I would love to have a side by side but the ~$20k price tag is way out of the budget for a complete toy. What are the Grassroots options?
I like the concept of the Local Motors but that is in the wrong direction with the budget.
The long travel setup for the Miata that Paco makes looks like it would work but the suspension kit alone is over $5,000. Not very GRM to me.
I could see a lifted Subaru and that is probably the closest I can come.
Or a rallycross MR2 but it really lacks clearance and RWD
A lifted RAV4 from a few generations ago sounds nice but three open differentials sound like it would need a winch.
So, what am I missing? AMC Eagle?
A 90's compact regular cab pickup.
Sidekick/Tracker/Samurai.
My Samurai is actually smaller than my Polaris Ranger.
^ pretty clear that sometimes less is more.
David S. Wallens said:
I had one of those! I don't recall the brand but the hack was on the RH side. Weighed a ton. The Moto-Mags that one has on the bike I also had on the hack too. It would pull the spokes out of the rims on the hack wheel.
The sport version side by sides are amazing with their awesome suspension. I don't like the idea of a rubber band drive so that pretty much leaves the Honda and Yamaha as the only two options left. But, that price...
ShawnG
UltimaDork
5/21/20 11:43 a.m.
We built a Chevy Tracker for a customer a couple years ago.
Lift kit, body armour, skidplates, winch bumper and lights.
Inluding the purchase price, he was still less than a new side-by-side.
Tracker has roll-up windows, heat and air conditioning too.
In reply to Scott_H :
Motomags rule. I don't care if they're heavy. Way cool on the sidehack. I was never that cool.
So if I want just general hoonage, crappy golf carts are cheaper than side by sides. They are also slower, worse handling, easier to break and the operator is more likely to get hurt when you jump it. But you have to cut cost somewhere.
Well if there were just more classic VW’s around we’d have us an Easy Button.
David S. Wallens said:
In reply to Scott_H :
Motomags rule. I don't care if they're heavy. Way cool on the sidehack. I was never that cool.
I loved my side hack. It was brutal to ride if you were not going down hill and worse if you had a monkey. Down hill with a monkey was pure terror and this >< close to a spectacular wipeout.
A samurai would be perfect. Or really a stock-ish jeep.
my "side by side" on the cheap is my golfcart that i swapped the 9hp kawasaki single for a 20hp Kohler Vtwin. Its light enough that it floats well on sand and with the extra power, it does quite well. Its lifted 6" and has bigger wheels/tires too. I threw a little harbor feight winch on it too that i can swap front/rear. All together i probably have 2000-2500$ in it.
The motor in the bed is what i swapped into it after a re-fresh.
ShawnG
UltimaDork
5/21/20 12:02 p.m.
Thought we had some finished pics but for some reason I don't
4.5" lift kit, skid plates and bumpers from Zuki Nation. 31x10.5 tires.
I reckon you can fit two of these next to each other to go side-by-side.
A sidekick/tracker/samurai is the closest cheap option, but a new or used UTV/SxS can actually be a good deal in dollars vs. offroad speed. They depreciate hard and fast so lightly used ones are available for big discounts. Trying to modify a street-legal production 4x4 into something that's as fast as a "pure sport" SxS could run into the 6-digits quite easily.
Jeep wrangler for open air cruising. If you want something more stable at higher speed old ford rangers take an unbelievable beating and can be bought for the change in your ashtray.
Fwd powertrain of your choice + john deere gator chassis.
gearheadmb said:
Fwd powertrain of your choice + john deere gator chassis.
Before the extreme SxS over the last few years, the hot ticket was the Yamaha Rhino. There were tons of mods that could be done to them. I have seriously thought about trying to find one that has been modded out with and has had the engine let go. Those are well past their prime and even 100 HP in one of those would be really fast.
gearheadmb said:
Fwd powertrain of your choice + john deere gator chassis.
They already have Kawasaki V-twins in them, just need to raid the parts bin.
Isn't this exactly what a VW-based dune buggy is? There are at least five on CL between here and Denver right now. FB marketplace has a bunch more. Including a Joyner with a Ducati Monster in the back. Like they just took off the front wheel. It's amazing.
And if the Paco kit can make a $2000 Miata do what a $20,000 RZR can do for less than half the price, it sure sounds GRM to me. Since when did GRM start meaning "I don't want to pay the guy with the one man shop working out of his garage for the results of his work?"
