Homemade cart

[superdrag73]

I am a drag racer, and some of the tracks are a long ways around. My car gets hot and sometimes you have to walk over a 1/2 mile to get where you are going. I wanted a golf cart for getting around faster and also to tow the race car. I also want something to drive slow around the yard with the wife and my new baby. I see a lot of guys using golf carts for this, but I am super cheap and couldn't find one for the price I wanted. So, after collecting parts for a few years, I started making one from scratch. It's still in the "engineering stages", so don't judge too harsh yet. I started with a double a-arm, coilover ATV front suspension, widened it so it is about 42" wide. Used an 18 hp lawn tractor engine with a verticle shaft. From the same tractor, used the 2 speed rear. When the vehicle is in running condition, I will fine tune the "gearing". Being belt drive, I will need to try different pulleys to get where I want. I want to have a towing gear, and a cruising gear.
Anyway, I built the frame with 1" tubing. I did the best I could to find a balance between weight, strength, simplicity, and usablility. (Don't want to climb like a monkey in a jungle gym just to get in, etc.)
Got a bench seat out of a minivan, it seats 3 wide. I also have some aluminum diamond plate that I am going to use for the floors, "windshield", and sides. I am going to build a mini pickup-style bed for my tools and things at the drags, but I obviously haven't started that yet. Here's what I have so far.

[DOOmsman]

Keep us posted on the build it looks like a fun
project. Your little guy is wide eyed about getting to
drive it when its done.

[TheNewGuy]

Nice work so far! Keep the pics coming.

[superdrag73]

Thanks guys. My biggest concern right now is the steering. Being ATV steering designed to be used with handlebars and not a wheel, the steering is VERY heavy and it's only 1/4 turn from straight to bumpstop. I will eventually need to go to a steering box or small rack and pinion so it will "gear down" the steering and make it not so heavy. Anyone have any parts carts they can get a box or rack out of?

[SC397]

Cool project! I have a similar thing I am building but going with the Rat Rod look. Same exact use as yours... Drag Strip Vehicle. I have to come up with a steering column for mine too.

[cheapjeep2]

Hey I have just the thing for your steering. I have a used Club Car Rack and pinion that is fully functional from a cart that was parted out, it is good. I've seen them new from $130 to $185. You can have this one for $50 shipped. It is identical to this picture. If you are interested, send me a private message.

[eyespy72]

Try this site out.Good guys http://www.ubuilditplans.com/SII3.html

[cheapjeep2]

Some more information for you SuperDrag.

[superdrag73]

Originally Posted by cheapjeep2

Some more information for you SuperDrag.

Thanks Cheapjeep. You mentioned that it's one sided, does that mean there is only one connection to one tie rod, and a drag link bar connecting the 2 sides?

[cheapjeep2]

I emailed you a PDF document how the steering is setup it also has all the part numbers for all steering components as well as the steering column parts.