Suspension for an Soft-road Buggy

[Werner]

Hey guys, I'm starting on my first buggy/cart project and I'm looking at making a 250cc single seater buggy, with square steel.

I'm researched hundreds of designs and found a few simple enough to build as a first time project, however I'm scrapped for cash and time, so I'm wondering if there is a way to cut the need for indipendant suspension. If I can elimate the rear suspension then there is no need for spindles saving me cash and time.. However I'm worried that the buggy's handling would be poor on soft surfaces like dirt,grass and gravel.

I have several options,

1) Large tires operating on a low PSI to absorb the impact.
2) Scissor suspension (main suspension in the middle of the car, however im worried this will be too complicated with the designs I have in mind.)
3) Locate some cheap spindles and shocks ?

What do you guys suggest I do? any other suggestions?

 

[fowler]

get an old quad bike and use the suspension from it then u get double wish bone suspension and a swing arm
(just choose one with soft suspension)
im doing the same progect are u useing 2 or 4 stroke

 

[Werner]

4, I hope.. but I'll just have to make do with what I have. I'm possibly going to have to settle for a 125cc I hope it's got enough grunt.

 

[Pellethuntr2]

get a 2 stroke if you can...lots of power and higher rpm's

 

[Doc Sprocket]

With no suspension, poor handling is only part of the the concern. I'm building an offroad shifter (250cc 4-stroke) with suspension. Why? Because my current kart has no suspension. 18" turf tires, GX340 11hp, comet 40. Biggest issue? Scrambled brains. I was getting jounced almost right out of the kart on rough terrain. First I fitted a lap belt (good), then a shoulder belt(better), and recently installed a 4-point racing harness. Not for crashing, for keeping my arse inside the kart. Very hard to control when you're bouncing like that! With my body firmly pinned in place, it's much easier to operate, but there's still the problem of feet bouncing on pedals.

If the surface is reasonably smooth, the kart handles very well.

 

[Werner]

Would scissor suspension make a big difference compared to none? As in use springs and shocks to control movement of the front and rear assembly.