How Does a Beach Buggy Work?
Other People Are Reading
-
Beach Buggy Overview
-
Beach buggies are a unique and enjoyable way to travel. The vehicles generally have large wheels so that they can move easily over beaches and sand dunes. Beach buggies are often owned for recreational use; however, some people maintain them as a major means of transportation. This is especially true for people who live on beaches or in areas that must be reached by crossing sand. Many beach areas try to make beach buggies available to help conserve the beaches and give visitors an alternative to driving their automobiles on the sand. Most beach buggies have an open frame, although closed frame buggies exist also. Beach buggies are often referred to as dune buggies, although these two terms are not necessarily synonymous. The name beach buggy implies only those buggies designed for sand and beach use. Increasing popularity in dune buggies caused more people and companies to create buggies that could be driven on the road, at indoor tracks and even for races.
Beach Buggy Design
-
Beach buggies are made by a variety of materials and their sizes vary as well. Beach buggy kits can be purchased so that individual owners can build their own. However, even the kits are complicated and it helps to have some form of car mechanic knowledge. Beach buggies may be created with fiberglass frames, tube frames and old car frames. Because the vehicles are meant to travel over sand and in hilly areas, they generally are built with lighter frames. Dune buggies must also have a roll bar to ensure passenger safety if the buggy flips over. When traversing steep sand dunes, it can be easy to tip over. Tires are built wide apart on the beach buggies to make it harder for the buggy to tip over. The three major components of most beach buggies are powerful engines, lightweight chassis and big tires.
An extremely popular beach buggy design was created by Bruce Meyers. Meyers created a buggy from the inexpensive chassis of the Volkswagen Beetle. His beach buggy, called the Meyers Manx, debuted in California in 1964. Businesses and individuals around the world quickly copied his design, causing it to become a favorite among buggy owners.
-
Buggy Use
-
Today beach buggies serve a multitude of purposes. Many buggy owners use them for recreational enjoyment. They may enjoy the thrill of driving over sand dunes or racing down the beach. Beach buggies are often for rent near beaches and dunes so that visitors can travel through these areas with ease. Even the military uses beach buggies. They often send these vehicles to desert areas so that military personnel have a fast vehicle that can handle the rough terrain. Regardless of whether the buggies are used for recreational or professional use, they make a useful vehicle for traveling over sandy areas.
-
