Top Ten Outdoors

The general definition of a buggy is a vehicle with wheels that project beyond the vehicle body. Off road buggies are buggies that are configured to be used on a non-tarmac surface, such as on sand, dirt and mud or a rocky terrain track. Perhaps the most popular off road buggy is the dune buggy, which is specifically designed for being used on sand dunes or beaches, however the word “dune” may be taken loosely as many dune buggies are also quite adept on dirt or street surfaces, thus you can consider a “dune” buggy to be any buggy that is designed with off road use in mind.

Buying a dirt buggy is unfortunately not a cheap activity, however there are ways to reduce your expenses and find a beach buggy for sale that won’t break the bank. You may also choose to build your own off road buggy to save on costs. There are several off road buggy kits on the market if you have the time and patience to do some of the work and maintenance. The advantage of building a buggy yourself is that it offers you an opportunity to become familiar with common off road buggy parts and how they integrate into the rest of the vehicle.

There are essentially three types of sand buggies, in terms of the way they are designed: The first features the alteration of an existing vehicle. The second features an off road buggy chassis with a frame made from welded steel tubing. This type has the advantage in that the fundamental parts of the vehicle can be altered – this is usually in the form of added suspension and the addition of a roll-cage.

Yet a third type of beach buggy design is a mix of the above two design methods also known as a Boston-Murphy style buggy. Buggy styles are wide and varied. There are vehicles available for different terrains and speed ranges. You can even find a miniature sized kids off road buggy if that is what you need.

When it comes to buying an off road buggy for sale, one of the first things you need to consider is the type of terrain you’ll be using. There are certainly some niche all terrain off road buggies available, but you should keep in mind that if you buy a “jack of all trades” vehicle, what tends to happen as the saying goes is that you become the “master of none”. If your purposes are purely recreational in nature, than cheap off road buggies can be found that can be used on all surfaces. If you are serious about your outdoor pursuits however, then you might wish to consider a specialist vehicle.

One of the most popular off road buggies is not technically a buggy at all, but a modified Volkswagen bug. These are known as “Baja Bugs” and by adding raised suspension with improved shocks and larger tires, you should be able to use a Baja Bug on the street or on dirt, or sand. This is a great recreational option that can be a lot of fun, however if you are looking for something for more challenging terrains or even an off road racing buggy, then you may wish to shop around for something that is better suited to steeper hills or additional speed. That said Baja Bugs cost a fraction of a new or even cheap off road buggies for sale used.

Another popular type of buggy is the fiberglass buggy. Fiberglass buggies are essentially clones of the original fiberglass buggy design, the “Meyers Manx” dune buggy, however while all sharing the same shape and characteristics, they come in a wide variety of different sizes and variations on the original shape. This type of dune buggy features a fiberglass body that is secured to the Volkswagen Bug chassis. Popular in the 1970′s, while it is possible to take these off road in certain limited circumstances, they are generally built for the streets, due to their bodies being somewhat delicate.

Sand rail buggies are another type of buggy that differs from the ones already mentioned in that it is much lighter than other models. It also features paddle tires which increase its overall mobility. The front tires on this type of vehicle are smooth, and the engine commonly found on the sand rail buggy is extremely powerful allowing it to move exceptionally fast. The roll-cage of a sand rail buggy is minimal, but is adequate to safeguard the driver when tumbling down soft sand dunes.

Finally the tube-frame buggy features a “tube frame” that is quite durable and easy to build. This frame can sometimes be prone to bending and breaking, but is very easy to repair. When shopping around for an off road buggy sale, it is useful to have an idea on the type of vehicle you are looking for first. A great way to get a greater understanding of the different off road buggies that are on the market is to join up with a local buggy club in your area. By speaking with like-minded individuals who can share their own experiences with buying and driving their own buggies, you can gain a greater understanding of the issues of taking your buggy off road.