building a new trike, options ???

[flatriker101]

Hi All, I am in the planning stages of building a new trike, probably a VW/Porsche open framed trike. I have been riding since a teenager yet this will be my first build. I am handy mechanically yet not a expert by any means. My question is I can either buy a bare frame & start from scratch, OR buy a rolling frame and complete engine/trans etc. install. The bare frame option is obviously cheaper, but build time would be much longer, while the rolling frame is much more expensive, but build time is cut in half. To those who have built their own trikes, which option did you choose any why?

Thanks in advance for all info!!!

[Lucky]

flattriker101 sorry no help with your questions,but you have come to the rite place .Great folks and info here.welcome aboard.

[wics51]

Hey Flatriker,
Welcome aboard, I'm a newbie also. If you are looking for a frame, you might check out Bettertrikes. http://bettertrikes.yolasite.com/. They are a nice frame and reasonably priced. You can get just about any level of completion you need. They are located close to you also, in Florida.
Good luck

[Gorilla]

Hi All, I am in the planning stages of building a new trike, probably a VW/Porsche open framed trike. I have been riding since a teenager yet this will be my first build. I am handy mechanically yet not a expert by any means. My question is I can either buy a bare frame & start from scratch, OR buy a rolling frame and complete engine/trans etc. install. The bare frame option is obviously cheaper, but build time would be much longer, while the rolling frame is much more expensive, but build time is cut in half. To those who have built their own trikes, which option did you choose any why?

Thanks in advance for all info!!!

Sorry I have only done conversions. Welcome aboard and good luck.

[flatriker101]

Appreciate the welcome guys, I checked out the site mentioned. Those frames are kinda big for what I'm looking to build. My trike will most likely be a single seater with a chopper sleekness.

[vwjoe]

I have done both. You have to think about how much money you want to put out at first and how much work you want to do. The rolling frames are alot easier then actually doing the fabrication yourself. I would suggest unless you are very good with welding you get a rolling frame.

[WilmacMike]

Back in 1977 I built my second trike which I still have and ride. It was based on the Wil- Mac trike at that time. I purchased their fiberglass full body and built my own frame. I chose to build the frame myself because during the time I was researching the different VW powered trike kits and asking a lot of questions of then current trike owners I found the Wil-Mac frames were cracking as were some others.

So I built it better and much stronger. It has worked out very well. At that time I was not a very good welder. I cut and fabricated all of the metal parts needed myself and tacked the frame up. I then had a certified welder freind of mine weld it up for me. All he wanted for payment was a six pack of Budwiser. His wife said he was always a cheap date.

I was having so much fun I made my own dual gas tanks, engine cage, clutch and brake levers etc.

By the way the first trike I built was for a co-worker. It was exactly like mine, except he purchased the Wil-Mac body with no fenders which was very nice.

I still have all of my drawings squibbled on some old chart paper. If your interested let me know and I'll copy them and send them to you.

Remember this: you have to settle it in your mind about the kind of time frame you want this project to take, being flexable, and most importantly, what kind of trike do you invision yourself owning/riding. If you make it yourself with the help of good freinds you will most likely be very satisfied. If you start off with something that is already made/started thats ok, but how much of it will not fit your style or liking causing you to lose interest and needing make possibly expensive and time consuming changes.
Take your time, think about it, and then go for it.

Good luck, and ride safe, Mike