Many of us look for the cheap alternative to a go kart because the prices of real go karts are so high. The cheap carts that are available are similar to the little Razor, which is basically a small electric cart.
The overall design consists of a flat go kart frame with skateboard wheels. It has brakes and accelerator on the steering handlebars. It is a mix of bicycle parts and electric skateboard parts. Obviously being electric it is rechargeable. However, it really lacks the general capability that most look for in a go kart: something that can get around the yard. Because the ground clearance is very limited, electric carts cannot easily pass over grass without getting caught on grass and rocks.
In addition, these small electric karts they have batteries that will burn out and have a limited lifespan. So from year to year you end up spending close to 60 bucks on a new battery because it burned out.
The Razor electric go kart seems on the surface to be a cheap answer. But when he does some research and he starts to see that actually the overall package isn’t really that cheap.
What I propose is the wooden kart. The wooden go kart is the economical alternative to the go kart with a blown metal frame. The metal-framed go-kart has its place with exotic, high-strength materials and its ability to handle larger engines, more complicated steering systems, and disc brake systems, but the wooden go-kart can perform just as well if designed correctly. like its metal counterpart.
The nice thing about a wooden go kart is that all you really need are wooden tools, easily available at any hardware store. You can make the wooden go-kart a weekend project or make it last several months by using evenings as bonding time. Depending on how “into” the go kart you are, you can make it last through the winter. It’s a great winter project that can eat up those long dark nights, which will have you in order by spring.
Another good thing about the wooden go kart. is that you don’t need very expensive components like chains, clutches and disc brakes. Granted, the friction brake system used on wooden go karts is not the best go kart braking device, however it was used years and years and years before the introduction of the disc brake and axle I live in go karts in the old days.
The steering system can be complicated or simple. I personally advocate the supported bogie system so the bogie doesn’t have as much flex. Some people are concerned that the bogie steering is not as efficient as the Ackermann steering system. Actually, bogey-style steering is more efficient and tracks better than Ackermann. The Ackermann system is an approximation of an arc, while the bogey-style system is extremely efficient.
The cheap kart, what else is looking for, It’s easy to do yourself in a weekend or a month, using components that basically come out of a riding tractor. There are so many tractor mounts out there that are falling apart every day. You can also go to an old junkyard where they fix lawn mowers and see if they sell you tires and wheels for a really cheap price. Other cheap sources are Craig’s List and Free Cycle. You’ll be surprised at the things people get rid of, things that are great for a go-kart. Everything you need for a wooden go kart is available in the lawn mower.
you may be asking the question “Why not just use the lawn mower and be done with it?”
The reason I don’t advise using a ride-on mower is that it’s not really simpler and it’s not stable. The riding mower sits higher than you want to sit, making it unstable. The center of gravity is higher than is safe, so the tendency of the ride-on tractor is that it will tip or tip over much more easily than the lower center of gravity wooden kart. Keeping the center of gravity (or the line of action of forces passing through the go kart) lower makes the go kart less capable of tipping over. The way to do this is by widening the stance of the go kart and lowering the rider’s position.
If you are considering looking for a cheap go kart, you may want to consider the father and son project or the father and daughter wooden kart project as your next venture. It doesn’t cost you more than a hundred bucks when all is said and done. You will have hours of fun assembling, cutting, crafting and sewing the wooden go kart.