Custom long travel setup

[Smokeblack]

I am getting everything to start my 1000cc long travel build and would like to see what some guys have come up with as far as custom long travel front suspensions.

This cart will be used for duning mainly so I am looking for something similiar to the mini buggy setups guys are building these days.

I have found one but haven't been able to find anything else about it.

Something similar to the pic

[slonomo]

I used an atv front end and built a subframe for it. Used a rack and pinion. Works flawlessly. I used the disc brakes from the atv as well.

[Smokeblack]

Slonomo,
I have thought of doing this but am fairly limited on travel numbers with an atv front end. I am looking for 14"+ usable travel.

[scottyb]

You can buy front ends in the box that will work well. Copy one of these if you are making your own. The question is what are you doing for the rear end ?

[Smokeblack]

rear suspension I am still up in the air about. I have thought about a trophy cart style rear end and keeping it chain driven, but I have also thought about doing a dwarf/legends style setup mounting the motor sideways in the chassis and doing a FNR box with driveshaft setup and using a small solid rear axle with a 4 link setup.

[scottyb]

A solid rear axle 4 link set up is quite doable. I have 10 inches of travel in mine and it was pretty easy to build using a standard golf cart Dana44 rear end. I have Subaru 750cc twin belt driven power supply.

[slonomo]

Well, how wide are you wanting to go? You can custom make a arms with those kind of numbers, but the width is going to be in the 55" + range. That's pretty wide for a golf cart. But it can be done. Pretty much any sand rail design will work. Lot's of cutting and welding. Lot's of heim joints.

The rear will be the trick. Matching the travel to the front will require a 4 or 5 link setup like in a rock crawler or monster truck. It'll sit pretty high. Unless you use independent axles like the higher end sand rails.

Check this guys rail out....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92f1n...A6CBA4347DF9B3

He has tons of videos to go through. He built a pretty wicked ride.

[Smokeblack]

I don't have a set width yet but I am going to want it wide to be stable when cruising through the dunes and hopping over razorbacks. I think I can still make it manageable with height although the shock mounts are going to be above the hood on the front and somewhat close to the rear as well. I wish there were more of these out there to know what kind of travel numbers I will need to be happy. I have been trying to get ideas by looking at custom side x sides and also mini buggies. Sure wish I knew how to use solidworks or sketchup.

Here is a video I found with a rear suspension that I am aiming for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA94jKjzyrc

[BigMac!]

From the looks of that video if you can make a golf cart do that you have the skills and should probably just start from scratch. You should start with a SXS if that is the kind of performance you want out of a cart. I wanted the same thing originally and the wife convinced me a golf cart was better for the family. Well, she was right but it's still not what I want. Good luck.

[nunya]

For a limited track width and long travel I think a twin I beam would be the stuff.
And it's probably easier to build (properly) than an a-arm set up.