Removable bonnet/storage for a Manx/J&S ?

Does anybody have a buggy fitted with a removable bonnet with a storage compartment under it ?

if not, then where do you keep all your goodies/parts/camping stuff etc etc.

they flop around in the back, usually tied down with a occy strap or toneau cover. 😎 seen those elastic mesh sheets that you use on trailers put to good use too.

Trust me after traveling to Cape York in a manx and recently to TAS in my Tow'dster packing is a work of art with a fine balance between spares,camping gear,clothes,beer(er'food) and on the odd ocation our ROTTY and yes he's big and likes an even bigger space, but hey its all part of the fun and having a buggy as long as i have you get used to it.

use a roof luggage basket, for light stuff of course

I've decided to make a removable bonnet and have storage between the petrol tank and the dash. This should be big enough to fit camping gear etc. The body will have a 3 inch lift kit, so I will have extra depth for the storage area above the foot well.
There seems to be a lot of space not utilised in this area.

Any comments???

One of the guys going to Stockton this weekend by the name of Ian has a fibreglass hatch that covers the rear area of his Manx. It houses all his camping gear etc and looks ok.

I'm planning on using the rear section as a storage area, as well as the roof racks. I've seen some buggies with aluminum boxes ets with lids and they seem to work well. I just think the front area seems to be under utilised, and that spreading the weight over the whole buggy may be better as well.
really keen to know if this has been done before.

Craig Torrens wrote:and that spreading the weight over the whole buggy may be better as well.

The main advantage of a buggy is the weight is over the back tyres where it needs to be to aid traction of the rear tyres. Any weight in the front of the car just bogs the front down and stops it from 'floating' over the soft sand.

My Manx goes heaps better down the beach the lower the fuel level gets and the front gets lighter and lighter.

Just my 2cents. But I'd keep the weight at the back.

good point, but I need the room ! Maybe use it for sleeping bags, tent etc and the heavy stuff on the back seat area!

I've got Gordon's Mk 3 Supa Sports at my place at the moment and it has a section cut out of the bonnet that tilts forward and has storage under it. I'll take some pics tommorrow to show you.
Graham

Thanks Graham

What sort of buggy is this for?

If it's for a manx don't cut the bonnet up. I have a bonnet that's been cut before that I will swap with you and give you some $ to boot.

Mike

MikeM wrote:My Manx goes heaps better down the beach the lower the fuel level gets and the front gets lighter and lighter.

Just my 2cents. But I'd keep the weight at the back.

You mean you notice the increase in performance as your fuel runs out ??? Man your buggy must really need more power :P

Buggy Brad wrote:You mean you notice the increase in performance as your fuel runs out ??? Man your buggy must really need more power :P

Always the stirrer hey Brad......

You think that horse power is the answer to all the problems.... Buggies go well on the beach cuz they are light and they have the heavy stuff (Engine) where the driving wheels are. This allows the front wheels to 'float' over the sand and not dig in.

I'm not saying my Buggy is laking in power. Buggies generally don't get bogged due to lack of power, but because they 'sink' into the sand. The lighter a buggy the more it floats over the sand.

As it turns out with all my light alloy bar work and light flooring I can lift the front of my car off the ground when it has no fuel in the tank. The fuel is the heaviest thing in the front. When the tank is empty my car sits on the up stops, when the tanks full it sits 1/2 inch off them.

I think there is allot to be said for not putting a fuel tank at the front if you can avoid it. The Tow'd has it's fuel tank at the back making the front very light and it's a very capable vehicle because of it.

Buggies don't carry much gear it's a fact of life, and they are light that's what makes em so good in the dunes. Don't load your buggy up with stuff in the front as your mates will get sick of pulling you out. Whatever doesn't fit in the back leave at home.

Or Load the Kombi up with gear and tow the buggy around like Brad does..... :P Then you've got all the comforts and a buggy to break.

[Edited on 21-4-2004 by MikeM]

well if I wanted to tow it, I would use my Pajero !!

This buggy will be used for offroad exploring e.g. Cape York, Kakadu etc etc. unfortunately on long trips (4 to 5 weeks) you need alll the storage you can get !

Its a modified J&S.:thumb

I'm going to Fraser next week using a luggage basket and the back area for storage, packing well and leaving a lot of the regular gear at home, it's the sacrifice you have to make to take the buggy.

Craig Torrens wrote:This buggy will be used for offroad exploring e.g. Cape York, Kakadu etc etc. unfortunately on long trips (4 to 5 weeks) you need alll the storage you can get !

Its a modified J&S.:thumb

Will you visit on your travels????😎

as long as you have a few of these:beer:beer:thumb

supa sports bonnet

and again

another

last one

This is our current method of carrying more gear, it works very well. We have had no problems with getting stuck anywhere, not too sure about the weight issue(Brad tells me mine is the heaviest Buggy on the Planet). Just let your tyres down and Buggy In.

This Pod allows for all of our gear to live up top and the Fridge to reside in the rear of the Buggy near the Power supply.

The only Down side at present is it dosn't fit on with my current soft top(nothing a Stanley knife won't Fix).

The best thing you can do is get a small camper trailer made for behind your Buggy!





[Edited on 3-5-2004 by daz67]

[Edited on 3-5-2004 by daz67]

Daz, can't see the pictures. Can anybody else.

As for the Pod, I'm going to be putting a pod on my 2nd buggy when I do the build. I'm not going to cut any holes in the roof to mount it tho. We're planning on putting an drop in attachment on the side nerf bars for another hoop over the roof for a front mount for the pod. The rear mount for the pod will come of the back barwork somehow.

That way the roof will hopefully stay water tight.

Mike

Hmmm, Pic's are there for me!

Can anyone else see them???

NO....had to type the address into my browser to veiw them!! Got to have a look so thats all that matters.......

Nah Daz, all I can see is a maroon 4wd on a barge in the first one, and empty garage with boxes in the second.........was your buggy there somewhere??
:thumb:P

Mike your DRIVING a Manx , expect to get wet when you come play,or hey if your still not wet you better let Amanda drive ya big skirt.

A Westwood wrote:Mike your DRIVING a Manx , expect to get wet when you come play,or hey if your still not wet you better let Amanda drive ya big skirt.

Yeah Yeah. We went over to straddie on the weekend (1-3 May) and had a blast camping on the beach. I even drove around in the dunes with the roof off. I got sand in the car, and didn't care. That's an achievment for me.

Funny. I went over there with 6 mates in 4x4's overloaded with gear. And Amanda and I fitted everything in the back of the Manx with no pod or anything. Even took a spare tyre.

All the 4x4 drivers gave me crap on the CB going down the beach, and kept asking me whether I was stuck yet, so I gave it some gas and overtook all of them on the soft high side of the dune. 🙂

Come Sunday I asked if anyone wanted to go for a buggy ride, and after the kids had a go most of the parents jumped in for a ride too and there was smiles all around. Buggies are cool!