anyone have a dune buggy/sandrail?

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

anyone got one? im lookin for one. i dont want the ugly kind with the fiberglass bodies, i want the kinds with the rollcage that look like huge go carts. anyone know any info about them? im trying to find one for a few grand thats already built and running and just needs maybe a few things, but overall good condition (ive seen a few around already i gotta go look at)

if not, i found a place that sells chassis' that they make for you and weld together, then i guess do you just get a donor old VW bug and use the engine/etc?

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[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

My next door neighbor has one in his lawn that just sits there. I've never seen the thing move in the 8 years I've been here. Looks like it needs some work.

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

where u live at

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Valdosta

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

oh

take a pic of it.

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

there is a place around here that makes some bad *** one's..

i beilive it's called laughing gas custom's.

 

[RedBaron 10+ year member]

My Buddy Is trying to Sell his down here in Macon i can give you his number if you want and get some pics.

 

[Anthony Collova 10+ year member]

I sold my sad rail this year...

Just reading your OP, it sounds like you don't know much about them. Your first step is to learn. Best way is to find a group of people that go out duning and tag along for a few trips.

You can spend $8k or so on a decent beater in the cycle trader.

$30k will buy you a very nice rail with a few goodies attached.

$100k+ will buy you a monster.

My next rail is going to be light, strong and nible.

2 seater

Beam car @ 8" over (like them better for strength)

16" front travel

18" rear travel

Mid engine

3.5L honda- built

turbo - @ 15 lbs w/ intercooler

8:1 cr with meth injection for pump gas

Mendeola sdr transaxle

Trying to keep it under 1600 lbs and under $40k

vrooom!!!

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

I had a 69 beetle with the ugly fiberglass body on it, I learned to drive a stick in it.

 

[GreenBook 10+ year member]

Never owned a rail, I've worked on beetles here & there but that's bout it. I can tell you on the otherhand that down there in Tampa is a shop that specifically builds , sells & stocks parts for buggies. They build rails & everything. Only problem is I can't remember the name of the place. If i get ahold of my friend in tampa i'll get the name, he used to work across the street.

 

[yne721 10+ year member]

roll cage = sand rail

fiberglass body = dune buggy

at least that's my understanding of it. my mechanic works specifically on air cooled vw's, and has 8-9 sandrails and dune buggies. he always tries to get me into them, and tells me if i like driving my beetle i'd love driving a buggy or rail, i just don't want something that i can't drive half the year.

but he ALWAYS tells me to go look on craigslist, because there's lots of good rails/buggies with good prices.

 

[yne721 10+ year member]

http://orlando.craigslist.org/rvs/903085792.html

nvm just saw you said "a few grand"

 

[bass-aholic 10+ year member]

Here's mine, thing is so much fun in the snow. I don't think you could do much better for $2800 brand new. Got it from here.

http://www.awesomebuggy.com/products/buggies/hurricane_series/hurricane_250/





Had a little to much to drink with a bunch of friends and decided to rip up the fields. Clipped a tree and snapped the upper control arm. Welded her up and shes perfect. The part is only around $80 anyways. Gotta love underpaid china men.

 

[JeepSound 10+ year member]

I sold my sad rail this year...
Just reading your OP, it sounds like you don't know much about them. Your first step is to learn. Best way is to find a group of people that go out duning and tag along for a few trips.

You can spend $8k or so on a decent beater in the cycle trader.

$30k will buy you a very nice rail with a few goodies attached.

$100k+ will buy you a monster.

My next rail is going to be light, strong and nible.

2 seater

Beam car @ 8" over (like them better for strength)

16" front travel

18" rear travel

Mid engine

3.5L honda- built

turbo - @ 15 lbs w/ intercooler

8:1 cr with meth injection for pump gas

Mendeola sdr transaxle

Trying to keep it under 1600 lbs and under $40k

vrooom!!!

Good god man. 8k for a beater?

Found this one for free and re-built it from there.

Yeah it's nothing amazing but it was stupidly fun.

Sold it about 2 years ago and do I ever miss it.

 

[GreenBook 10+ year member]

Here's mine, thing is so much fun in the snow. I don't think you could do much better for $2800 brand new. Got it from here. http://www.awesomebuggy.com/products/buggies/hurricane_series/hurricane_250/

Had a little to much to drink with a bunch of friends and decided to rip up the fields. Clipped a tree and snapped the upper control arm. Welded her up and shes perfect. The part is only around $80 anyways. Gotta love underpaid china men.

 

I'm pretty sure this guy is looking at rails with vdub motors on the back. A vw 1600 is alot more power then a 250. It's a nice rail though, I'd sport it.