I am wanting to build a buggy of my own, I have access to a full machine shop, since my cousin owns a motorcycle shop. I am considering using chromoly steel as the metal of choice for my buggy construction, I also have access to the steel through my cousin's shop. I used to race KTM supermoto bikes and was introduced to chromoly with the frame of the bikes, and was very satisfied with the strength, durability, and light weight of the steel. It is a very popular choice for several makes of european off road motorcycles. Can anyone tell me a better metal of choice or tell me why chromoly won't work. I weigh around 275 lbs and am about 6'2'' tall and am wanting to build something strong that will last. Also,what would be a good minimum length for the rear axle considering my size, I want it to be very stable for sliding.

WELDNGOD, screwy, flexiblade, popeye, etc.- You're up.

Hi
Carlos Fandango aka PopeyeTheWelder has lots of info on his site...
http://pic7.piczo.com/Popeyethewelder/

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Bunch of good links to info located

here

hey dude, Chromemoly is a great choice for a steel buggy. We used to use it in boiler piping because of its ability to expand and contractwithout cracking. And it had other corrosion props too. If you use CrMo pipe weld it w/ 8018 or your welds will be the weakest link.( all welds are the weak link, well actually it is the Heat Affected Zone). If you use 7000 series steel filler material to weld 8000 series steel, you are defeating the purpose of using CrMo. Your frame will fail in the weakest spot ,which would be your welds that are only rated at 70,000 psi,where the parent metal would be 80,000 psi.
If you use steel ,I would go powdercoat if you are gonna ride on a beach. But the last time I drove through OK ,I don't remember seeing the ocean, so i doubt that will happen. In that case ,prime and paint should be good if ya store it in the garage out of the rain.
I'm tired of thinkin about weldin now, need cold beer. we'll talk more later about various metals for construction.
WG

Popeye's buggy's are bomb proof. Here's a perfect example of a step by step guide on what to use and how to put it together - PTW COUGAR

Quote:

Originally posted by flexiblade Popeye's buggy's are bomb proof. Here's a perfect example of a step by step guide on what to use and how to put it together - PTW COUGAR

Thank you flexiblade, I had a real good look at the link there, it was interesting reading, and seem such a long while ago now when I made that buggy, my 2nd stainless buggy in fact....it is also interesting to see how I have changed things over the last few years, nothing major, just minor improvements from that buggy, in fact I saw that buggy last year, and it has been well looked after, it still looks as good as in the photo's.

The foot pegs for instance are way too long, I believe those were 200mm long, all my pegs now are 140mm long, my side rails are much higher and certainly the gap between them narrower.

After a huge lay off from my garage, (I needed a break) I am just starting work on my next buggy, don't expect anything too different lol....there are only so many things that can be done with three wheels and a few pieces of bent tube ehh lol. I will be making myself a new Dominator, that buggy along with the Cheetah will always be my proudest contribution toward the home buggy building world, just because it is soooo different from the usual run of the mill buggies, it just looks good from any angle...and every time I see one on the beach, as well as feeling proud that I had made it, I am also jealous because I haven't got one. There are two in the UK and one in Australia, and a few copies in Europe.

The link you posted above, if you are starting out will be a great help, I wish I had something like that around when I started, that was my reason for making it, to help others miss out the mistakes I had made, and just to maybe think of something a new guy may have missed....its a very popular page and always has been, that tells me many things, like there certainly is an interest out there in this sport and they want to know the engineering behind it, and there are many many other people like us out there too, who by and what ever means they can want to have a go at making their own buggy.

Like I have said many times, making your own buggy, may not be the cheapest option, but you will certainly have a bigger smile on your face when you roll that baby out onto the playa for the first time, and actually move in it....wowwwwwwwwww.....what a buzz