Crazy Idea/New Guy

I have this crazy idea that I would like to build a lawn mower to take to the sand dunes. No, I do not plan on jumping with it or anything, but I'd like to be able to safely get around in the sand and go decently fast without bogging down. What are some ideas on doing this? Smaller pulley to increase speed, ATV wheels and sand paddles? A foot throttle? Would I need to lift it for this? I'd also like to add some racks to hold stuff. Has anyone done this? Any ideas and thoughts will be helpful. BTW I do not have the mower yet. Thanks.

check out the long travel thread... He's definitely going the right direction for that

I saw that build, but I am not sure about all that since I plan on just scooting around and keeping all 4 tires on the ground, but I am open for all suggestions. Ill keep an eye on it. And before someone says 'Buy a cheap ATV', I def could, but I'd like to have something different and make other people look twice.

Mr modified is building a baha sort of mower in the build off... may be more along the lines of what you are talking

https://www.atltf.com/t3157-baja-sears-build

If it were me, I'd pull the governor out of my engine, start with a pretty lightweight tractor, run paddels, gear for about 40mph, run full skid plates, locked rear end, and go from there. Steering would have to be re worked. I would also make the seat easy to lean/slide around on so i can lean over the side for some hair pinned sand flying corners.

A peerless 700/live axle would work good, you arnt overspeeding a tranny sence you can choose speed with sprockets. Big mushy front tires, improved steering and front axle, and maybe chope the fenders to lower the seat.

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

A peerless 700/live axle would work good

This will work better, but at a higher cost.

you deffinatly want a wide stance and a low COG

I have a mower in mind because my buddy owns it and he will sell it to me cheap. I am working on posting pictures of it now and I will have them on here soon. I have not seen the mower in person yet, but the pictures tell me that it is a Lawn Chief with a 13 horsepower B&S motor with a 6-speed and a shift-on-the-go. Does anybody know anything about these mowers? Opinions on them? Is this a mower that will suit my needs well? Thanks

Not really a good frame. It's an mtd. They can be made good, but from the start its junk

Id start with something else. Also, sand is one of the few places I would recommend more horsepower.

I find it odd noone mentioned ze germans... In WWII the germans outfitted their VW bug things cant remember what they were called with slicks that gave them superb traction in sand withouth digging themselves in as you would have with most of your paddles/bar tires that being said I suggest slicks for this and wide ones at that also suggest wide front tires but something that will steer well like the front steering tires for sand atvs that have the ribs. I think youd be ok with 12-? horsepower I wouldnt really go much less than 12 because your gonna have to spin those tires pretty good. Also keep in mind it is sand so may wanna figure out a air cleaner for your blower on the engine just so it doesnt suck a ton of crap in

Would I just need a bunch of speed and some tires to keep me moving? Would ATV sand paddles be best?

That would be my approach, but make sure you got a vtwin engine... your gonna need the hp.

TroyBilt Pony wrote:

That would be my approach, but make sure you got a vtwin engine... your gonna need the hp.

You dont NEED a v twin, a twin or high HP single will handle tall gearing fine.

Used paddle tires will be kinda cheap, depending on where you live, try craigslist.

I'd have to agree with most of the guys on here.
What you would need is..
Sort of low center of gravity (hills, turns, etc.)
Paddle tires..back
High rib...front
High horsepower motor
Peerless 700 with live axle and sped up to 40mph roughly
Braced frame
Foot throttle... no governor depending on how you like it

That's all I could think of ATM.

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

TroyBilt Pony wrote:

That would be my approach, but make sure you got a vtwin engine... your gonna need the hp.

You dont NEED a v twin, a twin or high HP single will handle tall gearing fine.

Used paddle tires will be kinda cheap, depending on where you live, try craigslist.

Sand sucks up horsepower.
If it were mine, id be running a vtwin ungoverned w/ a tach to keep it under 4500

TroyBilt Pony wrote:

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

TroyBilt Pony wrote:

That would be my approach, but make sure you got a vtwin engine... your gonna need the hp.

You dont NEED a v twin, a twin or high HP single will handle tall gearing fine.

Used paddle tires will be kinda cheap, depending on where you live, try craigslist.

Sand sucks up horsepower.
If it were mine, id be running a vtwin ungoverned w/ a tach to keep it under 4500

Hp is HP. Ask the mowrons. They run in worse conditions with the same gearing and their 16.5 opposed work fine, even ran singles if i recall.

I understand it, but I can bet either their wheels spin or they bog when taking off except for the oppys and twins..
Another reason I say twin is because of the easily available RPM range

Coming from a mowron, sand is the one place I would recommend big hp. You need a lot of power to drive in loose sand.

Youd need high HP for paddles but if you ran slicks you wouldnt need so much I believe... Kinda wanna make a baja buggy to test slicks vs paddles might be interesting