So trophy trucks have forward engines, but most sand rails and lighter buggies have rear, what is the reasoning behind this? Or does it really matter at all?

I'm also looking for a book on building a buggy, anyone have any suggestions so I don't waste an afternoon at B&N looking for something that doesn't exist?

Not all Trophy Trucks have the motor mounted forward. with the use of a V drive Robby Gordon Motorsport's newer trucks, Porter's i beleive also have rear facing mid mounted engines. and there are some buggies with forward facing mid mounted engines also.


:edit: i guess i should also add, the reason behind rails and lighter buggies having the rear engine design is because people started off using VW's and all of these big bad ass modern day transaxle's are based off the origional VW design.

i thought all TTs were mid engine

i thought all TTs were mid engine



mid as in between the front and rear axles, yes... but a geisler bros truck has the motor in front, forward of the driver compartment, followed by the trans etc like a regular production vehicle would be... an RGM/Porter truck has the crankshaft pully right forward of the rear axle, and the trans output facing forward and uses a divorced V drive, moon buggy style if you will...

Not all Trophy Trucks have the motor mounted forward. with the use of a V drive Robby Gordon Motorsport's newer trucks, Porter's i beleive also have rear facing mid mounted engines. and there are some buggies with forward facing mid mounted engines also.


:edit: i guess i should also add, the reason behind rails and lighter buggies having the rear engine design is because people started off using VW's and all of these big bad ass modern day transaxle's are based off the origional VW design.

Well that makes sense... The whole sandrail thing that is.

So I guess the more appropriate question would be, what's the ideal engine placement for a desert race truck?

Well that makes sense... The whole sandrail thing that is.

So I guess the more appropriate question would be, what's the ideal engine placement for a desert race truck?
how much money you got?
what series you plan on racing?
what class you planning on racing?

how much money you got?
what series you plan on racing?
what class you planning on racing?


fixed it for ya :grinpimp:

fixed it for ya :grinpimp:
people on this board complain that $300 is too much for springs, $50 is too much for shcoks, and plastic seats are ok.

jump over to dezertrangers or rdz and people drop more money on a pair of shocks than most here spend on their entire suspension. makes me laugh sometimes. crawlers dont know what high dollar is.

people on this board complain that $300 is too much for springs, $50 is too much for shcoks, and plastic seats are ok.

jump over to dezertrangers or rdz and people drop more money on a pair of shocks than most here spend on their entire suspension. makes me laugh sometimes. crawlers dont know what high dollar is.



fuck no they don't... $20k for shocks alone is mid pack to be competitive, hell my rig's only worht that complete!

fuck no they don't... $20k for shocks alone is mid pack to be competitive, hell my rig's only worht that complete!
for TT for sure. it makes me sick the amount of money people toss around for the high end stuff.

im talkin about the average joe from each side.

for TT for sure. it makes me sick the amount of money people toss around for the high end stuff.

im talkin about the average joe from each side.

well yea, you could put together a decent "bro" truck for $5k in shocks...

i think it dosent matter to mutch where the engine is along as the rig is ballanced as close to 50/50 as you can get. some people (myself included) believe that you shouls have a little more weight tward the rear to help the truck skip over whoops in the front. plus it comes down off a big jump more level or slightly ass first instead of front first. thats y i put my engine in my ranger in the middle of the truck. check it out in neghbors build in the racing forum like page 3 or 4.

how much money you got?

It's a build that my entire family (6 working men and our retired dad) is working on... so enough (hopefully! :D).

First thing we want to do is build the frame, we were planing on doing a forward engine, but most of the larger buggies are rear... We were just trying to figure out why before we did planned for something we'd regret later.


what series you plan on racing?
what class you planning on racing?

Umm... Yes? lol, we're building a buggy for camping/goofing/jumping/racing the silly vw baja's that are always out. Family owns 130 acres of desert outside of Boise. Nothing proffesional I would think, but we want something custom built with v8 power (so no baja bugs).

In keeping with a reasonable budget, a front motor vehicle is the way to go.
Quality transaxles are spendy and are prone to breakage....with high repair costs.
Doing a front motor with as much setback as you can handle, followed with the trans and a solid axle rear will be pretty much bulletproof, and easy to repair.
Look at a Protruck for ideas to emulate.

In keeping with a reasonable budget, a front motor vehicle is the way to go.
Quality transaxles are spendy and are prone to breakage....with high repair costs.
Doing a front motor with as much setback as you can handle, followed with the trans and a solid axle rear will be pretty much bulletproof, and easy to repair.
Look at a Protruck for ideas to emulate.

I would have to agree with this for the most part. I would think that you need to keep in mind what kind of previous experience you have with vehicles also. If your previous experience is front engine /solid rear axle vehicles you will be happier with fixing and understanding it in the future. Having said that however- most of the high end recreational buggies for sand use-are mostly rear engine-including V-8 powered.
In the 20+ years of goofing around with a recreational buggy I've noticed that in the sand it handles and gets around really good. It is a rear engined extremely lite weight tube framed job. The balance point for it is approximately a foot ahead of the rear tires, about a 75% rear weight bias. It gives weight over the rear tires for traction, with enough weight over the front tires to make it respond to the steering. I think the trend of the future for off road race vehicles is going to be similar-like RGM's truck-with a rear weight bias. Works good in the loose sand stuff and over jumps. Just my .02-keep us posted!