Mini-Baja type buggys, but 4x4?

Tacoma747

Tacoma747

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem
I have been kicking around the idea of selling the Tacoma and getting a small 2-seater buggy that has a motorcycle engine (~600cc or so). I have seen a couple at URE, but I am almost sure they were 2x4.

I would prefer it to be 4x4 (selectable would be best).

I like the Rhino's, but not enough to want one. I want something lower, more like a glorified go-cart, but that has plenty of suspension travel, a 5spd (or 6spd) tranny, and will run 60-70MPH if wanted.

The 2x4 ones look fun, but I would like something I can switch into 4x4 if needed so I can still follow 4x4 ATV's or 4x4 trucks.

I don't want to get completely out of wheeling, but the rockcrawling just does not do it for me. I have found I have MUCH more fun blasting down the trails from place-to-place. Yes this can be done in a rockcrawler buggy, but that is $$$ to build one right, and I really don't feel like building one and putting that kind of money in it.

Also, ATV's are fun, but I want something that can ride two people (side-by-side), with a full cage, harnesses, the works. Much more comfortable than an ATV.

I figure if no 4x4 ones are made, I might make do with a 2x4 one, and put a winch on it. If there are engines/axles and stuff off a donor vehicle that you know of that would offer a 4x4 IFS/IRS design that a 600CC engine could power, and that have good suspension travel/strength let me know...

Thanks for any suggestions...
 
I saw a 2 seater buggy at Gander mountain the other day and it was cool had a 1100 cc engine I think but looked like a lot of fun
 
my .02 get a samurai, and build it to the 31" tire level.

Still very capable wheeling, easy to get winched/tugged if you follow on harder trails for the day.

BUT
It's street legal, still sits 2 people, has tons of aftermarket support, etc..

AND when I had mine at that 31" level it was pretty damn solid didn't break down much, and was a blast to drive at high speed on the trails. with stock zuke axles and 31s it will still fit on many ATV trails with ease and definitely ride with the new double wides. and 1300cc engine isn't much bigger than a atv engine... but you can get parts at any part store.. :)
 
I remember a magazine article where they compared buiding a 'zuki on a budget, to getting a new rhino. It was a wash, iirc.
 
Chris_M said:
I remember a magazine article where they compared buiding a 'zuki on a budget, to getting a new rhino. It was a wash, iirc.
Click to expand...

Only the ZUK would have been much cheaper, they put an $1100 winch on the zuk, just so the price was identical.

Reminds me when I used the stripped tracker as a hunting vehicle and got in an argument with my ol man about which was more practical. Given that I had $500 in the tracker and he had $6k in his ATV. He asked name one place you can takee yours I cant take mine. I replied I-77...
 
I've been searching around. These things are HARD to find. There are some that are made in China, but I am not really interested in those (cheaply made I am sure). If I can't find something for a decent price, and no good way to build one (that is 4x4) then I'll probably just build a buggy with the drivetrain and stuff I have now, because I have basically everything on my truck to build one, just need the chassis...
 
From what I hear, it's good that you're getting out of rock crawling. The side by side atv crowd needs a master fabricator who demands more money than agreed & doesn't finish the work.

Later.
 
Now I really like that design. A little bigger (to fit two adults) and that would be about exactly what I'd want...

How wide are Toyota minitruck axles compared to Zuk axles? I think the Zuk axles might be ideal since both are offset, but the availability of the Toy axles is more plentiful. I think the Toys are about 60" wide or so, correct?
 
i'm going to 2nd the vote for starting off w/ a Sammy.
if you don't want the whole vehicle feel, just remove most of the body and use the frame/bare chassis and tube up what you want around it. sicne you'll take the body apart anyway, you coudl svae $$ by starting w/ one that is already trashed.
I know Yota axles are a popular swap into them.

But the one in the link above is rear engined, is that what you want?
 
I want as small and light as possible. I want coilovers (airshocks, whatever), link suspension basically. I do not want any part of the stock frame, basically I want it to be a tube buggy of sorts. I really do like the Zuk axle'd rig above, with 31-33" tires and a 2.0 honda VTEC (preferably 5spd) that would be the ticket.

I would assume the gearing from a Honda tranny would probably be low enough, since it has to go through axles and not just straight to the wheels.

I would like it to be able to crawl decent, but I am looking more for a stable vehicle going down roads/trails as fast as is safely possibly :) I am also looking for it to be a "parts runner" for other vehicles that may have broken down. I like the rear engine, mine would have to be longer than the one above to fit me in it, but I would think a wheelbase of 95" or so would be doable.

Now I need to start looking for axles and an engine so I can get prices on those, so I can have a good idea on price before I go digging into this. I will probably use 1 1/4" DOM for the tubework.
 
Yeah, with a rear engine buggy, you've got not only transmission ratio, but what used to be the "axle" of the car is now your (single speed) tcase. I would love to have something like the buggy pictured. With something that small and low powered, you could easily run 35-36" tires on toy axles without worry.
 
I've got a friend of mine that has a 1.6 VTEC with a 5spd for pretty cheap (probably trade for some cagework for him).

I would like to do Toy axles, but I think I would rather do Zuk axles, since it will be short, I want to keep it as narrow as possible. Toy axles with just enough offset to cover the hubs might be OK as well, but I am not sure what overall width that would be. I would like to keep it down about 70-73" wide?

Anyone know how wide Zuk axles are?
 
yager said:
my .02 get a samurai, and build it to the 31" tire level.

Still very capable wheeling, easy to get winched/tugged if you follow on harder trails for the day.

BUT
It's street legal, still sits 2 people, has tons of aftermarket support, etc..

AND when I had mine at that 31" level it was pretty damn solid didn't break down much, and was a blast to drive at high speed on the trails. with stock zuke axles and 31s it will still fit on many ATV trails with ease and definitely ride with the new double wides. and 1300cc engine isn't much bigger than a atv engine... but you can get parts at any part store.. :)
Click to expand...

x2
 
I would get a 4.3 or 4.0, a dana 400 with a 4:1 kit, reuse your axles, shocks, etc. from the taco, and build a buggy.

I don't mean to come across harshly, but if took the time to build a buggy from scratch I wouldn't be aiming to have the least capable rig at any given OHV park. Also, everybody seems to agree that the big expense is building a rig is all the parts runs for plumbing, belts, hoses, odd parts, etc. I think that expense will be about the same for a kick ass buggy and a mini-buggy.

I would either run what you have or build something really cool. I just don't see a really tiny rig that barely makes the hard line at kodak being that much fun.
 
While I agree that building too wimpy of a rig that would be breaking every time you hit a speed-bump sized rock would suck no matter where you run it, I think there is a happy medium.

When I had my Jeep (90 YJ with tpi 305, SM 465, Dana 20, Dana 44's with a locked rear and 36" swampers), I ran everything that Uwharrie had to offer and the ONLY time it was any fun was if it had rained heavily. If it was dry at Uwharrie, as moderately built as my rig was, it made all of Daniel, Kodak and the other trails with ease. At those times, it really wasn't "fun". I was actually wishing I was running a little rig again for some challenge.

I'd like to build a small buggy myself keeping it light and no bigger than 31-33" tires, built with a Samurai drivetrain. I'll keep dreaming in the meantime.
 
Tacoma747 said:
Found it. 55.5" wide for the Toy's, Zuks are about 5" less
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Remember that maybe WMS to WMS the durn hubs stick out forever!!

CJ5 narrowtrack axles are also VERY cheap (as in free at times) and the same width you are looking at.

If VERY careful on tire tire selection/rims, etc, you realize this might almost fit in the bed of the F250. I was thinking of doing one for that exact reason / then I could pull something else behind me like our camper.

Also, if you want this to be legal on atv trails, they are limiting those to about 55" I think? I know the Polaris RZR was 50" wide to get inside of those rules/gates.

And as mentioned...dude you got a tube bender, fab up your buggy with your current stuff and enjoy. With a good set of coilovers (which I think you have) and good tires/beadlocks/psi set about 5psi, you ride should be plenty soft enough to "fly" down any trails you want too.

Take the VTEC engine and build a sweet "dune buggy" that you can drive around town and get uber mpg!! :)
 
vanguard said:
I just don't see a really tiny rig that barely makes the hard line at kodak being that much fun.
Click to expand...

Re-read his first post. He has lost interest in rock crawling and wants to trail ride at a faster pace.

I enjoy both rock crawling and just bombing down the trails in a little vehicle. I am building my Samurai so URE will still be challenging (both diffs open), but so that it will ride better too. I am keeping it as low as possible by running YJ springs SPUA. I cut the fenders to clear an old set of 32's I've got. I also installed 1.6 16v motor for more fun, and some TC gears.

Just for reference, my completely stock Sami with no doors, top, back seat, A/C equipment, etc weighed 1,980 lbs.
 
And I think that some of you guys are forgetting the advantages of super light, low, and small. A moonbuggy on 37" redlabels would rape most any rig here, whether it be on rocks and 46"+ tires or not.
 
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