TheSamba.com :: View topic - Thinking about buying/building a street legal Sand Rail...

Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:27 pm

Can anyone give me advice and or information.

What are the pros and cons? I ride a motorcycle currently and love the open feeling. Im looking to share the feeling with my family.

Thanks for any advice.

Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:34 pm

First thing I would recommend is to check with your states DMV and see what the requirements are for a street legal rail or if you can even make one street legal in your state, Especially safety checks, and smog requirements.

Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:43 pm

I would inquire on www.woodsbuggy.com. I think they are based mostly out of your area.

Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:49 pm

Here's my advice:

JUST DO IT

lol, I'd check this site out:
http://www.berrienbuggy.com/
They sell frames, 2 seater, or 4 seater. good for the whole family. :D

Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:22 pm

The only problem with mine was the scary understeer...I am guessing others did not have the same problem, because I see so many. It was fun to build. Easy to work on and very quick. I loved mine, except, of course, the aforementioned understeer....

Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:11 pm

Thanks guys. Keep the comments coming. I am sure they are legal in Tennessee because I have seen a bunch of them. I'll ask around a bit at the next Circle Yer Wagons show.

Im not certain I want to build. I may just but one first and see how things go. It seems that 2 seaters are much more prevalent in the classifieds.

Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:24 pm

yup, 4 seaters are kind of rare actually, and usually very expensive (atleast the ones i come across!!!). i live in georgia, so i'm right next to ya :wink: . Might want to try the atlanta, as well as the tennesse craigslists. actually in the process of geting a rail myself. Its a 2 seater, and will most likely end up cutting it up, to stretch it to a 4 seater. can you say "party wagen" :twisted: 8) :twisted: 8) :twisted:

Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:12 am

Like he said "JUST DO IT!!", you'll love it, like a gocart om steroids, i did mine this spring and wish i woulda done it 3 yearsa ago, :lol:

Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:43 pm

my buddy has one, and i can tell ya, its a blast to drive. his, is a 2 seater, with a stock 1600dp. and it can do wheelies all day long, lol. prolly the main reason i'm trying so hard to get one, lol. but i plan to throw a turbo motor in :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:30 pm

Mine is street legal....Do it man

Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:35 pm

I live in Chattanooga and have a legal rail. It was pretty easy to register and tag. If you need any help, feel free to give me a shout. I had a little trouble with my local registration office (lazy) they wanted to stick a medium speed plate on it. The plate would only allow me to go up to 30mph I had to fight them and demanded they call Nashville (TN's headquarters). They had me sign an affidavid stating that it had lights, blinkers, horn, windshield, seat belts, parking brake, and red reflective tape at the back end of the car (both sides and the rear). I also had to send in some photos as well showing the construction, the more the better. The title came in the mail. pretty simple. Just don't take no for an answer!

Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:06 pm

Here's a pic

Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:15 pm

olmer2 wrote:

Here I a pic

Thats a nice rail. You would be hard pressed to see something like that legal in Cali....

Theres probably lots of places to off road in Tennessee.

:D

Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:40 pm

Thanks!
There are a ton of places to take a 4x4 that are way to rough for this. Everyone around me has 44" boggers and like to wallow out every trail. I have found a few good places though. I just wish I had some dunes to jump Hmmmm....,,,, fades into Califorina dreaming.... LOL

Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:24 pm

Thanks guys. Now I have to find someone willing to trade a decent rail for my motorcycle. Its hard to find the good deals here in the east.

Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:27 pm

wicked450r wrote: Mine is street legal....Do it man

I love that basket!

Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:43 pm

I just bought this fine 4 seat Rail. Now its time for polishing up for my own pics. These are the pics done by the previous owner.

2009 Frame with VIN.
1600cc dual port motor with the big head and cam kit, big doghouse motor, 4spd manual transmission, new short swing arms, disc brake conversion, electronic distributor, 5 lug adapters with new 33x12.50 tires on back and new skinnys on front solid wheels, fiberglass body, rancho 9000 shocks with onboard compressor, diamond plate floors, glass windshield, 4 pt harnesses.

I will be posting a lot of questions I am sure :)

Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:08 am

That's a beauty...how much and where did you find it?

I too have a 4 seater. My wheel base is about 105" though I'm currently looking for a 112"-114" wheel base frame. Just want to swap all mi parts onto the longer frame.

I just missed an abandoned 4 seater project by 2 weeks. It was a brand new frame (rolling frame…IRS & King Pin) with seats, pedals, steering column & floor pan…for $500. I was sick when the guy said he already sold it…not to mention only 45min for my house.

On top of it…my buddy just picked up a 1 year old Berrien Cruiser frame for $300…though with no torsion of front beam…only 15min from the house.

The deals are out there you just got to find them and be the first with cash in hand.

Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:50 am

Nice buggy...I am looking as well, they seem to be ~5k in my area for a nice street legal 2 seat buggy.

I am going to buy after the first of the year after I get my barn built....can't wait, but in the time before I buy I am trying to learn everything I can.

Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:28 am

Toby, I got it for $5,500 in Erin, TN.

It has a lot of surface rust on chrome and some things just havent been kept up. All in all, its still a great buggy built right.

I have never dealt with air shocks, can someone tell me how to let some air out?

It has a button on the "dash" but its not working.