PLAY-BUGGIES - JULY

HAVING FUN... SAFELY!

PLAY-BUGGIES, SAND-RAILS, CALL THEM WHAT YOU WILL... THEY CAN BE SOME SERIOUS FUN! THEY COME IN MANY FORMS, FROM VW PANS WITH A ROLL-CAGE WELDED ON, TO $15,000 CUSTOM ALL ALUMINUM BUGGIES. PERSONALLY I PREFER THE "OFF-ROAD" STYLES WITH TUBULAR STEEL CHASSIS AND PLENTY OF REINFORCEMENTS. OF COURSE I AM INTO THE HEAVIER TRAILS (ROCKS, HILL-CLIMBING, RUNNING OVER THE OCCASIONAL JOSHUA TREE, ETC.). BUT WHATEVER FORM YOUR BUGGY TAKES THERE ARE STILL SOME ESSENTIALS THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE WITHOUT! THAT IS WHAT I WILL COVER THIS MONTH, READ ON....

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST THAT NO ONE WHO GOES OFF-ROADSHOULD BE WITHOUT:

#1 -- SAFETY HARNESSES... AT LEAST 4-POINT 2" BELTS, NORMAL LAP BELTS JUST DON'T CUT IT!!!!! WITHOUT A GOOD SET OF HARNESSES YOUR FIRST JUMP COULD BE YOUR LAST, LANDING FROM A JUMP CREATES HEAVY G-FORCES THAT CAN EASILY BREAK YOUR BACK IF YOUR LANDING IS CROOKED.

#2 -- HELMETS... SURE THEY ARE HOT, BUT WITHOUT ONE YOU COULD END UP COLD... DEAD COLD!

#3 -- ON BOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER... THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING. A FIRE CAN RUIN YOUR DAY! NOT TO MENTION YOUR BUGGY!

#4 -- SPARE TIRE, JACK, AND 4-WAY LUG WRENCH... I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HEAD OFF-ROAD WITHOUT THESE... AND WATCHED THEM WALKING BACK LATER! THE AVERAGE JACK JUST DOESN'T DO, WATCH MY STREET BAJA SERIES FOR AN EASILY BUILT OFF-ROADERS JACK.

#5 -- SPARE PARTS... THINGS LIKE FUSES, A COIL, POINTS, ROTOR, CAP, ETC.. I USE A SMALL BACKPACK TIED TO THE ROLL CAGE TO HOLD THESE ITEMS AND A FEW CRUCIAL TOOLS.

#6 -- EMERGENCY KIT... YOU CAN GET A SMALL FIRST AID BOX CHEAP THAT WILL HAVE THE ESSENTIALS, BANDAGES, ANTISEPTIC, SLING, ETC.. IF YOU LIVE IN SNAKE COUNTRY DON'T FORGET TO ADD A SNAKE-BITE KIT! STRAP YOUR BOX IN SECURELY!

#7 -- FLUIDS... AND I DON'T MEAN BEER! IF YOU BREAK DOWN OUT IN THE BOONIES AND HAVE TO WALK OUT A CANTEEN OR BODA-BAG FULL OF DRINKING WATER CAN BE A LIFE-SAVER!

NEXT MONTHS TOPIC WILL BE: BUYING A USED BUGGY- WHAT TO LOOK FOR

FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES E-MAIL ME AT:
dirtbugz@oasisvw.com
OR CONTACT ME BY ICQ # 18583378