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Building an off-roader??
pewe - 14/7/13 at 07:39 PM

Had a passenger lap in a Bowler at Goodwood - pretty impressive to say the least.
Set me thinking about building an off-roader as I've had withdrawl symptoms since finishing the F27.
I know there are a few on here who have them and just wondered what's involved?
Any web-sites/vids to look at?
Cheers, Pewe10

liam.mccaffrey - 14/7/13 at 08:36 PM

I don't know how you are with torrents but there is a download of about 50 episode of an american show called xtreme 4x4 which covers modding pickups and jeeps to full custom rock crawler builds. Its a great show

if you struggle for the download I can possibly help you out.

linky

chrism - 14/7/13 at 08:48 PM

If your wanting to build a proper off roader you will want to start with a base vehicle that has live axles front and rear, none of the Independant suspension setup. Suzuki seems to have a big following with modifiers for large wheels and jacked up suspension. I think there was a Wheeler Dealers episode that did it with a Vitara, theres lots of options for the Jimny aswell, some people upgrade the 1.3 engine to the earlier 1.6 16v for more power.

mark chandler - 14/7/13 at 09:06 PM

Get a classic v8 discovery or range rover, body off 8 rubber mounts, forklift through the windows and throw that bit away keeping loom pedal box and column 1/2 day.

Shortern the chassis to something sensible, depends on what you want, trialling 80"' between wheel hub centres.

Knock up a space frame or get one from someone like whitbread (he used to make some of the best ones when I raced) http://www.whitbread-offroad.co.uk/roll_cage_challenge_trialer_spaceframe.php

Panel up and off you go

I scratch built a few over the last 25 years, got fed up with the mess after an event, lots of mud to be washed away so went locost 10 years ago.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 14/7/13 by mark chandler]

[Edited on 14/7/13 by mark chandler]

trextr7monkey - 14/7/13 at 09:56 PM

Check out Coozers blog, he's building a monster!

coozer - 14/7/13 at 10:13 PM

Yep, I'm building a off roader, or a green lanner...

Ladder rail with Range Rover V8 and beam axles..

stevebubs - 14/7/13 at 10:42 PM

http://www.tomcatmotorsport.co.uk/

Dakar are/were another...website doesn't appear to be around, though...

iank - 15/7/13 at 07:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
http://www.tomcatmotorsport.co.uk/

Dakar are/were another...website doesn't appear to be around, though...


Think Dakar was lost when the owner/founder died.

Tomcat's were originally a bowler design IIRC i.e. before they went full spaceframe.
Plenty of other frames out there that bolt to range rover/disco chassis for a cost effective 4x4 that doesn't need an IVA.
e.g. NCF Sahara http://www.ncfblitz.co.uk/page10a.html

Also the NCF Outbak which uses a suzuki chassis for a smaller/cheaper version of the same thing.
http://www.ncfblitz.co.uk/page6.html

pewe - 15/7/13 at 09:04 AM

Thanks guys.
Lots to contemplate - not the least of which is do I build a proper "shed" in the garden - can't see me getting away with building one in an attached garage again!
Always fancied something V8 so maybe that's a start point.
Like the idea of stripping a Disco to bare bones and going from there.
Can understand Mark C's point about the clean up afterwards.
In another life the small front lawn in our original semi ended up raised in the middle where I used to wash off the trials bike.
Cheers, Pewe10

[Edited on 15/7/13 by pewe]

coozer - 15/7/13 at 01:51 PM

Heres mine...