I have a number of ideas for things I want to fab up in my welding course; from items for the Jeep (bumpers, rails, chassis armor, etc.) to general items that would just be handy (receiver mounted dual tire rack, or receiver mounted motorcycle carriers, etc.).
However, the one I’m most excited about is something I asked the instructors about recently.
The frame for something like this
I had initially stated that I would order a “tack down” kit (partially tacked together in pieces but still shippable) and then assemble it in the shop. I was told that if I could get the blueprints, it would just be cheaper and easier to buy the materials from the school and do the whole rolling chassis there.
And that was the moment I almost fainted.
I should have known better before asking, since there is a student building a twin Jaguar V-12 powered hot rod chassis in the part-time evening class. Yes, if I can get pics, I will post them.
Having been told “yes, you can build your dream off-road rig here” I am facing the dilemma of still being unemployed and not knowing when I will have the cash to finish a project of that magnitude. So I will probably start with something along these lines
This one I am pretty sure can be made street legal in Washington. I will have to look into the first rig because, really, who wouldn’t want to see the looks on people’s faces while you’re driving either one of these down the road?
UPDATE: The plans for the small buggy are for Berrien Buggies here. For the large Long Travel rig, you can go to The Buggy Shop, Sand Rocket, Sand Parts, or Bad Buggies.
Awesome. Where can you get plans for those?
The idea of the wheels being set well out from the chassis and the body is so that when the wheel runs over the mine, the explosion is directed out and away from the vehicle – and idealy you only lose a wheel and not an operator, heh, heh, heh.
And if you get serious I may be able to secure you armor plate for the protective cockpit. The down side is that you would probably be asked to permit the completed vehicle to be tested for ballistic resistance level(s) and put on display at an occasional military conference.
Hey, I live over in Redmond, work as a firefighter at Eastside Fire and Rescue in Sammamish. I took both the intro to Machining and Welding courses at Lake Wa tech, and have built an airplane that I keep at Paine Field. Now working on a restoration on a 65 t-bird and have done a bunch of motorcycle restorations, along with some other interesting machining projects. It looks like you have some parallel interests. I got to drive one of those Chenoweth framed sand rails that the military had in the 80’s when I was in the military. Always wanted to build one of those for the street/off-road. Been too busy with kids and work to do it, but maybe in the future.
I have yet to see the one I want. A 5 seater. 2 facing forward one facing out each side and one facing the back. I’ve seen 4 seaters with a bench seat modification for the back seat to fit 5, but I’ve never seen one like what I want.
And that is where I come in, Mark.