts of the brake system from GAZ, VAZ or Moskvich. You can use the exhaust pipe, air filter and carburetor from the ChZ cross-country motorcycle.
- A fire-resistant partition is installed between the engine and the driver's seat.
- Do-it-yourself frame for the buggy (from VAZ) is welded from strong steel pipes.
- The steering wheel can be used from a racing card.
As you can see from the incomplete list, the buggy is a special model assembled as a designer on a makeshift reinforced frame from adapted units of different automobile models. Craftsmen make many parts for this machine on their own.
What can not be installed on makeshift cars
Any car must comply with safety requirements and certain standards accepted in the state. According to existing KiTT requirements, it is forbidden to use:
- tires from tractors and agricultural machinery;
- protectors with mechanical damage and a restored pattern;
- all anti-slip products: chains, spikes or bracelets on tires.
What you need to have on a buggy for safety
You can, of course, take the Jeep and drive along the steppes and ravines. There are also such competitions for owners of crossovers. You can, without bothering to ride quietly on the old worn "Zhigulenka", waiting every minute that just about any part will "fly". Adrenaline and extreme with these actions will be provided completely!
Those who like extreme driving in a homeless car in an asphalt-free zone, who are passionate about the idea of making an unusual car on their own, are fans of buggy. Do it yourself do this machine? What will be superfluous and what is necessary to have “on board”?
- Be sure to have seat belts with four fasteners at different points.
- A 3-kilogram fire extinguisher is installed on the right side of the driver's seat. One of the nozzles is directed towards the driver, the other - towards the engine. You can start the fire protection system from two levers. One of them is installed externally on the main safety arc, the other is accessible to the driver.
- The engine and gas tank installed in the rear of the frame must be separated from the driver's seat by a partition made of fireproof material.
- The trunk on a sports buggy is a completely superfluous detail.
- The driver in racing must wear a helmet.
- Requirements of KiTT recommend installing dimensional and stop lights, a sound signal (activated by a button) on a homemade buggy with your own hands.
- The driver's seat should be equipped with a head restraint.
- On the back and front of the frame, eyelets with a diameter of about 4 cm should be welded to ensure towing.
- The steering wheel and dashboard must be installed at a convenient distance for controlling the buggy.
Just ride or race?
There are two varieties and possibilities to make do-it-yourself buggies: drawings of sports and tourist cars. The characteristics of sports mini-crossovers are not very different from the driving characteristics of tourist home-made products. Sneakers are placed on a tubular reinforced frame.
Cars for traveling over rough terrain should also have stability, maneuverability and easy handling. A tourist car is made with a passenger seat, for racing - a single buggy. A car not intended for racing is “dressed” in a case.
What kind of competitions do they participate in homemade racing
- Sports championships and championships in Russia on racing cars such as "Buggy" give the opportunity to participate in competitions for adolescents and adults.
- By car, designed for racing in difficult natural landscapes, you can successfully participate in various competitions in ascents and descents from the hills, in winter and summer slalom, figured management.
What to choose: buy a finished car or build it yourself
Some car factories have long established the release of sports with a simplified model of the body and tourist or walking types of buggy. Do it yourself do this car? It is possible, but easier and faster to buy a finished vehicle. However, many riders make a car for themselves, given their special requirements for the model. For a racing car, a sturdy frame is not just the basis for installing a general design. The buggy frame is a reliable frame for protecting the driver in the event of rollovers and collisions.
Key features of the buggy
Buggy racing has long been turned into motor sport, which is called "autocross". Machines characterized by ease of operation, light weight, resistance to overturning, have powerful motors, increased maneuverability and the ability to quickly gain speed. The values of the characteristics and abilities below are useful to you if you are planning to make a buggy with your own hands. How to make the best car for yourself? Just pick up the details and you will get a car with the parameters:
- 33 liter engine from.;
- maximum speed - about 80 km per hour;
- weight - about 300 kg;
- turning radius - 2.5 m;
- independent front axle suspension;
- independent rear axle suspension;
- all-wheel drive hydraulic brakes ;
- shock absorbers combined with elastic elements;
- length - 2.5 m;
- height - 1.3 m;
- width - 1.4 m.
How to make a sturdy buggy frame
The frame construction uses seamless steel seamless pipes. It is necessary to take products with an outer diameter of 25-30 mm. The wall thickness of the prepared pipe is 2 mm. To obtain a smooth bend (without folds and creases), the tubes cut into the necessary segments are packed densely with sand. Using a blowtorch or gas burner, the places of the alleged folds of the future frame are heated. With the help of clamps and rigid stocks, the necessary forms of parts are obtained. All parts are checked with the template, adjusted and adjusted to the desired size.
We weld together the prepared fragments of the buggy frame. Do-it-yourself how to make a strong frame for the car? The preparatory step will allow you to see and eliminate the flaws and inadvertent errors. Then, all correctly and tightly installed frame elements are finally fixed. It is necessary to monitor the full and high-quality welding of all seams around the entire perimeter of the structure.
The engine is mounted on a subframe attached to the main frame with rubber bushings (to dampen vibration).
How to assemble a buggy with your own hands? Creating a mini-buggy begins with a plan and analysis of the detailed installation of machine components. This process ends with a trial run of the engine. Everything works? You can go! Have a good trip!