What are the most important qualities of a buggy, what sorts of adjustability are useful? My terrain is desert not beach so I think wheel diameter will be better than width of tire. I have some farmers permission to use about 1500 acres of rolling hill areas, most are pretty smooth , wide flat valleys and rolling side hills, some field corrigations. Is any one using brakes on buggies, I have lots of small calipers and hydro cylinders from aircraft brakes (kit fox and avidflyer types). I can mandrel bend most of the tubing and will only have to purchase hubs and axle parts I have looked at some designs but have not actually seen a buggy so any ideas could help. Post up pics if you can.

Brakes are not necessary. Check out Popeye's site for buggy building - he has the buggy bible and is the buggy master.

http://www.popeyethewelder.com/

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Originally posted by awindofchange Brakes are not necessary. Check out Popeye's site for buggy building - he has the buggy bible and is the buggy master. http://www.popeyethewelder.com/

Bigfoot tyres are very helpful in soft sand and also help smooth out the bumps but mine don't handle as well at speed - probably need balancing. Wide axle and a bit of extra ground clearance. If your surface is firm, then midi's or midi XL's should be perfect. You may need some slime in them to stop punctures depending on weeds. I like my back support and reasonably high side rails.

I'd be looking at a cruiser type buggy along the lines of a Libre Vmax.

Oh, and some heel straps to stop your feet from bouncing off the footpegs, hitting the dirt and.......ouch.




This is a little too low for off road stuff - I would go back to the straight downtube section instead of the swan neck thereby giving myself another 3" ground clearance.

Already been to that site lots of good info....but I can never leave a design alone....should be fun to try.:wee:

Check out the Sand Yetis buggies, his are built for rough terrain of the desert with plenty of clearance

http://popeyethewelder.com/the-sand-yeti

or the brilliant Hungarian buggies
http://popeyethewelder.com/our-buggying-neighbours/hungarian...

If price or $$ for options isn't an issue then....

I would say some important factors are comfort..This will be a personal thing as everyone is different... size, weight, height...The way you fly and buggy will also come into play. If possible go to a kiting event around you and sit in some buggies. They will all feel different so...like a pair of shoes pick the one that best fits you.

The other one is transporting the buggy around. If you are only going to use 1 field or play area and it's close then no problem, but if you need to travel a bit the bigger buggies are harder to move around. They are also much heavier which makes you have to get bigger kites to pull you.

I'll let others chime in

Kiting event near me..........nothing is near Pomeroy, WA. :dunno: version 1 will be my best guesses and I will go from there.....I have always been a DIY guy. Main frame will 2.5 od aluminum aircraft spar material and 1 inch for the side rails . 4130 for the steering and front wheel carrier, I,ll use webbing and sheet foam for the seat or make a Fiberglas shell.

All good and as a craftsman myself I truly appreciate the "wanting to build something myself".....Popeye the welder and Van (Vtt buggies) are both a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.....look at pics and web sites to inspire..post pics of progress, as everyone loves to see what others are doing..
Good Luck

You should, if possible, try to find or go to a kiting event (even if not so local)..Nothing like it when you start hanging out, talking, and looking at what others are building or have for you to try.

Geometry and Comfort are very important.

I had a small buggy for a while, It was not comfortable, it was very nimble, but did not have back support. I made a buggy with a lot of Popeye influence and now have a comfortable, very stable, easy to handle, buggy that I can ride in my home fields, or at the beach and ride for hours on end without tiring or becoming very sore. Well of course if I am riding hard, my ribs do get a little sore from laying in the side rails! The new "ergo" side rails are more comfortable, but I have not made that upgrade to my buggy yet!

Either way, keep that Geometry and Comfort in mind!

I am blending some plans info...mainly the steering angle I may make a temporary adjustable steering head just to play with it....I love finding out why stuff works. I get to order my kite in the morning. The buggy should be done by spring. Has any one tried a ski buggy for snowy fields? Popeye's site has some great info and lots of pics. Wish I still had my water jet machine.

Comfort and security of staying in are tops on my list. I rode 53 miles today and was comfortable and secure the entire time. That is priceless.

the closest buggy event will probably be in Quincy, Washington over memorial day weekend. Other than that something at alvord whenever that happens or SOBB at sunset beach oregon over memorial day weekend. for your buggy I would recommend some ground clearance. Medium to wide tires. a belly pan to prevent injury when you hit high spots. You can come check out my buggy some time if you want. By next week my school projects should be done and I will have time till Jan.

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I have some farmers permission to use about 1500 acres of rolling hill areas, most are pretty smooth , wide flat valleys and rolling side hills, some field corrigations

So where is this field you speak of? Google earth? Possibly this spring, or sooner if the snow doesn't start to fly soon, I can travel that direction. I'm in Yakima, have a Libre Hardcore, and a bunch of kites would enjoy playing in the desert.

Fields are on top of the benches just south of Pomeroy....it is always always windy up there....all the northern benches have wind mills but south and east is still clear. The restriction is not digging up the ground too bad these are fall winter fallow hay and wheat fields with stubble on them.....I used to farm a lot and know how to talk to farmers...very useful. Also working on the fields near the hi way rest stop on top of alpowa summit towards Lewiston ....but the wind is to strong there for my skills at this point.

Just my personal opinion...

I'm in the same boat as you, I'm a craftsman and love to make my own stuff... Hire a contractor? ... Why the heck would I do such a silly thing when I can do it myself? So yes I thought hey,... I could build my own buggy, so why not?

But...

Not knowing the first thing even about riding a kite buggy, being a father of 3 children under 7, employed full time, and a part time Graduate student, it seemed like I would be better off looking into and buying something. Sure it may cost more, but if I tried to do it myself, I figure I might not get it right, and have to wait a LOOOOOOOONG time before I would be in the buggy seat. Plus my wife said, "you don't need another project." So I sold a bunch of old instruments and stuff in the closet that I didn't use anymore to fund the purchase.

The most typical beginner bug it seems is the Peter Lynn Comp. XR+ and everyone seems to say that you will hang onto it for a while. Plus, Van (VTT) makes a rail kit and seat upgrade for for more comfort, back support etc.

Big Mikes Kites sells what he calls the "Frankenbuggy" (what I have) which is a great set up. It is an amalgamation of Peter Lynn buggy parts with the VTT rail kit. It's a PL Comp xr front end, VTT rails and seat, and a PL Bigfoot extra wide back axle. It is uber comfy (I always say it feels like I'm riding in a BarcaLounger ) and the wide back axle helps keep you from accidentally flipping over. Big Mike will let you customize it with whatever parts or wheels you want and adjust the price accordingly.

Check out the link
http://bigmikeskites.com/PeterLynn/Buggy/Buggy.htm

The pic Mike used of the Frankenbuggy on his page is mine that I sent him of my youngest girl in the seat... I'm a super proud papa,... forgive me

A seat that you sit "in" instead of sit "on". You want to be secure in the siderails so when the kite gives you side pull you dont get pulled out of the buggy. But do not put the rails too high or you risk damaging your ribs.
Adjustable foot pegs forward to rear and adjustable down tube. This gives you adjustment to get the balance correct. Balance is very important to a good handling buggy. Check out heliboy .. he might have some tips for you and he is in the WA area.

Peter Lynn ST for a great ab workout.

A good point that you might buy an entry level buggy while you build your own. It might get you out riding sooner and help you build your own as well. When you are done you can sell the entry level buggy to another guy needing an entry level buggy.

School is almost done. You have any snow yet?

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Originally posted by stetson05 A good point that you might buy an entry level buggy while you build your own. It might get you out riding sooner and help you build your own as well. When you are done you can sell the entry level buggy to another guy needing an entry level buggy. School is almost done. You have any snow yet?

Yes! +++1

I think this is the best plan!!! It can help you gauge what may like or dislike before you build, and get you rolling before spring, ...and from what I have heard, you don't save much money building your own as opposed to buying...

Can any home-brew builders chime in on that?

The Quincy Kite Festival would be the closest for you, but that isnt until Memorial Day weekend.
I might be able to work out a weekend before that to come over and ride/talk/show/?. Would be best to try out a few different bugs to see what it is all about, before making your own and remaking another and another after you modify and change the 1st one and....
Maybe Fletcht can make a road trip with me and you could try out a Libre Hardcore, an Apex, A bigfoot PL, An Ivanpah II, A S1 Sysmic with both types of wheels/tires, and a couple others that I cant remember the names of. Along with some kites to complement that awesome Buster you have.
Also, tires will play a big part in your area. Nothing worse than a flat the second you take off, or after you have lost sight of the car.

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Originally posted by soliver The pic Mike used of the Frankenbuggy on his page is mine that I sent him of my youngest girl in the seat... I'm a super proud papa,... forgive me

I clicked on the link to see the pic and the first pic to come up was some big guy with a helmet on and my thought was, "OH My", but then Papa's little girl popped up and I was able to exhale.

Stillflin here on the forum converted an UL trike for buggying , use your resources , you may find a quick answer to get rolling while you work on your main squeeze.

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Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by soliver The pic Mike used of the Frankenbuggy on his page is mine that I sent him of my youngest girl in the seat... I'm a super proud papa,... forgive me I clicked on the link to see the pic and the first pic to come up was some big guy with a helmet on and my thought was, "OH My", but then Papa's little girl popped up and I was able to exhale.

Your wrong for that...

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by soliver The pic Mike used of the Frankenbuggy on his page is mine that I sent him of my youngest girl in the seat... I'm a super proud papa,... forgive me I clicked on the link to see the pic and the first pic to come up was some big guy with a helmet on and my thought was, "OH My", but then Papa's little girl popped up and I was able to exhale.

Your wrong for that...

Quote:

The Quincy Kite Festival would be the closest for you, but that isnt until Memorial Day weekend. I might be able to work out a weekend before that to come over and ride/talk/show/?. Would be best to try out a few different bugs to see what it is all about, before making your own and remaking another and another after you modify and change the 1st one and.... Maybe Fletcht can make a road trip with me and you could try out a Libre Hardcore, an Apex, A bigfoot PL, An Ivanpah II, A S1 Sysmic with both types of wheels/tires, and a couple others that I cant remember the names of. Along with some kites to complement that awesome Buster you have. Also, tires will play a big part in your area. Nothing worse than a flat the second you take off, or after you have lost sight of the car.

Someone say roadtrip? This could be a possibility. I've always wanted to travel to SE Washington. It is closer then the beaches however.