Buying buggy plans need advice.

[whayden2003]

Maybe some of yous guys can offer me some advice. I am looking at the R16 shotgun of Rorty's and the ST-4 of badland buggies. Could y'all maybe give me some pros vs cons between the two thanks.

[fabr]

Buy the rorty stuff. End of discussion.

[Carlriddle]

The worst mistake I made was buying one set of plans.  Tried building it, didn't really like this or that so I changed 99%.  I say buy them both. 

[whayden2003]

I here u on that. I will be changing stuff also. Going to build two at once one will be stretched to a four seater. Just want to use the plans for suspension points and such. The Rorty stuff is way higher and I know the saying u get what u pay for but damn 240 something for the Rorty compared to 75 for the Badlands buggy plans. Just don't want to spend the extra jack for nothing.

[fabr]

Buy the rorty plans.

[whayden2003]

Really that good huh. Ok sounds like I will start with them. Fab u have talked about making the rear a-arms instead of trailing to help with axle plunge is this something I should consider or just stick to the plans on my first one.

[fabr]

If you can design a set of a arms I'd suggest them. I am very happy with mine. It's really not hard to do.

[fabr]

The lack of axle plunge is just one advantage.

[whayden2003]

Man could u send me some pics of your mini I would be grateful.

[fabr]

Oh,geez friend,there's tons of them in this thread.   Fabr's Car-VW/busa crossbreed. Check it out and ask any questions you have.

[chuckorlando]

I have a set of st4 plans. They certainly aint lacking in detail. 100pg of instruction. An ass load of cad files for cutting as well as 3d fully rotatable cad pics.

I also have some st2 plans. They seem more like a big go cart but not bad for what they are.

That being said, Rorty has race cars basicly. The st4 looks real good in plan, but Rorty is proven in the real world. I have a 3rd set of plans on the way from another comp, but in the end I will likely order some R6 plans from Rorty.

I have a very small wheel base on my current machine, and Rorty is the only one I have found that has a plan in the 60in wide range.

For the cost, the st4 is a very very good set of plans. But u-joints and keyed shafts verse 930's and machined spool...... But I like this tube here, that hood there, that spool, this trailing arm. So I buy them all. HAHAHAHA

[whayden2003]

Yea that would be nice just to have them all. Lol. Going to think about it. It won't see the sand inless I drive for a couple days to find some so it's going to be beat on on the backroads and around the farm. I have no clue about suspension design and really don't care how it works just as long as it does. The trailing arm setup does look better to me but again I don't know.

[whayden2003]

Chuck does the badland plans have drawings for making the jigs and such.

[fabr]

Trailing arms are a proven setup. Tough as hell ,usually anyway if well designed. Many are not. Biggest limitations ,IMO, of trailing arms is the lack of adjustability, loss of suspension travel due to the arc the arms follow, only 2 mounting points, etc.. A arms also have their cons but,again just my opinion,have more positives than trailing arms. That said,if you have limited in depth knowledge of all things suspension related,just decide on a plan and follow it without any mods to the important stuff like suspension design and make small "eye appeal" changes to the cage if you feel the need to change something.

[whayden2003]

Man I don't know what it cost to run this site or how much time the admin guys have in it but it sure is great to have a place to find this stuff and have people to answer questions. So I don't know who this is to but thanks.