Sand rail fun

[dreamshack]

Although normally more at home zipping about on the road, we took the rail for a proper mudbath on Sunday....





















http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kMPCYoG5bQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd7pOKzFhrI

[dreamshack]

Driving down the river in the White one...




A couple more video links below


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=50302458638121...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=50302848304748...

[matlee]

Nooooooooo!!!!.....every time i seem to forget about these things they crop back up and make me want to build one!

The fun factor on these must be something else and if i hadnt already invested in my current build i would seriously attempt a sandrail build.

[stick100]

I wish I hadn't see this that looks great fun

[matlee]

Are there other donor vehicles you could use apart from a Beetle?

[Huff]

Looks like great fun! Think I saw the white one at Caring with Cars this year - and the conversion /frame is really, really nicely well-thought-out and fabricated.

I think the attraction is that with a standard beetle, these count as a simple re-body - the frame just bolts to the structural floorplan in the standard body bolt-holes with no modification. Since no structural modification - no IVA hooha to go through at all. I'd bet the result is actually stiffer than the original overall. It's a very neat solution on a fun-per-pound basis.

[matlee]

I like the simplicity of the beetle doner but ive just had a google and trying to find one cheap enough to chop up is hard work (unless im looking in all the wrong places).

What weight/performance would you be looking at with a completed vw beetle sandrail?

[Furyblade_Lee]

Brilliant!!

[gtmdriver]

I've finally got mine back on it's wheels but God alone knows how I'm going to work on it in my garage.

[jontysafe]

I`m currently looking at purchasing a modified rail that needs a fair amount of work. Is there anyone in the UK that specialises in that sort of thing and doesn`t charge a fortune?

[dreamshack]

matlee said:

I like the simplicity of the beetle doner but ive just had a google and trying to find one cheap enough to chop up is hard work (unless im looking in all the wrong places).

What weight/performance would you be looking at with a completed vw beetle sandrail?

You can find a bug for under a grand, a spaceframe like the blue one is 795. weight depending on spec between 600 and 700 kg. The frame itself weighs just under 40kgs

performance is brisk, but feels very fast indeed due to the openness and wind!

[dreamshack]

Huff said:

Looks like great fun! Think I saw the white one at Caring with Cars this year - and the conversion /frame is really, really nicely well-thought-out and fabricated.

I think the attraction is that with a standard beetle, these count as a simple re-body - the frame just bolts to the structural floorplan in the standard body bolt-holes with no modification. Since no structural modification - no IVA hooha to go through at all. I'd bet the result is actually stiffer than the original overall. It's a very neat solution on a fun-per-pound basis.

yes, no iva, that was the original design brief as a lot of these go to Holland where they also have strict rules on kits, and to keep with the ethos of the charity we wanted these to be cheap to build and use by any individual or organisation. Yes there was one at Caring with Cars, you will find them cropping up all at sorts of charity events across the country, that white one even had a spin around Goodwood this summer!

[dreamshack]

matlee said:

Are there other donor vehicles you could use apart from a Beetle?

Yes, if you are willing to go down the IVA route we do a scooby version, 4wd front engined, and a "generic" rwd any V8 version using either scimitar/jag rear axle, or sierra diff. We can also do a land rover disco based and a suzi vitara based rail, but they are not as pretty, but again, no IVA.

[qdos]

For those asking about rails that are not based on the Beetle, have a word with the guys at Blitzworld. The Joyrider for example. They can do a rail based on pretty much any engine gearbox from most modern cheap family hatch.

[fuoriserie]

dreamshack said:

Although normally more at home zipping about on the road, we took the rail for a proper mudbath on Sunday....





















http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kMPCYoG5bQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd7pOKzFhrI

Cool...

[dreamshack]

...this one is very much more road orientated, the owner gets on here from time to time so I am sure he will pipe up soon enough



















The apprentices and work experience guys are getting pretty good now, we are looking foward to another year doing some good in the community and having fun at the same time

[Jamesy1974]

dreamshack said:

We can also do a land rover disco based and a suzi vitara based rail, but they are not as pretty, but again, no IVA.

Do you have any details and pictures of these?

[gtmdriver]

Mine will be purely for road use only.

I've lowered it down considerably compared to how it was set up when I bought it.

[dreamshack]

Disco/ range rover pics as requested.
This one is off to Beaulieu show today

[dreamshack]

The entire front, wings etc flip foward for access