College Project ATV Buggy Questions

[sambozi]

Hello JohnDee members!

My name is Sam and I am a Junior Mechanical Engineer at Benedictine College in Atchison Kansas. Although I go to school in Kansas I am a life long Minnesotan and am an avid snowmobiler and four wheeler rider. I am currently in a junior design class where I am working with a team to design and build a steering, suspension and braking system. Our vehicle is going to be built to compete in the Baja SAE competition, but for our class we are going through the process of building a vehicle for mass production. We are looking to design something similar to the Polaris Ace 500 and I am writing this forum to ask fellow four wheeler riders their opinions on the different systems my group and I are working on. I have posted below the questions I am looking to have answered. I'd be happy to make a phone call to elaborate on the questions otherwise a comment below would be great! Please feel free to reach out, we are continually looking for advice on design considerations.


Thank you,
Sam



Here are the questions;
1.What do you look for when buying an off-road vehicle? And why do you want an off-road vehicle? Where do you look?

2.What kind of operating environment will you be using the vehicle in? Muddy, sandy, rocky terrain?

3.Is the suspension an aspect you investigate when buying a vehicle? If so, what do you look for?

4.When looking at a suspension system, would you rather have an easily customizable shock? Meaning the ability to change ride height or the amount of travel the suspension will have. Or a less customizable shock, that will have a set ride height and a set amount of travel.

5.Is there a specific model of off-road vehicle that is your favorite? If so, what do you like about it?

6.Do you shop for new vehicles or go for the more affordable, used vehicles?

7.Is the steering wheel/ steering system a deciding factor in your purchase, if so, what do you look for?

8.The Polaris Ace 150/500 is a model similar to the off-road vehicle we are interested in building, are you familiar with this model? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

9.Are there multiple companies that you consider? What draws you to their product and what has you hesitant to purchase their product?

 

[srt20]

1. Fun, performance, reliable. They are fun, time with family, friends. Online.
2. Dirt rocky terrain, Wisconsin trails.
3. Yes. Quality components, though OEMs usually use budget components (cheap springs, low grade shocks)
4. Ability to change ride height (spring preload) a must, compression, rebound adjustable as well. Travel is nice, but well valved shocks trumps big travel numbers.
5. No. Not brand loyal, buy what works best for me.
6. New.
7. Yes, but to lesser extent to other things like performance both suspension and engine. Quality of tie rods, heims/joints, rack, spindles. Dont want sloppy steering that is difficult to keep aligned. No obscene bump steer or Ackerman. Half way decent geometry. Same with camber curves.
8. Somewhat, I have a family, so not interested in single seaters, but not enough to comment.
9. Yes. Only a handful of manufacturers that make what I consider somewhat quality machines. What makes me hesitant, is that I consider the top machines only "somewhat" quality.

 

[ezra]

1 i look for something small and nimbal
2 clear cuts over trees thrugh woods . Mixed trail some mud .
3 some what but as long as the shocks are decent I am good . I also am not in to the real tall stuff I do like to run hard and sideways when on a trail
4 again some adjusting is nice to have but with the skinny sxs and the short arms shocks can only do so much . Would it be nice to have ability to adjust hight . Heck yeah but prob not willing to pay more than say a g for that option
5 not brand loyal when it comes to sxs but not willing to go off brand yet wild cat trail and rzr trail
6 I go for new but look for the holdover or end of season deal
7 don't care about steering wheel
8
dont get to in to the details of the parts I do read up on the fourms of the issues guys are having . Then decide if I want a toy with said issues
8again I like the 50inch segment so close to a ace I just like having the option of a copilot.
Wish list
I would like the option of ez belt swap .poss ez reversible wheels so I could have a 50 inch when turned in or say 58 when flipped around . Would like intakes above shoulder from factory want real skidplate from factory want mostly h20 tight cab from waste down . Large under hood storage with a factory tire plug kit and small 12v compressor
Not a fan of something as big as a jeep and cost more than a jeep

 

[sambozi]

Thank you for the input this will be really helpful!

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you the suggestion on components was something I didn't think of and will be helpful for design considerations.