What is building a buggy?

Weird question, I know, but follow me...
Your at the gas station, an inbred walks up and says "Jew build dat?"

This got me thinking. Very few people build their buggy from start to finish. I was very close, I bought a tube "chassis" to give myself something to build around. It ended up being more of a jig just to hold parts while I figured out how to set everything up. When it was all said and done I probably used 10% of the chassis, but it got me started. Other than that I did everything alone (to prove I could on a very small budget) then as soon as it was done I turned it over to someone who was more qualified to fix some of my half-assery.

So what is building a buggy?
Setting up suspension
Bending every piece of tube
Welding it out
Wiring it
Building motor
Painting/powder coat
Interior
Giving someone a little direction then signing a check?

Almost every time somebody see's my ride for the first time they ask if I built the chassis. They don't seem nearly as impressed when I say "no, everything but the interior and panels were already there". It's like they think it's no different than throwing a 4" lift on a jk.

I, on the other hand, know just how much work goes into everything after the shell of the chassis. I feel like I built mine.

I built mine probably 95% by myself. Shift work so I did most of it while everyone else was at work.

Nothing to brag about, but I been running it for almost 5 years....

I'll just leave this here for comedic relief...

I typically make the judgement on whether someone "built" their rig or not based on conversation with them. It's usually pretty obvious when someone has absolutely no idea what has gone into their rig AND why/how.

my favorite thing I get ask is how fast will it go

Buying a chassis and finishing it out doesn't seem any different than buying a custom motorcycle frame, or empty muscle car chassis and building it out.
If you buy a complete chassis with interior and powertrain and install some axles, I wouldn't think you could claim building it.
But if it never was a running rig before you, then you built it.
Hell a lot of guys that own shops never lay a hand on the project, but direct the work and they get credit as the builder...
Who knows where the line is?

Another big problem is alot of people think it makes them cool to be able to say they fab their own stuff. I'm not too proud to admit I have no clue how to do fab work or have the desire to take the time to do it correctly.

I have had three Jeeps, back halfed, tons, cages. Decided I wanted to take the next step.

I started with the Goat Built lower sub frame. I figured geometry was a huge part of a build. If that's wrong, the whole project could be a big fail. Bought a pull out motor, trans, and harness and started bending tube. I thought this was something I could finish in 6 months. Not the case, after 9 months I have a rolling chassis and am moving on to pedals and plumbing. Looks more like spring of next year.

It takes more time, more money than first thought but no regrets. This is a hobby after all. I really look forward to the finished product, hitting the trails.

I have seen several people mention don't show up to the trails in a RZR if you want to play. Well, that's all I got to wheel right now. I get it that I can't follow, but I might be able to meet up along the way, or bypass to see the obstacles. I just want to be active. I usually am checking out the finished rigs to help see how others solved an issue that I'm trying to figure out.

Might run into a few of you guys up at Burris late October, that's onlyt a couple of hours from me.

Yes I will be in a RZR, yes I will help on getting parts at camp, yes I can help on recoverys, and yes I got cold beer at camp!! I miss wheeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tell people I bought mine almost done and worked on it a lot. It was "built" when I bought it (motor, transmission, axles, wiring, seats, etc. Enough that I drove it on the trailer) but I, with the help of friends have finished out the cage, painted it, fixed what has broken and had someone do my suspension and steering. I did do the windshield delete at the Hardline ride at Hawk Pride. I have not the time, money, or skill to "build" something so I do not run a Built not Bought sticker.

from the other side of things, mine was a turn key. I'm certainly not afraid to admit I don't have those skills and if I tried to build something to this level, it would take years (compared to his 7 months) and still wouldn't look anywhere near as good or perform as good.

every time I look at it/wheel it, I'm impressed with the craftsmanship and wonder how much time truly goes into a rig like this. hats off to those of you who can do this.

he text a picture play by play of the build and there's definitely ton of planning and a metric **** ton of work that goes into building one.

definitely get the 2 popular questions every time out- did you build it & how fast is it ;D

sorry for the side track

865yota said:

my favorite thing I get ask is how fast will it go

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I built my own and it is a love hate kinda thing I have been doing fab work for years and have all the tools to do it. My biggest problem was I didn't want to build a chassis I knew that it took a lot of hours and there was a lot of stuff that was unknown to me because I had never built a ground up chassis. The only reason I did build my own as I started to talk to people about building me something and I was focused on the important details like suspension, easy to work on, saftey, and being comfortable to ride all day, most of the people I spoke with didn't share my attention to detail/OCD on these subjects so I just decided to go at it myself. It was a long process but I wouldn't say it was that hard it was more about the amount of research I had to do to figure out what parts were needed and how to get stuff to fit/work with the space available. I built mine with certain goals in mind that were important to me and it is built very different than most of the buggy/bouncers that I see popping out everyday.
All this to say I think building your own chassis has it set of challenges( how to do it,where to put everything,will it work correctly) but working around a already built chassis can be a challenge as well especially if the builder doesn't take in to account all the aspects of what it take to make a good buggy

TBItoy said:

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mine will go about 80 so I'm guessing. I say this because we ride on a road that parallels the interstate for a brief time and we kind of pair em off at times also but I can keep up with the interstate tragic and can stay out on em too :****: that being said I don't know if any of you have ever had rockwells that fast but they are damn noisy and you will have passengers looking at you like

jccarter1 said:

I built my own and it is a love hate kinda thing I have been doing fab work for years and have all the tools to do it. My biggest problem was I didn't want to build a chassis I knew that it took a lot of hours and there was a lot of stuff that was unknown to me because I had never built a ground up chassis. The only reason I did build my own as I started to talk to people about building me something and I was focused on the important details like suspension, easy to work on, saftey, and being comfortable to ride all day, most of the people I spoke with didn't share my attention to detail/OCD on these subjects so I just decided to go at it myself. It was a long process but I wouldn't say it was that hard it was more about the amount of research I had to do to figure out what parts were needed and how to get stuff to fit/work with the space available. I built mine with certain goals in mind that were important to me and it is built very different than most of the buggy/bouncers that I see popping out everyday.
All this to say I think building your own chassis has it set of challenges( how to do it,where to put everything,will it work correctly) but working around a already built chassis can be a challenge as well especially if the builder doesn't take in to account all the aspects of what it take to make a good buggy

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You got that two step chassis to keep the rockwell height in check.


I dont remeber seeing any pics of your foot well area? How tight did it end up being with the engine and whatnot down low.?

jccarter1 said:

I built my own and it is a love hate kinda thing I have been doing fab work for years and have all the tools to do it. My biggest problem was I didn't want to build a chassis I knew that it took a lot of hours and there was a lot of stuff that was unknown to me because I had never built a ground up chassis. The only reason I did build my own as I started to talk to people about building me something and I was focused on the important details like suspension, easy to work on, saftey, and being comfortable to ride all day, most of the people I spoke with didn't share my attention to detail/OCD on these subjects so I just decided to go at it myself. It was a long process but I wouldn't say it was that hard it was more about the amount of research I had to do to figure out what parts were needed and how to get stuff to fit/work with the space available. I built mine with certain goals in mind that were important to me and it is built very different than most of the buggy/bouncers that I see popping out everyday.
All this to say I think building your own chassis has it set of challenges( how to do it,where to put everything,will it work correctly) but working around a already built chassis can be a challenge as well especially if the builder doesn't take in to account all the aspects of what it take to make a good buggy

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I've finished a couple out off of prebuilt chassis's. Not a fan. I want teh engine farther back and lower/axles to have more uptravel/more rigidity/better visibility etc than some I guess. Everybody wants to do it different and often cookie cutter units aren't one size fits all

If its a full tube buggy and you didn't build 80 or 90% of the chassis you can't say I built it. Rock buggies are more mechanical and structural than most toys. You would have to at least say I started with a bare chassis and did a full build out. Otherwise when they find out you didn't build the base chassis that they assumed you did, then you lied.
All the years I have been around them, non fab work is usually not counted in "building" like it might be on a hotrod. Common for me to hear something like "WOD built the buggy then I finished it out". That usually means they plumbed and wired, had it painted, motor tuned/built ect... A full from scratch build by the owner is fairly rare. 100% of the time there is a story though. If the dude at the gas station asks did you build it? I would say "basically". If someone at the off-road park asks. I would break it down into exactly who did what. I think the response is based on what it is and who is asking.

Worked out well plenty of room wish I could have got the seats lower in the chassis but they take up a lot of space with them laid back

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Re: Re: What is building a buggy?

blacksheep10 said:

I've finished a couple out off of prebuilt chassis's. Not a fan. I want teh engine farther back and lower/axles to have more uptravel/more rigidity/better visibility etc than some I guess. Everybody wants to do it different and often cookie cutter units aren't one size fits all

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I'm with Kelly on this, although I built from a Jim's garage chassis a few years back which wasn't bad at all, Jim has done his homework.

With that said, I did start with the goatbuilt subframe this go round, but not without much deliberation and geometry number crunching. I spent weeks going over the subframe suspension dimensions from Drew, and my own requirements with relation to the Comanche wheelbase platform. I knew the numbers I wanted to achieve; suspension geometry, wheelbase, ride and belly height, up travel, and where the motor needed to be to achieve all this.

Lesson here: I started with the suspension, (confident in my understanding in how to build a good suspension due to extensive research over the years), the rest of the truck gets built from that point.... seriously, this sport is much more enjoyable with a well engineered suspension.

Definition of building varies to me. I'm not sure that many of us home builders do everything 100%; for instance, I can but despise setting up gears, I can but would rather have my driveshafts professionally built, I can but would rather buy than build a fuel cell, I can but would rather not build a motor or transmission...i prefer to spend these energies on doing the best fabrication I possibly can, not doing mechanic work.

My pride in building comes from actually creating a car with my hands, to whatever degree... and doing so with great forethought and understanding how step #47 affects step #3021- 7 months later.

I really don't give a damn what the tool at the pump defines 'builder' as.... as he's pumping $3.75 of fuel in his '97 f150 with 33" mud kings.

But to fellow wheelers, if you think you can create a justified opinion of a person's ability by whether they built the chassis or the entire truck, go for it, cause at the end of the day, it doesn't change my opinion of my own accomplishment.

Matt

A true build would be design and build of frame, suspension, driveline, motor, interior.
Anything else would be considered a partial build.
I think 90% of rigs out there fall under partial built.