what kind of buggy could you build for 5k

85b2man · Mar 30, 2009

so i was talking with my parents and have been looking at selling my truck and buying a bigger tow rig, when my dad goes why dont you build a lighter wheelers:stirpot:
so lets say you had all the drivetrain what kind of buggy could you build for
5k or less

now lets say you had a d44 front would you go air shocks so you could get a 60 or coilover and the axle later:haha:

Jaydog · Mar 30, 2009

Go through a build thread and make a price list starting with a decent chassis, there are several builders that make good a chassis, and most are around $2500-$3500

Then you have to ask yourself how much you can build yourself, and how much your going to have to pay someone.

Decide what you want, and design it from the ground up, make a list of what you have and what you'll need, and then add 25% to the price and you should be close

Money Mark · Mar 30, 2009

You can't build a street rig, much less a "buggy" for $5K. Try again...

zukkev · Mar 30, 2009

It will be a loooooong and slooowwww build to keep the cost down, and even then i don't think you could build a buggy for $5K or less...unless you have friends willing to donate all the good parts necessary to build it! Also have to figure in your time if that's worth anything to you if you do build one; This sport is a labor of love, and there's no way I want to even think about the $ I have wrapped up in my junk, let alone the time in building it up!!!:awesomework:

dove'd85 · Mar 30, 2009

Money Mark said:
You can't build a street rig, much less a "buggy" for $5K. Try again...

partially true...

if you have the drivetrain like you say you can build something for around that, you will defanitly be putting it together with everyones left over junk tho.:redneck:

by the single seater tube chassis in the forsale section and start from there:awesomework: if i had the cash in hand i would have boughten it already because i already have all the drivetrain for it,

mark · Mar 30, 2009

S&N "quoted" me (ruff figure, don't hold me or them to it) of $12-$15K for a "roller" with me providing the raw drivetrain. That was axles, engine/tranny/t-case.

They would give me back a rolling chassis with tube work, shocks/struts whatever, links, motor and tranny mounted, seats mounted (if I provided). Sounded like a lot till I thought about all the little things and butt loads of time I would have had to put into a $3K "basic chassis" to get it to the same point.

It would still need things like Steering, petals and mount, skins, detail, electrical, exhaust etc....

I use those $$ amounts as a bench mark when I'm looking at things I find in the classifieds etc.

You could probably build a decent truggy for 5K with doing almost all your own work (not counting tool purchases), but its all the little things that kill ($100 in bushings here, $200 in bolts there, $500 in misc steel for brackets as such, lost money for having to do it again......
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Anal mature

jeepmauler · Mar 30, 2009

..........and getting it to roller is the cheap/easy part.....getting it to a wheeler is the expensive/time consuming part.

pokey · Mar 30, 2009

I guess my first question would have to be why a buggy ? With all of the new rules being implemented all the time by the land managment agencys it dosent seem the best route to go anymore. There are a ton of very nice "legal" type rigs out there for sale and will be even more as tax time comes closer. To me its just the smarter way to go. Now on the other hand if you can do most or all of the work yourself then there are a ton of unfinished or parted out buggies out there as well and many good deals to be had.

case in point. http://www.nw-wheelers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38105

mark · Mar 30, 2009

Come to think about it, a formula Toy is probably the best "bang for buck" out there. Ask the guys that have them. Compact, light, inexpensive base components.

Sure, its not linked or hydo'd, but you can add that over time. Little work and you might even be able to get one "street legal" enough to use on the service roads....

hmmm, something to think about. You might even just about be able to do one for under 5K if you score the right deal on the base truck.
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Brunette beautiful

85b2man · Mar 30, 2009

mark said:
Come to think about it, a formula Toy is probably the best "bang for buck" out there. Ask the guys that have them. Compact, light, inexpensive base components.

Sure, its not linked or hydo'd, but you can add that over time. Little work and you might even be able to get one "street legal" enough to use on the service roads....

hmmm, something to think about. You might even just about be able to do one for under 5K if you score the right deal on the base truck.

i have all the drive train the main reason i am thinking buggy is to clean up the lines and lighten it up

Pook · Mar 30, 2009

I'll be over $20,000 in parts when I'm done. I have given up on counting the $... and I used junkyard housings and have gotten some steep discounts.

Could you build a junkyard parts buggy that is all used parts found in your buddies backyard or a junkyard for 5 grand probably...but is it going to be worth all the effort in the end? Thats up to the builder and what you want out of a rig.

Bunk1 · Mar 30, 2009

pokey said:
I guess my first question would have to be why a buggy ?

Boredom with the same ol stuff..desire to push your limits further every time you go out...theres tons of reasons why.

bobbed_84_toy · Mar 30, 2009

find the ugly buggy thread on pirate. You should be able to get a few ideas from there

zukkev · Mar 30, 2009

85b2man said:
i have all the drive train the main reason i am thinking buggy is to clean up the lines and lighten it up

You thinkin full tube chassis, or truggy...:corn:

Brian H · Mar 30, 2009

Not going to happen for 5 gs. Im into mine for alot more than 5 gs and its a piece of ****. If you want a good strong reliable buggy your looking at least 18+

CHOP SHOP · Mar 30, 2009

Money Mark said:
You can't build a street rig, much less a "buggy" for $5K. Try again...

Im gonna try my best.:awesomework:

CHOP SHOP · Mar 30, 2009

pokey said:
I guess my first question would have to be why a buggy ?
With all of the new rules being implemented all the time by the land managment agencys it dosent seem the best route to go anymore. There are a ton of very nice "legal" type rigs out there for sale and will be even more as tax time comes closer. To me its just the smarter way to go.

because a small lightweight narrow buggy makes way less ground disturbance.

They have a flexy susp and low weight factor. All this ads up for less forestry damages.

A short, heavy, stiff, CJ5 just eats the woods all to hell just trying to make it.:beer: