Recently a few threads have come up that have rekindled an old obsession I've had with building a super light buggy (the axle housing thread started by Greg, and the 2k lb buggy build by CSR).
Something deep inside of me has always been interested in the bare minimum attitude (I can't explain it, but it's similar to my love for the old school non-bmw minis). I like the idea of having a buggy run 37" tires, on D44s, a 4 banger for a powerhouse, and being able to tow it out to the trail with a family SUV to boot.
So I have a few questions about this type of a build. There must be some major benefits because obviously at least a few people have made cutting weight a major priority... How would a light weight platform perform compared to a rig with similar specs? Would there be a gain in performance despite sacrificing horsepower for weight?
One of the major benefits that I see to a lightweight rig is cost. Cheaper axles, cheaper engine... But really, if you're going to be spending the tens of thousands it costs to build a buggy, it seems like you would really only cut a few hundred dollars in these areas. Now when you get around to tow rig and trailer, that opens up a new can of worms.
If you guys thought this were a project worth pursuing, what would your parts list look like? Engine/Drivetrain combination? Maybe a formula toy type rig with airshocks instead of leaves? A well suspended f-toy may actually be exactly what I'm thinking...
Also- I'd be interested in knowing what your guys' rigs weigh and how you feel your rigs weight affects it's performance. The Herzog buggy is the only local one that comes to mind.... I imagine when our TJ is built it will tip the scales around 4500ish? On one tons with 90% of the tub remaining.
This rig was the one that got me started on this a few years ago, when I found his buildup on pirate. It was this pic that really caught my eye (maybe it was his home-brewed trailer, but I dig his setup):
Something deep inside of me has always been interested in the bare minimum attitude (I can't explain it, but it's similar to my love for the old school non-bmw minis). I like the idea of having a buggy run 37" tires, on D44s, a 4 banger for a powerhouse, and being able to tow it out to the trail with a family SUV to boot.
So I have a few questions about this type of a build. There must be some major benefits because obviously at least a few people have made cutting weight a major priority... How would a light weight platform perform compared to a rig with similar specs? Would there be a gain in performance despite sacrificing horsepower for weight?
One of the major benefits that I see to a lightweight rig is cost. Cheaper axles, cheaper engine... But really, if you're going to be spending the tens of thousands it costs to build a buggy, it seems like you would really only cut a few hundred dollars in these areas. Now when you get around to tow rig and trailer, that opens up a new can of worms.
If you guys thought this were a project worth pursuing, what would your parts list look like? Engine/Drivetrain combination? Maybe a formula toy type rig with airshocks instead of leaves? A well suspended f-toy may actually be exactly what I'm thinking...
Also- I'd be interested in knowing what your guys' rigs weigh and how you feel your rigs weight affects it's performance. The Herzog buggy is the only local one that comes to mind.... I imagine when our TJ is built it will tip the scales around 4500ish? On one tons with 90% of the tub remaining.
This rig was the one that got me started on this a few years ago, when I found his buildup on pirate. It was this pic that really caught my eye (maybe it was his home-brewed trailer, but I dig his setup):
