Power Kite Forum

Buggy back support improvement

Tibi - 20-3-2009 at 10:24 AM

I have a PL Comp XR+ buggy and I was wondering if there are any easy mods I can do to improve the back support. Any advise or pictures would be greatly appreciated.

indigo_wolf - 20-3-2009 at 10:44 AM

The folks that BB have some nice aftermarket stuff for that....
http://www.buggybags.co.uk/pages/seats/peter.htm

Perhaps something along those lines.

ATB,
Sam

acampbell - 20-3-2009 at 10:53 AM

Look at beamerBob's modified flexifoil /peter Lynn buggy. I have the same backrest roll bar on my PL with the bend modified (sharper) for the more narrow seat.

Before that, a $15 stadium or kayak seat by Crazy Creek was a comfortable addition. I'm on the road and can't post pics but maybe later. It is the type with two square cushions hinged on one edge connected at the other edges by adjustable straps.

BeamerBob - 20-3-2009 at 11:22 AM

If you don't have any way to fabricate one like I did for myself, Acampbell, and pokitetrash, trikbitz on the Flexi forum can fix you up but shipping will be pricey to the states. Check out the drawings I just posted in the PKF gallery in the buggy section on page 2. Everything you need to know for the bent conduit to give you back support.

This PKF thread talks about it some more discussing parts required.
PKF LINK

Tibi - 21-3-2009 at 06:19 AM

Thank you very much for your ideas. Of course, the bent conduit seems like a sturdy. long term solution... for now I'll try the camping/kayak seat until I decide on a more permanent solution.
Thank you again!
Tibi

awindofchange - 21-3-2009 at 02:44 PM

Another option is to use a piece of plywood or plastic appx. 3/4 inch thick, cut it in a somewhat square shape that will fit right behind the seat at the rear axle and extend up about mid back, just below the shoulder blades. Cut two 2" strips in it on both sides and then get some seat belt webbing and a buckle. Run the seat belt webbing from the front of the seat at the downtube connection point, around the frame rail a couple wraps and then up through one of the slots in the backrest. Fasten it firmly with a couple screws so it doesn't slide, then continue it along through the other slot, back down around the frame rails and clip it to the other side at the downtube area.

Connect the board/backrest to the rear axle using a couple long C-clamp bolts. Put on some padding for comfort and your done. The nice thing about this backrest is that you can fold it down on top of the seat when not using it or if you are fitting it in the back of your truck with a shell. The backrest will rotate by the c-clamp bolts forward. Use the buckle to adjust the overall length of the strap so the backrest will be at the optimum angle for you to ride and won't fall backwards.

The whole thing can be made for under 20-30 bucks with common hand tools.

I will try to get a drawing of this to show it better.

Hope that helps.

awindofchange - 21-3-2009 at 03:02 PM

Ok, here's a very simple and not to scale picture to give you an idea.

Hope this helps.

Buggy Back Rest.jpg - 94kB

arkay - 21-3-2009 at 03:26 PM

Very clever design! I like the folding part :thumbup: My only concerns would be (the folding part) that it would flap forward or bounce when riding and for my PL XR+ the fabric seat is several inches from the axle so I would likely only connect with it at my shoulders when leaving back pretty far like maybe 65* or so. Perhaps a second bolt/spacer could push the back rest a bit further in. I also imagine it would be pretty handy to attach a backpack to the back of the rest :)

Tibi - 21-3-2009 at 06:32 PM

Nice design, Kent. Thanks for the picture. That's something I can attempt to put together myself.

Bucky - 21-4-2009 at 08:59 PM

I use a Sit-on-top Kayak seat I got off Ebay for about $30. The seat part is soft and complies to the curve of the standard buggy seat, while the backrest is foam cushion backed by semi-rigid plastic for good back support. Since they already come with attachment straps, they're very easy to mount on your buggy. It took me about 5 minutes to install and adjust mine.

arkay - 21-4-2009 at 09:11 PM

I've been using a camp/stadium chair for the pas month; $16 at a sporting goods store. The back rest and seat HAD carbon bars in it. I'd make sure to remove these if you want to keep your chest free of holes :) Thought they did make for more support ;)

As for hookup, there's generally two strap handles on the seat. I've go the handle on the front seat of the chair wrapped around the down tube where the XR+ seat attaches and the handle on the seat back I attached to the back seat strap so that the back of the seat doesn't glop over by itself or with the help of the wind.

It's works ok... better than the default seat, but still not that much support. The best support solution for me has been to just ride hooked in!

ripsessionkites - 22-4-2009 at 12:51 AM

i sat in Evotz's (ken #9) buggy, and he uses a Bike Stem on one side from the side rail to hold up his backrest.

POST PICS ...

PS. hope your shoulder/arm are healing well... that was the coolest OBE ever @ NABX!!!

arkay - 20-5-2009 at 10:10 PM



This kayak seat would probably rule in the buggy...

Planning to do some seat improvement this weekend... just starting my planning

lad - 20-5-2009 at 10:40 PM

Beach Seat (like the Stadium Seat mentioned by Angus) - $4 at five Below Stores. It has a webbing pocket in back for storing stuff and a separate, narrow, water bottle holder too.

arkay - 21-5-2009 at 02:40 PM

I have one of those now, but it had fiber rods in it.. dangerous.. but once I noticed and took them out it became a pretty floppy seat that didn't seem to give me as much support as I wanted... does provide some thought, and a pretty good amount if you leave in the support rods.

I checking out the flexi mod bob posted. I'll have to see if the distance between the rails on a XR+ is about the same.

Anyone in Portland Oregon or at the coast who can bend tube?

DAKITEZ - 21-5-2009 at 07:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by arkay


Anyone in Portland Oregon or at the coast who can bend tube?


A muffler shop should be able to hook you up or if your using conduit a electrician will most likely have the bender tool for that.

BeamerBob - 21-5-2009 at 07:52 PM

I tried emt conduit and it won't stand the pressure from the set screw. I had to use rigid conduit for that reason. You can't bend rigid with a hand bender.

BeamerBob - 22-5-2009 at 04:36 AM

You could use EMT conduit but you would have to add support at the ends for the set screw. Structurally it is plenty strong. I used pvc pipe on a prototype for awhile using bicycle handlebar stems, and that isn't nearly as strong as EMT conduit.

arkay - 22-5-2009 at 09:44 AM

How would you attach the tube? I found a plan on ptw's site and it looks like this one basically clamps on... http://pic7.piczo.com/Popeyethewelder/?g=15600133

Trying to think of what prefab'd part would be large enough to clamp over the PL tubes...

Other than that it would seem a bad idea to drill into the frame, and I would guess the other option is to weld it.

acampbell - 22-5-2009 at 10:01 AM

Bobby uses what I think are called Key clamps. They are a "T" fitting designed for use with metal hand-rails. The inside diameter is just bigger than the rails so they slide right over. There are two set screws with allen heads. One fixes the fitting to the buggy rail and the other the back support tube. I copied the same rig and it works well- the set screws do not damage the frame in any way, I have found

arkay - 24-5-2009 at 12:03 PM

Here's what not to do. I tried to cover the wood to make it less ghetto, but the white canvas make it looks worse :) I drilled 10 holes in a sheet of plywood; 4 on each bottom side to tie the wood around the axle/side rail connection, and 2 on the side top for the support. I just used some 1200lbs sheet line I had lying around. I stitched the ply wood on then ran the line up through the holes in the top and put a figure eight knot loop to attach the support line. I attached the support line with a bowline and a clove hitch around side rails. I then stapled a pillow seat cushion to the plywood for comfort. then just covered it up with some canvas and stapled it down.

This is quite possibly the most ghetto thing I've made in a while... not sure I even want to take this to the beach :) But it is very comfortable, I could sleep in it :crazy: Still I want to get a metal back rest rail made, either EMT or muffler pipe.




To make myself feel a little better about turning my buggy into an abomination, I redid my stake holder and made a new gps holder :yawn:



I used the HQ kite sheath and just electrical taped it to the frontof the fork. The electrical tape is a bit elastic so it keeps good pressure on stake to keep it in.




Shock cord in square knots. Holds the GPS, I usually just use 2 knots to hold it in. Can also hold all sorts of other things, like a beer ;)

Tibi - 30-5-2009 at 09:09 AM

I created my back support based on the sketch from awindofchange. The C-clamps I bought from Lowes were not good enough, so I ended up creating something bulky and heavy...out of wood. If you're not into jumping with the buggy and if the transportation is not an issue, then the weight should not be a problem. It took me a few hours to finish it, but it is very sturdy and comfortable even without any padding. And it was cheap: materials were about 20$

20090530_4265.jpg - 52kB

Tibi - 30-5-2009 at 10:12 AM

This is another pic

20090530_4260.jpg - 26kB

Tibi - 30-5-2009 at 10:13 AM

and the last one

20090530_4263.jpg - 60kB

acampbell - 30-5-2009 at 10:37 AM

Good spoiler/ airbrake too! :singing:

Might want to round the corners and pad the edges for that next buggy flip...:wink2:

Tibi - 30-5-2009 at 11:01 AM

Angus, I didn't invest any time in padding, 'cause I had to get it done in time for the NJ Buggy Bash. I was considering padding as a comfort enhancer only, but you're right, it's needed for safety, too.

arkay - 30-5-2009 at 03:40 PM

ust use some foam cylindars or I tacked a pillow to the top edge and use it as a back rest. I've had no luck so far tracking down a tall kayak seat but did find a muffler shop that wouls bend pipe and an electrial house the would bend emt. both 20 less key clamps.