Top 10 Design Considerations

[Billy_the_Kid]

I'm from a circle track/pavement racing back ground, and always trying to go back to my roots and find ways of applying things I learned back then to our off-road trucks now.

So, what are the most important design considerations when building something that will be dirt driven? Let's say a truck for instance. Regardless if its a mini-truck or stock truck/prerunner or a Protruck/Trophy Truck, it's still front engined and not a buggy. I'd like to hear everyone's TOP 10 (or top 5 or whatever) in order of importance. Things like maximum wheel travel, minimum bumpsteer, maximum horsepower, minimum weight, durability, upgradeability, availability, cost effectiveness, design efficiency (Colin Chapman)... stuff like that. I know somebodies gonna respond and say "they're all important". But everyone must still have an order. Here's mine:

1. Safety
2. Light weight (everything)
3. Design efficiency (multiple use parts)
4. Correct suspension geometry (front)
5. Maximum wheel travel (rear)
6. Correct suspension geometry (rear)
7. Maximum wheel travel (front)
8. Maximum horsepower
9. Durability
10. Cost/availability

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[homey]

Material, processes, attention to detail, simplicity, power...There are so many things to consider but I think these are important.

[CanyonMan]

1) Excellent fabricator
2) Steady supply of frosty beverages
3)Lots of friends to help out
4)BIG engine
5)Big Tires
6)Decent suspension
7)Realistic budget
8)Strong rear end
9)Not enough sense
10)Slightly crazy driver

So far all those things work for me

[matt_helton]

for me when i built my truck i had these things in mind......

1. saftey, the cage structure came first
2. economy, saving cash wherever i could, by making parts.
3. reliable motor, trans.
4. heavy duty rear axle
5. coil-over front end, decent rear shocks, and bump stops
6. a good meduim-travel custom suspension
7. lots of .120 wall mild steel
8. fridge full of beer
9. quality wiring
10. simplicity

[FABRICATOR]

Proper weight distribution is also critical. Without it, items 4 thru 8 are a moot point.

[John_Bitting]

Since I am in the process of having a vehicle built, here is what I personally looked for.

Fabricator
Shop (size/location)
Material to be used
Geometry (scrub/camber/roll centers/instant centers)
Timeframe
Willing to build what I wanted
Reliability
Quality wheel travel
Low Maintnance

[PBR]

1. FABRICATOR
2. FABRICATOR
3. FABRICATOR
4. FABRICATOR
5. FABRICATOR
6. FABRICATOR
7. FABRICATOR
8. FABRICATOR
9. FABRICATOR
10. FABRICATOR

when you hire a fabricator with a good reputation, history, background, etc., you get all the things that are necessary to build a winning truck, that is why they get paid the big bucks...

[Jack]

I think he is asking this question as the fabricator.

[Billy_the_Kid]

Correct, I was asking the question from the standpoint as a fabricator.

I was hoping we could hear from more fabricators, like Porter, Jerry Camburg, FABRICATOR, Thome, Fish, WFODAN. Come on you guys, how about a little input.

[Donahoe]

Safety, Fore thought, Thinking about the whole truck (.ie what the rear suspension will do to the front and vice versa), Workmanship, weight, Disco factor,Horspower, Chick magnet possiblities.