Power Kite Forum

Back half for tandem buggy! -- FOUND --

Windstruck - 22-10-2015 at 03:06 PM

I know this is an absolute stab in the dark, but I'd like to see if anybody has the "caboose" for a tandem buggy collecting dust that they would consider selling and shipping to me in Utah? I ride a PL BigFoot, so in the perfect world I'd have a back half that matches the front half.

If worse comes to worse I'm prepared to buy a second BigFoot (preferably used), remove the front wheel mechanism and craft a hitch of sorts that would come off my back axle and pivot at the crown of the back BigFoot. Trying to avoid doing that if possible!

I would also buy another type of old buggy and make it into the caboose if need be. I'd also consider getting something fabricated, but again, that is a lot of work, trouble, and likely, expense. I'm open to suggestions!

This would be used to pull my daughter around behind me, something that would bring her great joy! She's near full grown at 17 years but has special needs so she will live with us long term. She's about 5'10" tall and weighs about 175 lbs. When she was younger we logged several thousand miles together on a 50 cc scooter all over heck and back with her standing in the well between my legs with my arms around her holding the handlebars. She went and got too big for that! She loves open air speed with the wind in her face, the crazier the better! She and I do a lot of downhill skiing together (she rips) and this would be one more fun thing we could do together.

soliver - 22-10-2015 at 03:26 PM

Steve, I say go ahead and get an entire 2nd buggy but with Barrows... And make it one that you will fit in... Have that one set up as your tandem and then you can also use it as your "light wind buggy" ... The loss of the extra pounds of those heavy BFs can help in the light air, plus it will be easier to tow and transport. I even welded up a tow arm and hitch so I don't have to take the front wheel off my buggy in tow.

After I get all these munchkins in bed I'll post you some pics

volock - 22-10-2015 at 03:35 PM

Why not get the 2nd buggy, and go with a wakeboard tow handle section and let her steer the 2nd buggy / cruise along behind you? I do it with people on snow and sleds.

soliver - 22-10-2015 at 04:07 PM

Ok,... So I'm a big fan of the complete 2nd buggy route and there are a ton of ways to do it. Markite has the entire 2nd buggy with no front wheel on it and he uses a strap to basically tie the front axle of the buggy in tow to the back axle of the front buggy. I like to make things complicated... its just my personality... In the end, I like the way I did it because it makes it super simple to tale off the tow arm to have the second buggy ready at your disposal.

I will search the forum for my posts on how I originally did the tandem then you can see the other ways too just for grins.

I decided on doing it this way because I was reading a forum on Kitecrowd where they were saying that little inland fields are easy to get speed on when you are in a smaller lightweight buggy... that less weight allowed you just a little tic up in speed. To me that also translated to having a buggy that would get going easier in less wind... and it actually makes a difference. I already had the back half of my XR+ with the VTT rail kit,... I just added the front end and made the tow arm. Then I had a smaller lightweight bug and a big daddy cruising machine.... ok to the pics:







and here it is in action:

A tandem ride from the day after Thanksgiving,... the maiden voyage so to speak:
post turkey tandem

And then JIBE 2015 and Saint Simons:
Golden Isles GA...

Email me Steve and I'll be glad to help in whatever way I can.

Windstruck - 22-10-2015 at 04:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soliver  
Ok,... So I'm a big fan of the complete 2nd buggy route and there are a ton of ways to do it. Markite has the entire 2nd buggy with no front wheel on it and he uses a strap to basically tie the front axle of the buggy in tow to the back axle of the front buggy. I like to make things complicated... its just my personality... In the end, I like the way I did it because it makes it super simple to tale off the tow arm to have the second buggy ready at your disposal.

I will search the forum for my posts on how I originally did the tandem then you can see the other ways too just for grins.

I decided on doing it this way because I was reading a forum on Kitecrowd where they were saying that little inland fields are easy to get speed on when you are in a smaller lightweight buggy... that less weight allowed you just a little tic up in speed. To me that also translated to having a buggy that would get going easier in less wind... and it actually makes a difference. I already had the back half of my XR+ with the VTT rail kit,... I just added the front end and made the tow arm. Then I had a smaller lightweight bug and a big daddy cruising machine.... ok to the pics:







and here it is in action:

A tandem ride from the day after Thanksgiving,... the maiden voyage so to speak:
post turkey tandem

And then JIBE 2015 and Saint Simons:
Golden Isles GA...

Email me Steve and I'll be glad to help in whatever way I can.


Spencer: great looking family, videos, and yes, tandem! I can appreciate how your set up allows for the all-critical pitch, roll, and yaw movements of the second buggy. Nice stuff.

I think I will try and pick up a second, simple buggy and do something akin to your set up. I will email when I get a little farther along. I think my daughter will enjoy it every bit as much as your girls clearly do. :D

ssayre - 22-10-2015 at 04:47 PM

I always suffer from buggy envy when I see Spencer's set up. Good luck with your tandem Steve!

soliver - 22-10-2015 at 04:54 PM

I need to add a few inches to the length of the tow arm because wifey told me that her feet got a little too close to the back wheels of my bug... kinda scary she said.

Its fun to whip the back end around and sling your passenger a bit too... I think that happens in my Coastal Ga Vid with my oldest daughter in tow.

If you need help with welding stuff, Steve let me know, I can probably help.

soliver - 22-10-2015 at 05:33 PM

Here's my post from when I set up the Tandem for how it is now, It has pics of the original set up which was an extended downtube with the eye-bolt on the end. I still use the original hitch on the back axle of the Stinger, but I've bent it differently so it will fit on my buggy rack.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=29531#pid28...

3shot - 23-10-2015 at 03:51 AM

Yes. Add selling my XR+ to the list of dumb sh#t I regret...

carltb - 23-10-2015 at 11:21 AM

https://www.facebook.com/carl.kirton.3/media_set?set=a.10206...

Windstruck - 23-10-2015 at 01:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by carltb  
https://www.facebook.com/carl.kirton.3/media_set?set=a.10206...


Awesome pics Carl! Thanks buddy.

Windstruck - 23-10-2015 at 01:08 PM

Mission accomplished. Thanks Craig (mainekite2)!!!

Next step is get buggy in house and work out hitch.