I'm starting to design my next buggy. It will be a 4 seater with watercooled motor (possible Honda V6 or turbo 4 cyl). I was thinking about building the frame out of 1-3/4 .095 tubing. I have the die for my bender (was working on circle track stuff). The tubing is about 1/4 pound heavier per foot than 1-1/2". I'm just thinking with the high speed trail riding we do, the heavy motor, and 4 full sized adults, that the 1-1/2" tubing may be at it's limits. I've got some bends in my Berrien warrior frame with mostly stock VW motor. Not from hitting things, just pounding on it hard.

Plus I was at a local circle track store and they make some really neat stuff that mounts to 1-3/4" tubing

Any thoughts or experiences?

I had thought about that for my next race buggy. In one way 1-3/4" .095 wall tubing is a bit weaker than 1-1/2". It would be easier to dent , then loosing all its strength. I would see what the weight difference is between 1-3/4".095 and 1-1/2" .120 wall. Another thing to consider is different types of tubing. If you are using electro-weld tubing, you can try DOM, or if youve got DOM, try 4130. I can tell you that DOM is about twice as hard to bend than electro-weld tubing and 4130 is even harder than that! They all have pros and cons.

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Maybe you should chug on over to mamby pamby land....

I used 1 5/8 dom .120 wall tube . 1 5/8 is the only die i have for my bender