Well, not really 'dumb', its just something that i've been wanting to do for a while. This is just version #1... i'm going to build another one using things i've learned from this one, but it'll definitely help going to and from the track

 

that is pretty sick! I want one for my exsplorer!

 

That's not dumb at all. My advice to you is clean it up, paint it, take a good picture, post it on ebay, and start selling them.

Really.

BTW... it does need to be higher off the ground. As is it'll drag going into a driveway. And you'll have to do something about bocking the taillights. Not sure about the license plate.

 

I'll get a good pic up tomorrow night if i can... it's going for its first trial test tomorrow when i go to the kart track for practice


kb58: Yea, i know its not dumb necessarily, but it is sorta trivial.. lol. I don't think i'll bother with making them and selling them until i am about 5 versions into it though, and have a good bead on how this needs to go together and work. My biggest fear is the kart falling off the back of somones car, and me being liable for it. My next version will be a one-person operation, and it won't rely on the spare tire carrier... THAT version will be one i can sell... this version is built to only fit this truck. Thanks for the props though

Oh, as for ground clearance, it is actually not that low at all. I tested it out on the steepest driveway that i'll ever encounter, and it cleared just fine, even after installing the license plate bracket i made to relocate the plate so it would be visible. The taillights are still completely visible from 100 ft away, which i think is the requirement... the angle that pic was taken at makes it seem like the bodywork is blocking a bit, but it isn't.

I'm actually kinda excited to see how it'll work tomorrow hehe.

Oh, and yea, i did paint it up all nice and clean

 

Looks good, but im thinking that in our state we would get harassed by cops since its covering up eveything haha, But then again ur state could be different

 

You should of just put it on the roof,lol

 

id be UBER scared of getting rear-ended while having that back there.

and it does look low in the pictures.

good luck on it regardless.

 

how much does that kart weigh? off-roading guys have had problems with the hinges on those things ripping out of the body when they mount a big tire on those holders.
you could get one of these harbor freight trailers to tow the kart on. http://www.harborfreight.com/c...42709
http://www.harborfreight.com/c...42708

 

Well, the kart rack worked really good on its first outing. I haven't -completely- trusted it yet though (i strapped the kart to the truck as well to aid in its ability to handle the weight).

I am going to do something a bit different though. While it did work pretty good, the fact that it is still a 2-person operation to load the kart makes it not-so-convenient... so i'm going to design another one, this time using a class 3 hitch as the main support rather than the tire carrier.

fullblown: I passed by several police officers, and even talked to one, and he didn't have a problem with the rack. It doesn't block the lights, and the license plate is relocated, and re-wired for lights

dragline: Well you -could-, yea, but then that becomes less of a one-person operation without a winch of some sort, and at the moment, i'm not willing to drill anything permanantly into the roof of my truck.. lol. That would look really cool though.... i could even sit in it, and have someone drive my truck... free wind-tunnel testing.. haha!! just kiddin..

nerdsports: Well, i actually would be afraid for the kart of course, but i'd rather it take out the kart than take out my truck.... as for it being low, the back of the kart is still a bit over 1 foot off the ground at rest... it isn't low at all. Its higher off the ground than most every car on this site.. hehe

2old: The kart weighs in at a robust 170lbs... which is why i haven't fully trusted it to the tire rack yet, because i am afraid of it ripping off or breaking somehow... however, i have stood on it, and bounced on it a few times, and i weigh in at a hair over 200.. but regardless, i'm still redesigning it so that it doesn't rely on the spare tire carrier. As for the trailer, the whole point of this is to not get one of those trailers, and have to pay for it, plus the added tolls for having a trailer, ease of parking somewhere (which it already paid off bonus-style on the maiden voyage, where i got a parking spot right in front of the restaurant.. hehe)

 

thats sweet I want a side car...how much does it weigh?

 

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off-roading guys have had problems with the hinges on those things ripping out of the body when they mount a big tire on those holders.
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tha't what I was thinking

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ComposiMo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
so i'm going to design another one, this time using a class 3 hitch as the main support rather than the tire carrier.

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good idea that would be the more traditional way. Reminds me of the platforms that can be used to carry extra luggage and attaches to the hitch.

 

I really like the idea of using the receiver hitch. I think that would be your best bet. I just wouldnt trust the tire rack to hold the weight of that thing over the long run.

 

may be a dumb question but does any oil run out of the motor when it sits like that? just curious cause i rolled a riding lawn mower(dont ask) and when it was in that position lots of oil leaked out everywhere... But probably not or else you wouldnt mount it there so yeah dumb question forget i said anything lol

 

93civic: This actually weighs a decent amount... i would guess it is about 40lbs at least. Main reason being, all of the main support pieces in the setup are made with 1.25" square tubing, with 0.250 wall thickness... so its very stout. Regardless, its time to work on another one

Stewie: Yea, i was actually thinking of those platforms when i was trying to figure out if it could handle it or not... this is kinda like those platforms that hold the electric wheelchair/mobility scooters. Those things have some decent weight to them, and a Class3 hitch deals with them just fine by itself.

2old: Yep, the hitch version is going to be very nice... also, i'm hoping that since it'll be built to hold the kart in the other direction (top of kart facing forward), it'll have enough room for me to carry the spare tire when not usingthe kart, and still keep the rack in place

Allmotor: No, its not a dumb question at all. Your lawnmower was probably a 4-stroke, and so its oiling was much different. This is a 2-stroke setup, so it gets its oil from its fuel mix. If this kart had a gearcase, then yes, you would probably have issues with losing a bit of oil, but this kart does not have that. Even still, there are ways around it. It is VERY common to store and transport karts standing on their back-ends. Makes for more room in trailers and garages.

 

stop playin around, and finish your pro car

 

Werkin on it!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ComposiMo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Werkin on it! </TD></TR></TABLE>

good