I'm considering upgrading my PL XR buggy to a bigfoot, but I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile considering the type of sand I would be riding on. The beach I use in NC has a wide stretch of hard packed sand at low tide (which is great for the standard tires), but deep, VERY soft sand above the tide line. This stuff is a struggle to even walk through. Can a bigfoot handle this type of sand? I'd love to not be limited to riding at low tide. Any advice?

It's definitely possible...just make sure you are well powered up and you keep the momentum going. Is it fun??? I don't know...in my opinion not really....starts are a little tough and when it gets strong enough to actually ride comfortably...I go in the water : ). I also could not even come close to the speed I was experiencing on hardpack and that is one of the funniest things I like to do in a buggy, that, and 180's and 360's....I had fun at first...cruising through the dunes and all but the thrill left me pretty quick...Just my $.02...

The bigfoots are more for "getting through" the soft sand rather than simply riding on it. If all you have is really soft sand it will be hard starting, hard going, and as previously stated - not as much fun. I run strictly bigfoots on the beach to help cruise through soft areas rather than get stuck in them - and with the slicks you can do amazing slides at decent speeds.

I ride bigfoots on the beach mainly so that I can ride throughtsoft sand, though I much perfer not to, even though I do it all the time It's a different style of riding where, at least I need to be pretty overpowered and the ride angle is cut way down since there's not a tone of bite. Down wind is fun, but what might be a 5 minute upwind ride in hard sand might be a 30m ride in the soft sand. But then again, dunes are soft sand too

I'd suggest trying out someone elses bigfoot and see if you like the difference.

I've also gotta say that I'm ont a fan of the PL with bigfoots because it has no back support and you'll need to ride with more power it's lowerback ache city. Upgrading a PL can also be pretty pricy after you get a new fork, wheels, and tires. You migh consider jumping into another buggy that's already bigfoot. It's be a bit more than the upgrade, but if you want to get into a better ride, this might be a good oppty.

These will ride over anything
Beach Racers

Quote:

Originally posted by Speedbump I'm considering upgrading my PL XR buggy to a bigfoot, but I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile considering the type of sand I would be riding on. The beach I use in NC has a wide stretch of hard packed sand at low tide (which is great for the standard tires), but deep, VERY soft sand above the tide line. This stuff is a struggle to even walk through. Can a bigfoot handle this type of sand? I'd love to not be limited to riding at low tide. Any advice?

which bigfoot buggy?

if the funds allow, i'd go with AS Rims for the rear so you can use a bigger tire and a flatter surface. also some tires with grooves put in.

bf lights, duro, beach racers drive over everything with easy. if youre are driving through soft sand just size up.

than comes the rebate:

Race Buggy + Big Kite or Light Buggy + Smaller Kite

Thanks for the responses. While my heart says Go For It, I think I would see marginal benefit from upgrading my existing buggy, given my conditions. There is such a huge difference once I get above the tideline, I think I'll just remain a low tide kind of guy for now. And with wife-over-shoulder reminding me that my son's college tuition payment is due next week, I think discretion may be the better part of valor here.
Having said that, perhaps I can obtain bigfoot parts little by little over the next few months as I find good deals and be ready with a new bug for next summer.
There's no cure for this disease, is there?
Thanks again!

Cure... Cure? Who wants a cure?...

It's not really a disease. I feel it is more of a dissorder. Kind of like lust or greed. Will do almost any thing for a good day out in the wind. I'm going out today in fact. I need to be at the airport this evening to pick the family up and head to VT for the week. But I am still going to go buggy for the day 45 miles away in the wrong direction.
A bad day of buggying beats a good day of splitting wood!!!
Willard your right. No cure and who wants one.

Don't fight it, just feed it...........................

Most of the posts seem to not favor Bigfoots on soft sand but I have to tell you it is some of the most fun I have in a buggy. You let a bunch of air out of the tires and ride sand dunes like waves. The excitement of running up a 40 foot dune and then down the other side is totally different than packed sand riding where you can see everything ahead. At the peak you have to make split second decisions on how to handle the descent and which path to take. There is a strategy to it that's exhilarating and fun. And yes the PL Bigfoot needs a backrest. The one I bought on Ebay had a homemade backrest that I seem to be continually modifying and improving but it is worth it to have a chair to lean back in while taking in the view from the top of a big dune!

The other fun soft sand Bigfoot situation is to get speed on the hard pack and then hit a raised soft sand area. Sort of banking off of and riding through with the momentum you've got going. Then back to the hard pack for another run at the soft sand.

I also think the bigfoots are better on hard pack sand and grass because of the cushier ride. Shells, debris, furrows and unexpected holes are not as much of a problem.

The biggest adjustment is that I have to take the Bigfoot buggy apart to fit in the pickup. The Flexifoil buggy just slides right in.

What beach are you talking about?