Buggy Ground clearance Question

[bru21]

Starting the build next week now that I finally have everything together.

I have built a jigging table etc to build it on that's working height, but I also want to set up a table at the ground clearance height.

So question is:

What is a good ground clearance? Starting with trucks in the past I haven't ever aimed for any height. And its one thing I haven't measured at buggy events.

Wheel base will be about 118", tyres 35" for speed events, 37" for cliffhanger etc.

Using 80 series diffs with standard arms.

cheers bru

[ofr57]

most of the one's i heard of aim somewhere around 20 - 22 inches from the belly

[blurredvision]

You want to make it as high as you can for ground clearance, while keeping the center of gravity as low as possible (if that makes sence).
I can only give you my high speed off road opinion, that you want to make sure that you have enough down travel so that the wheels are touching the ground as much as possible. When you start picking up wheels it tends to lead to ill handling and drive train breakages when the wheels spin up and land and shock load the drive.
The other consideration is the distance set at the bumps. A rough rule of thumb is to leave around 10cm ground clearance when the suspension hits the bumps, taking into consideration the amount the Tyre will compress on a hard landing.
Hope this helps.

[gorilla]

I'm running ~23" to the rails @ 116" wheelbase. GQ ute, seems to work.

[bru21]

thanks fellas.

the cars at baja seemed to be really low like 1/3 up travel and the wheels fall away big time. They also struggled to turn.
I feel if it is too low it will struggle at finke etc.

I'm running big travel shocks - 12" coil 14" triple up front, 14"coil, 16" triple at rear. and 4" bump.

So I am now thinking if I aim for 480mm (19") (with full compression of about the bottom of the diff tubes - (buggy totally flat underneath). I can then raise it to say 530mm (21") for cliffhanger etc.

planning to make the main tube chassis rails the width of the motor and then come out and up at 45 degrees to the sides of the buggy.

regards

bru

[1MadEngineer]

thanks fellas.

the cars at baja seemed to be really low like 1/3 up travel and the wheels fall away big time. They also struggled to turn.
I feel if it is too low it will struggle at finke etc.

I'm running big travel shocks - 12" coil 14" triple up front, 14"coil, 16" triple at rear. and 4" bump.

So I am now thinking if I aim for 480mm (19") (with full compression of about the bottom of the diff tubes - (buggy totally flat underneath). I can then raise it to say 530mm (21") for cliffhanger etc.

planning to make the main tube chassis rails the width of the motor and then come out and up at 45 degrees to the sides of the buggy.

regards

bru

search for info on CORR pro4!!
your shocks seem short!! most run 16" minimum and are mounted 30% along the links which increases available travel. belly height on full compression should be ~6"-10".

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=667390
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=701536
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=710573

they should curdle your brain but will definately give you an edge

[lukes4x4]

Hey there is it gunna be for rockcrawling as well as setups would be totally different . mine runs 106inch wheelbase 16 inch fox shocks f+r and about 22inch belly height low centre of gravity but. can have many variables like engine positioning etc etc. more details you provide we can then help you. we feel your pain !