I'm playing with my buggies.
How far off the ground should my butt be?
Playa buggy with libra discs?
Beach buggy with bigfoots?
At IBX, I was starting to feel like I was sitting on top of my buggy, not in it. I had the discs mounted, but not cambered. Started side slipping, but just barely. I was more worried about coming out over the rail. I can see how lowering my centre of gravity even an inch or two could make a HUGE difference.
I think it will only be a matter of flipping the axle, and loosening the seat straps, but I'd like to hear from those who can hold down some ripstop.
Thanks,
colin

All my buggies have been from 1 inch to 8 inches off the ground. Wheels will make it a different height from set to set.
Most beaches here are not smooth as glass and most of the debris is organic. Ever think about catching a plastic pop bottle as you zoom over it at 50mph? How about one of the pokie bushes that blows across the dry lake bed?

The best answer I can give is keep the bug as low as possible but high enough to keep your a$$hole safe from any high speed insertions.
I cought a 2 foot long branch that was half hidden under the sand till I ran over it. It stood up as I ran over it, not a happy day.
I also ran over a basketball size jellyfish at Jibe that was as hard as a rock. I laughed at the moment I I stopped bouncing only to make a trip to the drugstore a few hours later to get something to relieve the stinging from the "splash" of the beach bomb.
Keep it as low as you dare. Belly pan will help to protect the a$$hole from some sort of high speed enema, hopefully.

As a general rule 3 inches. That height will keep the bouncing from hitting the ground and a sharp set of eyes and a lot of skill will keep you 99% safe. All butt holes pucker up.

Most of the high end bugs have multiple adjustable points to raise or lower the center of gravity just have to set up the bug in the living room and see what you can do.

Riding at Ivanpah, I set up to have a two finger space between the carbon fiber plate under my seat and the ground. However there are times I will scooch up if I see rough ground coming up to save me and not abuse the plate. On a beach, I will set up with enough clearance to not bottom out per beach conditions, usually 4-5" is high enough but not always.

Very similar setup to BeamerBob here. I can just slide my flat hand under my Sysmic S2 seat when I'm in it.
Much prefer to sit into the seat, than just perched on it. Means the side rails are much higher and I ride quite reclined to be more comfortable.
Many of my sessions are around 8 hours without stopping, or getting out of the buggy, so needs to be really comfortable plus a low centre of gravity.

Quote:

Many of my sessions are around 8 hours without stopping

#humblebrag

:frog:

Quote: Originally posted by jeffnyc

Quote: Many of my sessions are around 8 hours without stopping #humblebrag :frog:

Double that emotion... :puzzled: do you wear a diaper...?

I knew a hang glider pilot that used a condom/catheter/bag for XC flights. Not that hard to just spin around in your harness and let it rain downwind (assuming you're in a spot of smooth air), but he had built a custom streamlined fiberglass harness that made that technique impossible. Always scary watching him launch with that thing. The harness, not the catheter.
I'm sure Chook has specialized built in equipment he can drape out the back. (#humbledoublebrag) Just have to watch it doesn't get caught in the wheels... (it was inevitable this thread would go south pretty quick)

I string BigKid's AQR strap up through the big grommet hole in the bottom of my seat. I assume Choock uses that hole in other ways... :o

Chinese buggy butt pan.
They list it as a child's sled, dumb communists.

I like about 4 inches under my butt
One time in Texas we had a guy with a crab claw
In his butt from riding to low we called him crabby all week

Quote: Originally posted by bugymangp

One time in Texas we had a guy with a crab claw In his butt from riding to low we called him crabby all week

Crabby a$$, don't need a crab claw to be called that.
Sure did take a strange turn....
My old MG Croozer had a flap below the hole in the seat, kinda worked as a Venturi to wick the liquid out of the seat area. Didn't work well with the solids though.

I'm less than 3" off the beach in a standard bug w/ midis...ill hit every time going into the soft stuff
i get in the bf and I'm a ft off the beach w/ less rail around me...i feel a bit like I'm offering myself up

I too am just a few fingers off the playa. Yea...there are lots of scratches on the seat and a hole in the protective buggy pan.

But...I am so happy this post came along. Everyone in my group at IBX was picking on me that my seat was too low. I said it was perfect for me!

Windstruck and Cerebite....I am accepting apologies!

Whoo whoo!!!
Paul

Quote: Originally posted by jeepersjoey

I too am just a few fingers off the playa. Yea...there are lots of scratches on the seat and a hole in the protective buggy pan. But...I am so happy this post came along. Everyone in my group at IBX was picking on me that my seat was too low. I said it was perfect for me! Windstruck and Cerebite....I am accepting apologies! Whoo whoo!!! Paul

:saint: Too funny! I was waiting with baited breath for Captain Vapor Trail to weigh in on this thread and here you are. May I be the first to most humbly apologize sir. You were clearly optimally positioned, and I a simple buggy peasant had no idea. :saint:

A peasant who wants a Squire of his own. Shhh....don't wake him.:P

My arse drags about 2" off the ground. I sit deeeeep into the rails and I LOVE IT! I feel Locked in like a 300lbs. guided missile.

No most normal days I can get through by only needing to urinate a couple of times.
If I'm chasing a long buggy session I simply don't drink any coffee (or fluids) at breakfast with my toast. I only have the very odd sip of water and eat muesli bars during the day.
Seems to work out ok but on a few occasions the last hour or so has been uncomfortable if pushing onwards to get a good total distance for the day.

Heh, Chook - in all seriousness, the kilometers you put in each year are awe inspiring. If I ever get to the land where water swirls down the drain backwards, Yeppoon at Easter will be tops on my list.

Quote: Originally posted by jeepersjoey

I too am just a few fingers off the playa. Yea...there are lots of scratches on the seat and a hole in the protective buggy pan. But...I am so happy this post came along. Everyone in my group at IBX was picking on me that my seat was too low. I said it was perfect for me! Windstruck and Cerebite....I am accepting apologies! Whoo whoo!!! Paul

2" off the ground standing next to the buggy drinking beer [which is when you "measured" it] is quite different than 2" off the ground when your "not 100 Lb" body is in the buggy. And we are not talking absolute value either.
I said it then and I will say it again, when you are getting holes in your skid plate [see red text] and losing top speed on a run due to rubbing on the ground you have your seat set too low.

Quote: Originally posted by Cerebite

Quote: Originally posted by jeepersjoey   I too am just a few fingers off the playa. Yea...there are lots of scratches on the seat and a hole in the protective buggy pan. But...I am so happy this post came along. Everyone in my group at IBX was picking on me that my seat was too low. I said it was perfect for me! Windstruck and Cerebite....I am accepting apologies! Whoo whoo!!! Paul 2" off the ground standing next to the buggy drinking beer [which is when you "measured" it] is quite different than 2" off the ground when your "not 100 Lb" body is in the buggy. And we are not talking absolute value either. I said it then and I will say it again, when you are getting holes in your skid plate [see red text] and losing top speed on a run due to rubbing on the ground you have your seat set too low.

And the hits just keep on comin'!

What he said.

I can speak from experience on Jekyll, when I am sitting in my buggy I keep between an inch or two inches from the ground to my seat. Sometimes my butt scrapes, but the beach is really smooth, so no painful experiences. Any big bumps are easy to avoid with the pucker maneuver. It is plenty safe to kite on a low rider at Jekyll.

I keep my butt at least 3 feet above the ground at all times. And when I fall, I protect it by face planting.

I got a little lower.
I flipped the axle and loosened the seat straps.
I'm still much higher than I'd like, but the huge disc wheels are just too far off the ground .
If I go any lower with the straps I'll have a swing for a seat.
I need to make some spacers to widen the side rail to axle connection, so now they'll have to have adjustable height too.
I now see why playa buggies have L shaped drops from the hub to axle.
I suppose the neck could be modified to drop the front of the seat too, but just try and find metric stainless square tubing on this side of the Atlantic, and when you do be prepared to remortgage the house to buy a chunk!
Probably be cheaper to build a whole new neck in imperial.

And I need to learn to weld:D

At least I've got a little time to figure it all out https://www.tickcounter.com/countdown/551778/countdown-to-iv...
colin

Metric stainless square and rectangular tubing is available at online metals (It isn't free down here in the states). http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=1&step=2&...

When I rebuilt the PTW Playa buggy for Bigfoots I thought about making a new swan neck but did not like what it would have cost for the tubing.

There may be more metric available up in Canada by you...

Thanks for the link Eric. Still over 247 US$ plus shipping for a 5 foot piece that is only two thirds as thick as the original. It would almost be cheaper to import a new buggy from overseas.
Everyone up here seems to use imperial.
There is a Metal Supermarket here in Victoria. I went and asked about getting some metric stuff. He chuckled and started rubbing his hands together:evil::o
I just realised that I have an extra, short straight down tube that came with the buggy. It would be a shame to cut it up, just for a piece of tubing, but it may be my best option.

How about some carefully drilled holes to mount the swan neck at a steeper angle, lowering the front of the rails?