Off-Road Kart Project

[jkl66]

Hi everyone, I've got an Engineering project on at the moment in which I'm going to engineer an Off-Road Kart Frame from scratch. Lecturers have told me to do a quick survey to get the ball rolling.

Sooo, just wondering if there is anyone out there that may want to give me a hand in completing this survey. I know I know, no one likes doing surveys but you'd be doing me a huge favor! and I promise it'll only take 2mins. Its only 8 multiple-choice questions! PLEAASSE!!

Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JS665ZT

Thanks for your time!
Josh
(From Quakey Christchurch)

 

[redsox985]

Done! Now will you be building a buggy of some sort? There are lots of detailed build logs on here.

 

[jkl66]

Thanks Heaps! I've been wanting to build one for ages now, so have now managed to coax my lecturers to let me build one as a project! I want to avoid temptation of looking at other builds for now as I want to do this on my own without getting any ideas from anyone. This way I can test my Engineering skills. Hope I don't screw up too badly!

 

[bighead]

Interesting way to build a kart. I like to look at all the pics I can then pick what I like and give it my own twist.

 

[jkl66]

Your way would be the smarter way to approach it but this way i can't be told that I've just taken someone else idea and used it for my project. If i come up with the same design as someone else then it must mean that great minds think alike!

 

[fowler]

i think u will find some poarts will have to be taken from others carts

u can spend thousands of dollars and months on contiuosly trying to make the drive system work

or ill find u a good pic on google in 2 mins

the drive line is the only real thing u need to copy (not the whole thing just the idea)

and unless u have a good understanding id look at others suspension and steering as that is hard to get right

 

[jkl66]

Very true! I have taken that into consideration so have decided to only really focus on the frame and take the hard bits like the drive-line, suspension and steering etc from existing designs. Why reinvent the wheel right?

 

[jkl66]

Thanks to everyone who's participated in my short survey! PLEASE anyone who might wana help me out that would be great as the more people I can get to do the survey the better!

Also out of curiosity, i see that a lot of people feel like they would rather have a kart on a trailer rather than in a Station Wagon or similar. Is there any particular reason for wanting it on a trailer? just curious......

Thanks again to everyone who participated! been very helpful so far! Keep up the good work guys and gals!

 

[fowler]

a decent kart wont fit in a station wagon

u could fit most karts on the back of a ute unless u want a serious off road buggy

 

[jkl66]

There's no such thing as "won't fit"... make it fit! haha. thats the challenge!

 

[fowler]

no my off road kart/buggy is almost as long as a small car and many buggyeis are wider

so as long can drive with a kart on your head your all good

 

[anderkart]

no my off road kart/buggy is almost as long as a small car

Then you dont own a go kart, technically it would be considered a buggy.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Then you dont own a go kart, technically it would be considered a buggy.

I've often wondered where the line was drawn between kart and buggy. In my mind, if it has 1)a cage, and 2)suspension, it's a buggy.

Anyone else?

 

[sideways]

a decent kart wont fit in a station wagon

X2 And it will probably be covered in mud and crap, don't want all that in the family car. You've got to lift the thing in there too. It's so easy to scratch the crap out of the back bumper, break trim, rip carpet ect. A trailer is just so much easier.

I did the survey BTW.

 

[redsox985]

You could probably fit a small 1 seater buggy in the back of a full size pickup, but that wold probably be a pretty narrow buggy. I agree that it would need a trailer.

 

[Rustydog2010]

Good to see another Kiwi on here! What kind of off-roader do you want? Just a small kart type or a larger one like a buggy?

I did the survey, for me I want something that is quick, handling and off-road capability. I agree with Fowler, i'm making a GPZ750 piranha, thats almost the size of a station wagon. lol

It all depends on what you want, theres no point in making something that everyone else wants, what about you?

Jeremy.

 

[fowler]

ha how long is this project going for rusty

i too am looking at a piranha but achieving it in a conversion

if u want a good design idea then look at www.edge.au.com

they have the best light buggies around and u can buy plans to there dual a arm rear suspension as well as any of there buggies (but that cheating for u )

surely as an engineer u need to be able to use others ideas and consepts to save time and money designing your own so u should get arks for useing a tried and tested idea

out of intrest could u post the survey results up here

 

[Rustydog2010]

ha how long is this project going for rusty

i too am looking at a piranha but achieving it in a conversion

About a year now! I really should make another thread. In about 3 months my car is going to be scaped, so I can nic the CV's and hubs out of that. Maybe the 1800cc fuel injected 5 speed manuel as well.

Ive done the same, I started with a Sidewinder, cut the rear swing arm out. Just need to get the CV's and hubs and make a double A rear for it. Single A arms up front, but may convert it to double.

I have 2 sets of rims and tyres, GPZ 750 (Needs some electrics) and most of the frame. Hope to have it ready for summer in December-ish. Then take that and the 400 2 stroke for races on the beech.

Sorry to hijack the tread.

But I to would be keen to see the results of the survey.

Jeremy.

 

[fowler]

im after a basket case sidey for $500 down

 

[jkl66]

WOW a lot of activity going on here! Yes, i didn't factor in the idea that someone would have to lift the dam thing into the station wagon! good point...and thus the whole point of a survey!

However, I will still endeavor to explore the idea as I feel that lugging a trailer round has always been a pain so if the option was there for it to go into a vehicle then I say why not?! and yes it would get dirty etc but that's what Tarpaulins or drop sheets are for isn't it? All just ideas floating round at the moment and you guys are a BIG help to me!

All very good points made by you guys and I will post up the results next week if that's ok? just so i can get a decent sample size going!

Once again..Thanks heaps for everyone who's done the survey! Much appreciated! and if anyone else want to see what all the fuss has been about, please do my 2min - 8 multiple choice question survey at this link!

Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JS665ZT