I din't think building buggy would be that hard provided you have a couple of things.
(a) Spare time,
(b) Spare cash,
(c) an understanding engineer
(d) you know at least someone with a buggy or has done it before.
I'm all for more new buggies on the road but if I was going to build a buggy I think I would buy one first so I can build one that suits me best. Their are so many differing types, shapes and uses for buggies that if your going to spend money building one it would be cheaper to know what one you want.
Attending weekend like the recent Klub Offroad and Manx Club (Fraser) weekend would be a great start. Perhaps the sand / bush is not for you and you want just a streeter. That's fine too. In that case check out the local shows and take lots of pics of you facourite buggies.
Understand I have never build a buggy from the ground up but certianly am looking for to doing so. I think the most benificial lesson I have learnin is Joining a club, driving / maintaining the Dog-O-War and perving on other buggies.
I was going to build a buggy straight up then I had kids. Not fussed on the Lwb buggies I opted for a baja. Having seen many Lwb buggies getting around, they go just as well, sometime better (on the kidneys) that their Swb mates. Having been out on the beach for two long weekends in the Sun and sand, my buggy will definately have a roof and sides for the wet days here, and finally, My wife has to love it too, at this rate She'll be driving it more than me and I'll have to keep the Dog because after riding in some at Stockton she's willing to trade her air-con to get into one, and that's saying somthing.
Good advice above, ride in one while you build another, join a club, make buggy friends, start buying bits - looms, glass, tranny, mill, shell, lights etc.
My 2 cent's.
馃槈
-----------------------------------------------------
KlubVWOffroad's most recent event:
http://www.klubvwoffroad.aunz.org/stockton11-02/stockton11-02.htm