4 wheel independent suspension

[Griggsfamily5]

I am interested in building a kart/buggy that has 4 wheel independent suspension. I have been looking for a while (weeks) and cant seem to find what I’m looking for. The closest i can find are:
spidercarts.com (they use a swing arm and they dont reply to any form of communication)
Theedgeproducts.com (not looking for 20” of travel)
Badlandbuggy.com (again not looking for 20” of travel)

My daughter (age 7) and i want a kart to be able to drive around the yard/property. We don't really have any place to go off-roading yet, but that would be fun. I am kind of also toying around with wanting to build a 4 seat UTV, but cant find any plans for them.

Thanks for the advice in advance
David

 

[anickode]

SAE mini Baja competition karts are probably the closest match to what you're looking for.

They're built by college teams who are usually sponsored by companies like Polaris, Yamaha, etc, so they tend to incorporate a lot of ATV components.

 

[Griggsfamily5]

Looks great. But I’m not seeing any plans or dimensions. We are wanting to build one our selves and have little experience with building a frame, but have plenty of experience on other building projects

 

[Snaker]

Well, if money is no object, then build in order 1. Chassis 2. suspension using custom parts to fit the chassis 3. Powerplant with custom parts to fit chassis and suspension. 4. Plaster on the extras. There's a Sunday US TV show that's does that all the time. Bet it costs a fortune.

If you don't have a fortune or you want a project gem for low cost, you kind of reverse the project. 1. Powerplant 2. Build suspension around the powerplant 3. Custom dimension the chassis to fit powerplant and suspension 4. Plaster on the extra's.

For step by step instructions. ???????????? Maybe you can find a kit of sorts.

 

[Budget GoKart]

Personally i would say design your own or stretch a yerfdog/china buggie

 

[Griggsfamily5]

Thanks for the quick replies.
I guess i wasn’t specific enough. I am looking for guidance on building the frame. I know how to miter tubing and notch and weld, and make fastener locations, and templates for welding, woodworking, composites and plastics, and i am good on the power plant, brakes, wiring ect.
What i don't know is what shape/size to make the frame, where to put gussets/braces/reinforcement, and suspension geometry.
I want to build some thing that is safe, light (relatively) and going to be able to last The abuse of what i would consider medium light off road. This is where i am looking for advice.

I plan on using 4130. I don’t have a problem buying any tools i may need and i don’t really have a budget. To start off with i have 3-4 single cylinder engines laying around
Any recommendations on where i can buy or download plans for a frame between a sand rail and a rigid frame go kart?
Can i use something like the granddaddy from spidercarts and make the frame solid instead of a swing arm, then copy the front suspension to the back or would the geometry be wrong?
Sand rails seem to have more travel in the front vs the rear. Is this necessary?

---------- Post added at 07:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 AM ----------

Lots of questions. Sorry

 

[anickode]

https://www.minibuggy.net/forum/index.php

Sounds more along the lines of what you're picturing. Not saying we aren't happy to help, but it sounds like the direction you're headed is better aligned with the more complex designs that these guys deal with.

Not bashing the experience or input of the members here, but you'd be hard pressed to find more than a handful of builds here that have anything more advanced than subframe rear suspension, with the majority being simple rigid chassis.

 

[Kartorbust]

Thanks for the quick replies.
I guess i wasn’t specific enough. I am looking for guidance on building the frame. I know how to miter tubing and notch and weld, and make fastener locations, and templates for welding, woodworking, composites and plastics, and i am good on the power plant, brakes, wiring ect.
What i don't know is what shape/size to make the frame, where to put gussets/braces/reinforcement, and suspension geometry.
I want to build some thing that is safe, light (relatively) and going to be able to last The abuse of what i would consider medium light off road. This is where i am looking for advice.

I plan on using 4130. I don’t have a problem buying any tools i may need and i don’t really have a budget. To start off with i have 3-4 single cylinder engines laying around
Any recommendations on where i can buy or download plans for a frame between a sand rail and a rigid frame go kart?
Can i use something like the granddaddy from spidercarts and make the frame solid instead of a swing arm, then copy the front suspension to the back or would the geometry be wrong?
Sand rails seem to have more travel in the front vs the rear. Is this necessary?

---------- Post added at 07:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 AM ----------

Lots of questions. Sorry

4130 Chromoly is a difficult to weld needing a pre-heating and post heating to prevent cracking. You can mig weld it, it's just recommended that you Tig weld it. Yes you can build the frame to be rigid so you can have independent rear suspension. Just so you know, independent rear suspension is not going to be cheap. You either will want CV axles or u-joints. In parts you'll be looking around $150 to $300 to do just that.

 

[Karts of Kaos]

for ideas you mint take a look at grind hard pluming co.

 

[Griggsfamily5]

I ended up getting plans for the edgeproducts funkcart3. It seems like a good starting point with lots of detailed prints and pictures.

 

[gegcorp2012]

Hi,
There is an Edge products section out on MBN forum.

I am learning to buggy up, and want to build something like Rick's AR51. His site has free downloads showing dimensions and part sources,(50 bucks for complete plans) but TBH it takes thousands of dollars to pull off a nice buggy build with laser cut parts and access to lathes and mills and tools that are out of my reach for now.

Be sure to post your build here (or over there), I will subscribe !

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[Griggsfamily5]

Thanks for the info. Ill check them out.
Progress so far is still waiting on quotes for the major metal order. I’m noticing the requirements for a lathe and possibly a mill in my plans also. (Conveniently missed in the list of required tools.)

 

[Functional Artist]

I am interested in building a kart/buggy that has 4 wheel independent suspension. I have been looking for a while (weeks) and cant seem to find what I’m looking for. The closest i can find are:
spidercarts.com (they use a swing arm and they dont reply to any form of communication)
Theedgeproducts.com (not looking for 20” of travel)
Badlandbuggy.com (again not looking for 20” of travel)

My daughter (age 7) and i want a kart to be able to drive around the yard/property. We don't really have any place to go off-roading yet, but that would be fun. I am kind of also toying around with wanting to build a 4 seat UTV, but cant find any plans for them.

Thanks for the advice in advance
David

If this is your first time building a kart from "scratch", I'd start off with something less complicated (& expensive)

Maybe build your little girl a simple & fun little yard kart
...this way she can "play" whilst your workin' on a "bigger & better" one

 

[Kartorbust]

Post 10, they chose to go with the Edge Products Fun Kart 3. It's a rigid frame go kart. https://theedgeproducts.com/collections/the-fun-kart-iii it's pretty basic but will be a lot of fun overall.

 

[Griggsfamily5]

Just got the majority of the metal for the frame. Some how ended up with an extra 24’ stick when everything i ordered was cut to length plus a little fudge room. $150 delivered for all the square tube, still need a little round, a piece of sheet for the floor and all of the laser cut parts.

 

[Kartorbust]

I'd take the extra 24' section as a win and a freebie. Good luck with the build, cannot wait to see how it turns out!