Happy Pappy

Pro Am Front Hubs, Gear box sent to Wright for inboard supprts, Complete clutch from STM ( never throw a belt). Upgraded all gauges and swithes. 2.0 Eco Tech built by CBM. Master Craft 3G seats. Howe Steering upgrad. Only damage is to right side down low, see pic.. Have a set of sand tires. Pretty much have gone through this buggy and upgraded the weak points. AZ. license plate. $25000.00 Located in the High Desert Chris

Hey All, Well i have been through 2 different flag poles (aluminum) for the 5th. Wheel. Wind just destroyed them or they just would collapse on there own. So Now I am considering going to a fiberglass collapsible pole. Do any of you have any recommendations for me? I can fab up anything for a mount, also would like ability to include a camp locating LED up top. Thank You-all for your time, Chris

ya know that's a good thought, concentrating all that weight in such a small area could definitly create damage to the floor... definitly going to address that! Thank You, Chris

Maybe... I know when I was racing Formula Fords we used Transport wheels that were a cast aluminum wheel with cycle tires, pricy but really nice http://www.rsport.us/For_Sale_Rsport_F2000.html These woody's cost 1-1/2 sheet of 3/4" maple Ply, some glue, and 80 1-1/4" face frame screws. BAM!! Done deal :-) What is really cool is that I shaved 4" off the front (Was 79" using stock VW's now 75") that means this buggy will now fit on a flat trailer and the quads can go in the Toy Hauler. Bonus... When there off the car in the hot desert sun they make great sun shade hats... Uhh unless your getting a little thin on top

kind-a funny looking, maybe cut out some rain deer and have a santa sleigh :-)

We winch it in otherwise the hauler/place to live smells like exhaust. I got all 4 on tonight first thing I noticed was some nice flat plates to use for a dead nuts alignment. Pretty cool. Chris

Seems to work pretty good. Guess I don't have to worry about flats :-) Chris

Yeah you read it right... Wenching the predator into the toy hauler I have to bolt on some stock VW wheels and even then it just barley fits, Then I have to lock them up so they don't get stolen. So, I am thinking 24" Dia. plywood wheels. Glue & screw 2 layers of 3/4 shop maple together giving me 1-1/2" thick wheel. Cool thing is I have a CNC in the shop and can do some pretty neat stuff, perfect circle, bolt patterns etc. Anyone seen anything like this? Look forward to any comments, Chris

Any of you guys ever been? Sounds like a blast, Looking for suggestions were to camp for the week. Thanks, Chris

damn it! Not sure why the double post thing. Sorry, Chris

Just got off the phone with the driver.... He's at home, legs are cut-up. Both were belted in, driver even checked Gina's belts before leaving camp. Driver was in the lead he thinks last guy came back around in a bowl and was headed straight for him he swerved & avoided a head-on....Pretty foggy on everything after that. She and he both had bruising from belts. That said.. Our family's camp together all the time, Dumont and beach. My kids and several other parents allow there kids to ride with him all the time because he is very careful. My kids come back every time saying how careful and cautious he is. No jumping or foolish games with them. We did not come out this weekend so I was not there. Holiday's scare me, just to many people in a small place. Chris

Hey All, Drivers at home, both legs are cut up & in pretty bad shape. have not asked about anything else... Driver is an overly cautious guy our families camp together all the time at Dumont & the beach, my kids have been in the buggy several times and always come back saying how careful & cautious he is. I chose not to go this last weekend, holidays out there are just to high risk even for those of us that are sober and careful. Chris

Thank you Terry, I will make a point to be there I live in Helendale (Silver Lakes) so it's no problem. just lemme know when, or were can I get the information on-line as to the agenda calender. Thanks Again, Chris

I could use one for the spare on my Predator... Pretty sure it's the right back spacing You can PM me if you like. Thanks Chris

Hey All, Going to find a place for a second battery, Predator can't be push started so seems like a good idea. Started looking for a system to manage the two batteries and found this from painless wiring. http://www.painlessw...archField=40120 Anyone use this? Looks pretty nice , easy install and no manual switching between batteries... 171.00 from 4 wheel drive parts. Thanks, Chris

LOL Yeap pretty much the way this week has been going for me...

I have called 2 Pep Boys now and they are telling me "special order Only" Which Pep Boys did you use? these guys up here are brain dead! One guy didn't even ask what size just "We don't have skinny tires" ! Thanks Chris

Located in the high desert between Barstow & Victorville... Silver Lakes. Thanks but I have a guy here who can weld Aluminum like a pro. I like that aluminum unit from Tilt a rack at only 95Lbs two of us can easily handle it. I just need to run more than one receiver. Chris

Check it out looks perfect!

Hey All, The buggy BARELY fits in the toy hauler due to the fold down bench seat and dinette. Cars width with stock VW wheels 79" leaves about 1/2" on each side I have already tore up the couches on the underside. I have been using some old wide 5's from my Formula Vee days, problem is there race tires & hang over the rim about 1-5/8". So I started looking for some stock 155 or 165 X 15, actually hard to find used. So I started looking at craigslist and came across some of those "Donut spare tires" I think the 125mm X 15 would be perfect? Should be able to mount the tire on the wide 5, maybe have to wrap a belt around it to get it too bead up?... Would be so skinny I bet the rims edge would be the widest part. Anyone tried this? Thanks Chris

LOL!! i just did the sig yesterday... Really helps when your asking question that pertain to the toys. I agree two quads hanging off the back is a lot of weight. I think every hump/ bump I'd be looking in the mirrors!

The versa haul looks like one of the nicer units. but that tilt a rack in aluminum weights in at 95Lbs. may be the ticket? http://www.versahaul.com/index.php http://www.easymobilityco.com/ATV_tilt_a_rack.htm

Yes the kids quads are a raptor 700R & an LTZ 400 Both are indeed full size quads. The last trip out (halloween) I put the Raptor in first tucked it into the kitchen area then winched in the Predator motor first, this puts most of the weight over the three axles. So I suppose I could hang the one LTZ off the tow hitch on the trailer. It's really a hassle to winch the predator in with the quad in the kitchen, I have to run the cable under the quad, (winch is mounted to the floor in the kitchen area), so when the buggy starts climbing the tailgate of course the cable begins to rise from the floor and eventually begins to hit the bottom of the quad. I thought about welding a tab that is lower on the buggy but I think the cable would hit the floor when first starting to pull it in... Man a pictures worth a thousand words! just sucks for the kids to have only one quad... I did a goggle search for hitch mounted racks and came up with some pretty decent units for 1 quad.

the weight thing is a concern the Predator weights in at 2k got to carry water 120gal. X 8 =960 trailer is 10.5k, pulling this with a Duramax 2500 must weight about 6k has a GCVW of 22k.... Sounds like I am pushing it when you include food people other stuff... and the quads Hmmmm.

Would most definitly need to remove to get the door down... Trying to picture what your saying "Hitch system come up" Not sure I know what you mean? Didnt know the Raptor was that heavy! Thanks chris 2008 Raptor 700 2003 LTZ 400 2009 Predator X-18