Buggy flooring.

Stuntman Autoworks

Stuntman Autoworks

Instigator of things
Joined
May 6, 2010
Location
Sanford NC 27330
I'm getting to the point of putting a floor in my project sami and can't decide which way to go. I need some advice and personal experiences on what kind of floor to put in. Should it be a solid floor with some bead rolling or a little more open with some dimpled holes, or really open with expanded steel? I could see the advantage of exp steel being easy to wash the rig out and being cool in the summer but if its wet outside or cold I could see it being a problem. What's yalls veiws and opinions? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
 
some good 3/4 advantech sub floors..with 3/4 solid oak sounds good to me...I'll do it cheap.:rockon:

seriously though..Ive never had a buggy, but if I did..I think solid/bead roll with a few drain plugs.
I'd guess expanded metal..would be hot all the time with the drivetrain heat coming under and up.. but idk
 
Flintstone it. lol

I think what joe said^ should be good enough. Maybe have plugs for the holes for the winter time?
 
My vote is a solid floor, with drain holes at the low points. The more open, the more wet, the more heat from exhaust and engine.
You can put mats in it to help with heat/cold
oh wait, I almost described my Jeep except for the properly located drain holes
 
solid floors with drain holes. expanded sheet metal floors are great for washing out but suck pretty bad if its wet or cold outside. Every time I ride in Ron's buggy, he always gets my opinion on his expanded metal floor... :D
 
I have had both.... Tgat said the next buggy i build will have solid floors with 2-3 holes per side with removable plugs and a slight crease to promote drainage. Think like the bend in a peice of duct work...
 
Expanded metal gives the added benefit of sight lines in tight spots, I have literally looked through both florrs to see tire position before.
It does allow water to splash up..but to be honest I get more mud thrown on me from outside the window than up through the floor.
 
I personally dont like open holes in the floor. I have a 1.5" hole in my driver side floorboard from a scrapped interior cage idea. When the roads are wet and I turn just right, the tire will sling water right up in my face. First time it happened, I was like WTF was that.
 
I use solid for better protection from dirt/water/rocks and to help keep the exhaust heat off my feet. Light gauge sheet metal with some heat shield on the bottom and truck bed liner on the top is the way I'd go
 
Ron said:
Expanded metal gives the added benefit of sight lines in tight spots, I have literally looked through both florrs to see tire position before.
It does allow water to splash up..but to be honest I get more mud thrown on me from outside the window than up through the floor.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this one... My next buggy will probly be a mix with lexan or expanded upfront for vision... I will make some mats/covers for them for the winter or if its going to be wet.

I had one with a solid bedlined floor, and felt like it was slick with muddy shoes, and had a ton of heat coming through the firewall. with expanded it allows more airflow.
 
Crap I'm getting about the same feedback for solid as I am for a floor with holes or of expanded steel. Guess I will have to weigh out the pros and cons of each and decide what I think I will like the best. Obviously theres not a clear winner as to what people like the most. lol Thanks for all the input.
 
I will say this, I pressure wash clean my buggy after every ride. I cant imagine getting the amount of mud I get inside the cab out if I had solid floors.

The counter argument is I would probably get less inside with solid floors I suppose.

You need some way to wash it out, if its solid incorporate some type of removable drains
 
The speed holes in my 16Ga floor work great, some visibility, excellent clean out because of dimpling, plus all my panels on dzus fasteners, pressure washing is easy with no panels! also I have no panels behind my pedals, or the passenger footrest, so I can still see both front wheels, with some artistic craning of my neck/head.

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mcutler said:
The speed holes in my 16Ga floor work great, some visibility, excellent clean out because of dimpling, plus all my panels on dzus fasteners, pressure washing is easy with no panels! also I have no panels behind my pedals, or the passenger footrest, so I can still see both front wheels, with some artistic craning of my neck/head.

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Click to expand...
With no panels under your pedals or footrest, does the tires kick up a lot of mud and rocks or dirt at you.
 
How bout lexan or similar? Keeps you dry, and you can see through it until it gets scratched...
 
My fenders catch most of it. Plus the opening is cluttered with brake reservoirs etc. check my build thread think there are some decent pics of the view from seated position. Not to mention when pulling second gear at 3000 RPMs, not looking through foot windows too much,:). This was my first buggy build, and we tend to think things to pieces on functionality. My driving styled changed tremendously from previous rig, so alot of the thinking/planning was geared toward old style. Throw all that out the window with a high horsepower/quick attack buggy versus a technical trail rig.

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jeepinmatt said:
How bout lexan or similar? Keeps you dry, and you can see through it until it gets scratched...
Click to expand...

I believe a few of the Jims Garage buggies are like this

Sent via telegraph
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
I believe a few of the Jims Garage buggies are like this

Sent via telegraph
Click to expand...

My Jim's Garage floor is solid with LineX and the front kick panels are lexan. I can see both front tires from the driver seat.
 
mcutler said:
My fenders catch most of it. Plus the opening is cluttered with brake reservoirs etc. check my build thread think there are some decent pics of the view from seated position. Not to mention when pulling second gear at 3000 RPMs, not looking through foot windows too much,:). This was my first buggy build, and we tend to think things to pieces on functionality. My driving styled changed tremendously from previous rig, so alot of the thinking/planning was geared toward old style. Throw all that out the window with a high horsepower/quick attack buggy versus a technical trail rig.

Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
I'm checking it out now
 
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1357496874.601178.jpg
 
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