Build Your Own Go Kart/Dune Buggy/Off Road Go Kart for Beginners
List of Sites with Go Kart/Dune Buggy/ATV Plans
Some sites with really Good Instructions on How-to articles and Designs (List updated in 17/07/08)
7 Designs for Go Karts and ATVs
Some sites I checked with REALLY FREE Go Kart Plans (List updated in 06/07/08)
GoKart - real pictures oriented plan
Kart Building - PDF format plans for download
Free Go Kart ATV Plans - PDF format plans for download
Go Kart Plans
Fully Build a Drag Go Kart
Welcome to the world of Go Karts!
If you are new to Karting but wish to build your own instead of buying “off the shelf” ready-made Go Karts then this article is for you.
Build Your Own Go Kart/Dune Buggy/Off Road Go Kart for Beginners
The purpose of this article is to show some methods for making a “Build your Go Cart” more accessible for beginners and to list some free resources online. This is the first part of the series of Build Your Own Go Kart.
There are many tools to “Build your own go kart” to help make it more enjoyable and easier experience for beginners.
Everything starts with planning. Just like what you are doing now, reading up on Go Karts is a way to research and plan. Do NOT ever start purchasing just based on own fancy and trends. Always plan beforehand! This applies even if you are buying ready made Go Karts. The reason? You need to assess your own use of the vehicle so as to purchase one that suits your needs.
Types of Go Kart
What’s your fancy? Indoor Karting vs. Outdoor Karting, Dune Buggy /Off Road vs. Highway/Street legal?
Don’t get confused. Here are some explanations of a few types of Go Karts
1. Micro kart – A one-seater small Go Kart with a lower class (have engines ranging from 22.5 cc to 45.7 cc) and higher class (typically have motors ranging from 39 cc to 85 cc)
2. Dune Buggy or “Off Road Go Kart”- A dune buggy or Off Road Go Kart is an open chassis recreational vehicle modified from a vehicle and fitted with large wheels, wide tires and usually for use on sand dunes, deserts or beaches. But there are street legal road buggies too. The term of Buggy and Go Kart is often interchangeable. One way to differentiate a dune buggy from an off road Go kart is from the tires, sand tires or all terrain tires. Another way is whether it had been modified from a previous used vehicle. The difference usually only lies only in different countries popular usage of the terms. There are basically 3 design types. One, VW Dune Buggy altered from existing Volkswagen Beetle/Bug. Second, Sandrails which involves construction of a vehicle frame from steel tubing formed and welded together. Third, The Boston-Murphy style which is a combination of the previous 2 designs.
3. ATV – ATV stands for all-terrain vehicle. It is a vehicle with low pressure tires and rides like a motorcycle with it’s handlebars for steering control. ATVs are made all terrains such as flatlands, sandy, rocky, muddy and especially on mountainous terrain. There are designs for 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers and racing models.
Look for Go Kart Plans for choice type
To help with planning, use a good Go Kart plan. What’s a good Go Kart plan for beginners? One which reduces the learning curve and time needed for building a Go Kart. Examples:
1. Suggestions of what engines, kits and parts to buy
2. Good illustrated diagrams/pictures
3. Detailed instructions
4. Minimizes the need for welding, cutting, soldering. Some plans are more for building simpler karts and some plans involves more complex Kart building skills. This helps as you may not possess the skills described before as well as the equipment of carrying out these tasks. Thus, choose a plan appropriate for your level.
5. Requires use of simple, everyday tools
There are both free Go Kart Plans as well as for sale Go Kart Plans. As a beginner why not look for free plans? There are plenty online which comes with complete instructions.
Ok Folks, time to do your researching and start making up your mind what kind of go kart you wish to build and get ready those plans. Next article we will talk about Go Kart Kits.
And don’t forget to give our Go Kart store a visit!