Do-it-yourself crawler all-terrain vehicle: manufacturing features, drawings. How to make a tracked all-terrain vehicle with your own hands Homemade all-terrain vehicle with your own hands drawings

A homemade all-terrain vehicle with low-pressure tires, all-wheel drive and a tipping-type frame.

We present to your attention a homemade wheeled all-terrain vehicle “breakthrough”. This all-terrain vehicle is capable of not only driving off-road, but also excellently overcoming water obstacles. Buoyancy is ensured by pneumatic wheels and a sealed body. In addition to the driver, the equipment is capable of transporting half a ton of cargo.

Materials used to build the all-terrain vehicle:

  • ICE - Tiger-390E with a power of 13 hp.
  • 5 speed gearbox from the Golf-2 car.
  • The clutch and CV joints are also from Golf.
  • Bridges from VAZ classic.
  • Profile pipes.
  • Sheet metal.

Let's take a closer look at the stages of construction and the main components of the all-terrain vehicle.

The frame of the all-terrain vehicle is welded from a profile pipe. The Tiger-390E four-stroke single-cylinder engine is installed on the frame.

Bridges from VAZ "classic".

Improvements to the front axle of the all-terrain vehicle.

Here are the spare parts used to lock the differential:

A K65C carburetor was installed on the engine, after which the engine speed increased to 5 thousand. The carburetor is quite easy to adjust and works great.

The rubber is cut to the next canine to be able to grip further. The undercut is where the inner cord is.

Discs are made.

Below is a diagram of how the disks were made with the main dimensions:

To make the disks, a 50 cm barrel with a thickness of 1.5 mm was used, with a 45 degree end 2 mm thick, and a disk from a classic 13-inch vase was taken as the basis. The disc is secured with standard 6 M6 nuts. There are also two locking rings.
The weight of the assembled disk is 22 kilograms.

The tube weighs 15 kg, the tattered tire from the VI-3 is single-beam with four layers, the width of the lugs is approximately 3 centimeters, weighs 36 kg. The assembled wheel weighs about 73 kg.

Locking ring.

Homemade vulcanizer.

Muffler made. The length of the muffler is 400 mm, the diameter is 11 centimeters; to give rigidity, the author made the last can an ellipse. The first and second cans are made thick-walled.

Attaching the axle to the frame.

Rear semi-frame.

A 14V 65A generator is installed.

The homemade all-terrain vehicle successfully passed tests not only on land, but also on water. The engine handles well and has enough power. The all-terrain vehicle feels great on the water. In first and second gears, any obstacles can be easily passed. The maximum speed of the all-terrain vehicle in fifth gear on a flat surface is 35 km/h.

The article was compiled based on materials from the site - link to source

The construction of this all-terrain vehicle began with a simple message on the forum. In general, I wrote that I need a tracked all-terrain vehicle to move through the swamp, the main thing is that it is simple and reliable, speed is not required, it would just drive. He also wrote that he was ready to order a similar device if any of the forum inhabitants took up construction. The forum members certainly helped, gave me ideas and got me even more excited about the topic of the all-terrain vehicle. In general, I began to look for information, look at other homemade products. As a result, I started doing it myself and started with the simplest and cheapest thing I found, and I found this photo of a walk-behind tractor with a cart.

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It took a lot of time to repeat the design, two whole days to put the wheels on the tracks and the all-terrain vehicle was ready. At first, I didn’t want to start all this at all because I thought that I couldn’t handle it and that it was all complicated, but still I was seduced by the simplicity of such an all-terrain vehicle. As a result, I worked two days and skated all season.

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Of course, it’s difficult to call this unit an all-terrain vehicle since it is only front-wheel drive, and it’s not particularly good in swamps, and uphill is also problematic. In general, it’s not like bringing a cart with a motor of potatoes from the field, but off-road is not for him.

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I wanted something passable and, in general, decided to take on the construction of an all-terrain vehicle from scratch, also based on a design I spotted from the Internet, I also liked the simplicity and the way it drove. Here is a sample to repeat.

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The first thing I did was get cameras, not big ones, but I didn’t want big ones at first. I took two chambers so that the small one fit inside the big one, this is for greater buoyancy, I wanted it to float as well.

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A month later, in November, I made disks for cameras. Since I’m not a welder myself and don’t have my own welding, I had to turn to a welder. Together we mastered four discs.

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After some time, I began to figure out what was what, it turned out to be not simple, even though it seems simple at first glance. I decided not to rush, and it got cold in December, so I postponed the idea until spring.

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At the beginning of spring, he set to work again, assembling the front-wheel drive, this is his first option for placing components.

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Then I decided to rework it and connect it on the axle shafts to the central shaft where the large drive sprocket is.

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I estimate the position of the steering wheel.

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It sucks when there is no welding and you have to ask a welder, and even spend money on it, so in general I decided to become a welder myself. I bought a welding machine, a mask and other things needed for welding and immediately began to learn in practice. In the end, I left, although not on temporary Zhiguli wheels, but still under my own power.

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Already in June I installed the karakat on tube wheels.

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The first trips and tests revealed that the dual cameras performed poorly. Large cameras slide off small ones, small ones become askew when cornering because there is no differential. But I didn’t want to remake the discs for single chambers, so I put the carakat in “braid shoes”, although it wasn’t fast, it worked.

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After this, the all-terrain vehicle began to be actively tested, and changes and adjustments were made to the design along the way. Today, the all-terrain vehicle is debugged and ready to overcome swamps, mud and other things, it even floats. Below in the photo we accept water procedures. In the photo I’m backing up to slide into the pond, it seems easier to slide down the steep slope into the water.

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Here we go swimming

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A few words for those who want to build something similar on their own. First, get ready for big expenses, which will be much more than you expect. Secondly, construction takes a lot of time, it won’t be easy without drawings, without a plan, and without experience. You have to figure it out 20 times, weld it, then cut it off and redo it. It’s easier to buy something ready-made than to do it yourself without knowing how, I don’t know what. But if you have a great desire, patience, then even crooked hands, if you straighten them for a long time, then something good will come out.

Homemade all-terrain vehicles and other off-road vehicles are often made on the basis of a walk-behind tractor. There are several reasons for this:

  • there is an energy-rich transport unit with high traction characteristics, assembled on a frame;
  • engine and transmission controls have been moved to comfortable handles;
  • The weight of walk-behind tractors is low; they can be transported to the desired location in the trunk, body or on a car trailer.

For hunting and fishing, a lightweight mini all-terrain vehicle is quite in demand. But the industry has not yet seen commercial prospects in creating sets of attachments that convert a serial walk-behind tractor into an off-road vehicle. There are quite interesting examples of the creation of such machines. Do-it-yourselfers created role models with their own hands. There is room for ideas when developing new interesting devices.

Features of all-terrain vehicles made from a walk-behind tractor

The main components that you should purchase or make yourself for a vehicle based on a walk-behind tractor:

  • frame, it serves to organize a mobile vehicle;
  • the rear axle is needed to install the rear wheels;
  • a seat for the driver, it is advisable to protect it from moisture and dirt from under the wheels;
  • A lighting system is needed to move safely at any time of the day.

An all-terrain vehicle based on a walk-behind tractor is created as a single-seater vehicle. Its load capacity should be about 200 kg. The width is calculated based on the conditions of resistance to rollover, usually it is 1100 mm or more.

Modern walk-behind tractors Neva, Ugra, MTZ and others are equipped with engines with a power of more than 10 hp. This power is enough to move at speeds of more than 10 km/h. On off-road roads, when passing through mud or swampy places, the speed may decrease to 1-2 km/h.

How to make a homemade wheeled all-terrain vehicle

An example of a drawing of an all-terrain vehicle on low-pressure tires

It makes sense to equip the basic unit. The reason is that gasoline and diesel engines have the best torque performance at a crankshaft speed of approximately 75-85% of the maximum.

The engine must have a forced cooling system. When driving at low speed, the oncoming flow will not be enough to maintain optimal thermal conditions.

All-terrain vehicle frame

An example of a frame-fracture drawing

A frame is created between the front and rear axles. It is better to use profile pipes of rectangular or square cross-section as the basis. They provide greater rigidity than rolled angles, channels and I-beams of the same mass.

The joining of the frame elements of a wheeled all-terrain vehicle can be rigid, then it will be formed in a single-volume format. When using heavy Neva or MTZ walk-behind tractors, this option will be preferable.

As an option, a breakable frame (fracture) is made; this option is used for areas with a complex profile. Here the articulation is performed through the kingpin. The front and rear axles have independent suspension from each other. Craftsmen create such all-terrain vehicles based on the Neva and Ugra walk-behind tractors.

For hunting and fishing, it is better to have a wheeled all-terrain vehicle with a breakable frame. Its maneuverability is higher than when using a rigid frame design.

Rear axle and suspension of a homemade all-terrain vehicle

To simplify the design, some DIYers use a ready-made rear axle from a passenger car. For example, from the Moskvich-412 car: its low weight allows installation on a light all-terrain vehicle. The suspension is performed on shock absorbers for a smooth ride and reduced vibration.

Other craftsmen make independent suspension on each rear wheel. This approach is implemented on the Ant scooter. When driving, a slight rocking is felt, at the same time the wheels experience less resistance on uneven surfaces, and fuel consumption is noticeably reduced.

The rear axle is connected to the frame with long, hardened bolts. For elastic joints, rubber inserts are used, for example, silent blocks. This improves the performance characteristics of an all-terrain vehicle based on a walk-behind tractor.

The rear axle on skis is used in winter. The resistance to movement is minimal, the design is greatly simplified.

Wheels (low pressure chambers)

To move on wet and unstable ground, you can use lugs. They provide high grip. Large-diameter low-pressure chambers perform even better. Pneumatics have minimal ground pressure, and the presence of air contained in the all-terrain vehicle’s chambers will make it possible to create a floating all-terrain vehicle.

For installation on the rear axle, homemade or special wheels for all-terrain vehicles, swamp vehicles and snowmobiles are used. They can be purchased assembled or as separate elements: tire, tube, disc. The wheel is easy to assemble.


You can increase the cross-country ability of regular wheels on low-pressure chambers by creating an additional tread. For example, additionally secure the cameras with chains, conveyor belts, homemade tracks or another method.

Another option is to cut a patch lug from the tire. The depth of the structure’s hook reaches more than 20-25 mm. Rolling resistance increases, while at the same time the slip coefficient decreases sharply.

Assembling a homemade all-terrain vehicle from a walk-behind tractor

When all the tools, spare parts and components are prepared, you can begin assembly. This is a rough plan for how to assemble a homemade all-terrain vehicle, it all depends on the chosen design.

  1. A walk-behind tractor is installed on a welded or finished frame.
  2. The rear axle and, if necessary, the front axle are mounted.
  3. The seat is placed on the frame.
  4. If provided in the drawing and diagram, the steering control is installed.
  5. The protection is attached to the frame; it is made of plastic or metal sheet.
  6. The future driver should try out the comfort of the seat; if necessary, provide auxiliary devices for adjusting the seat.
  7. The functionality of the brakes is checked.
  8. Electrical circuits and lighting fixtures are installed.

As individual elements and assemblies are manufactured, their performance is checked. A fivefold safety margin is provided here.

After completing the bench tests, they begin the field tests. You need to know how the car behaves in difficult conditions.

Buy a hitch and a trailed one for a walk-behind tractor in online stores

DIY tracked all-terrain vehicles

The use of tracks will help reduce the specific pressure on the ground. The weight is distributed over the entire area of ​​the tracks. Such an all-terrain vehicle propulsion system based on a walk-behind tractor is capable of overcoming sand, wetlands, steep climbs and other obstacles.

Some DIYers make metal tracks for tracks from plates more than 5 mm thick. Rings from water pipes are welded to the plates. Another option for making tracks is made entirely of PVC pipes, cut lengthwise. The tracks are attached to each other on a conveyor belt or other base.

It is easier to make tracks from composite materials. For this purpose, fiberglass and epoxy resin are used. Glass-polymer reinforcement is used as a frame. Track tracks are made in special molds. After making the required quantity, they are assembled into a caterpillar. When making tracks from composite materials, articulation elements made from wear-resistant steels are used.

There are options for using tracks made of wood. They will need to be impregnated with protective mixtures.

The easiest way to make tracks for an all-terrain vehicle based on a walk-behind tractor is to use a conveyor belt. One track requires two stripes. They are connected into a ring, and then a caterpillar is created using sections of steel pipe.

In the video you can see an option for making a waterproof case that is kept afloat. In this case, the caterpillar propulsion device will allow you to move not only on land, but also on water. The result will be an amphibious all-terrain vehicle. It will be indispensable for hunting and fishing.

Lightweight all-terrain vehicles with huge cameras are able to overcome severe off-road conditions that other types of off-road vehicles cannot traverse. Self-made vehicles of this type are simple, since they do not have a complex technical base, which is why they have won the recognition of most home craftsmen. Such equipment is especially in demand by residents of rural areas, where precipitation greatly reduces the quality of roads, as well as by lovers of hunting, fishing and extreme recreation.

Types of homemade all-terrain vehicles

Depending on the type of design and chassis, the following types of homemade all-terrain vehicles differ:

  1. Swamp boats. They have a simple design and are relatively cheap to manufacture. They are equipped with an outboard motor and allow you to move around shallow bodies of water.
  2. Crawler swamp vehicle allows you to drive through overgrown reservoirs, but is quite complex and expensive to manufacture, as it requires the attachment of a special type of tracks.
  3. All-terrain vehicle on low-pressure tires- the simplest and most promising type of swamp vehicle, the performance of which depends on the design and reliability of the tires.

Some homemade products later become serial models. This happened with, which is now known throughout the world.

Types of homemade all-terrain vehicles with low pressure tires

Homemade all-terrain vehicles on low-pressure tires, having the same principle of off-road movement, may differ in type of design. There are the following main types of vehicles of this type:

1. Four-wheel drive karakat. In its design, it uses transmission and chassis elements from outdated types of passenger cars. It has all-wheel drive, a transfer case, and the adapted boat hull in its lower part and the tightness add buoyancy to the all-terrain vehicle. Designed to overcome swamps and swamps, capable of delivering cargo and people to inaccessible areas.

2. Tricycle on low pressure tires. It has a very simple design and can be made by almost any car enthusiast in a garage. The IZH Planet 3 motorcycle is often taken as the basis for such an all-terrain vehicle, due to its endurance and unpretentiousness.

3. Homemade karakat with SZD motorized stroller engine. Its peculiarity is that the engine is located not under the frame or gas tank, but under the seat or in the rear of the all-terrain vehicle’s frame. Chassis parts are traditionally taken from cars, and elements of motorcycles are used in the front part. Pipes, channels and angles are used to make the frame.

4. All-terrain vehicles with low-pressure tires based on passenger cars or ATVs. They are manufactured using ready-made main units by reworking the transmission and chassis, as well as equipping them with low-pressure tires.

How to make an all-terrain vehicle on low-pressure tires?

Work on manufacturing an all-terrain vehicle begins with drawing up an action plan, the full implementation of which means achieving the desired result. The following tips will help you save time and money:

  1. Availability of free time, allowing you to regularly carry out work on assembling the all-terrain vehicle. If it is absent, it is better not to start at all.
  2. Budget planning. Creating an all-terrain vehicle yourself allows you to save on purchasing a production model, but in order to eliminate unnecessary expenses, you need to make all the calculations and buy the necessary components and parts, and also leave a certain amount for unforeseen expenses or breakdowns.
  3. Developing a plan. If you have experience in developing vehicles or the inclinations of a design engineer, it is possible to independently create a drawing of an all-terrain vehicle. In the absence of such, they use other people’s experience and ready-made drawings, of which there are a sufficient number on the Internet.

DIY low pressure tires

Tires of this type visually resemble huge pillows that support the entire structure. The degree of grip in such wheels allows the vehicle to be passable on any off-road terrain. Depending on the design features, such tires are divided into the following types:

  1. Arched. They are 5 times larger in size compared to a standard wheel, and have a thickness of up to 700 mm. The pressure in them is like in a regular ball - 0.05 MPa. Installed exclusively on the drive drive.
  2. Wide-profile. They are distinguished by an oval design and pressure up to 2 times lower than standard. Most often used in lifting vehicles.
  3. Toroidal. They are manufactured in tube and tubeless versions and are highly popular among car enthusiasts.
  4. Pneumatic rollers, having lugs to improve cross-country ability, and ribs to increase rigidity, giving the entire structure stability and strength.

The cost of factory-made low-pressure tires may be unaffordable for many car enthusiasts. But for your own all-terrain vehicle, it is quite possible to make such a wheel yourself. The work is performed in the following order:

1. Selection of source material, for example, agricultural or aircraft tires, as well as other types of industrial transport.

2. The tread is cleaned, washed and dried, after which the desired patterns are drawn to create your own design, as well as to remove excess wire and rubber.

3. To remove excess wire, the inner part of the wheel is trimmed and the cord is removed using.

4. Excess rubber is also removed with a winch, making cuts around the circumference, and securing them to the cable with pliers, carefully pulling and cutting with a knife.


5. After removing the tread layer, the surface is cleaned with sandpaper.

6. Disk assembly. To do this, use a standard disk cut in half, or welded from plates and pipes, and then carefully polished to prevent damage to the camera.

7. The tire is pulled onto the rim and secured with belts or a fire hose, and then inflated. The wheel is ready.

What type of tread should I choose for an all-terrain vehicle?

To select the right type of tread for an all-terrain vehicle with low-pressure tires, you need to consider the following factors:

  1. The protector must have the ability to self-clean. This property is especially important for using an all-terrain vehicle in harsh and wetlands.
  2. When using an all-terrain vehicle on peat bogs, choose tires with low and shallow terrain, otherwise if their top layer breaks, the grip will be insufficient for full movement.
  3. When used in snowy areas and on sandstones, tires with a rare pattern are chosen.

Choosing an engine for an all-terrain vehicle

Most often, the following type is used as a power unit for self-manufacturing an all-terrain vehicle:

  1. Motorcycle.
  2. ZAZ car.
  3. Motoblock.
  4. Domestic cars.

The presence of a specific engine in an all-terrain vehicle does not make a fundamental difference. It is more important to take into account such a feature as ensuring it is sufficiently cooled, since the vehicle is operated all year round in different temperature conditions and at low speeds. The ZAZ engine is excellent for this, as it can withstand temperature changes well. All-terrain vehicles running on motoblock power units have also proven themselves to be the best.

Another main criterion for choosing an engine for a future homemade product is its power.

The power reserve must be sufficient so that an all-terrain vehicle on low-pressure tires can get out of mud, water, or deep snow.

By choosing a unit with a power reserve, you get better performance, prevent overheating and create conditions for the longest service life.

Features of the all-terrain vehicle chassis

The chassis of all-terrain vehicles on low-pressure tires is manufactured in a form to give the all-terrain vehicle better cross-country ability, increase the comfort of driving the vehicle and make riding easier for the driver and passengers. This type of design has a main drawback - the complexity of manufacturing.

To create it, pipes, angles and channels made of durable alloy steel are used, creating a strong base that can last for several years without breaking. The frame is made both solid and articulated. The latter has a high working potential, but the complexity of its manufacture makes it quite rare in home-made designs.

Sequence of self-assembly of an all-terrain vehicle

Assembling an all-terrain vehicle on low-pressure tires includes the following steps:

1. Selecting the type of all-terrain vehicle and the base on which the units and parts will be mounted. For this, frames of cars or motorcycles are used, as well as home-made structures developed on their own or borrowed from someone else’s drawings.

2. Manufacturing and assembly of suspension with rear axle. For this, the optimal solution is independent design, and, although much more time will be spent on its creation, the end result will be an all-terrain vehicle with higher cross-country ability and ride comfort.


3. Installation of wheels. Performed after completion of work on the rear axle and suspension. Metal hubs are used to mount the cameras. Properly manufactured or selected low-pressure wheels will provide the all-terrain vehicle with increased driving safety and good handling.

4. Engine installation. Particular attention is paid to the correct design of the cooling system.

5. Installation of additional systems. Includes connecting the brake system, exhaust gas communications, clutch, etc. At this stage, the body of the all-terrain vehicle and lighting fixtures are installed.

6. Completion of work and implementation of a trial test, which shows the performance of components and systems. If there are problems or points that need to be improved, the shortcomings are eliminated, after which the all-terrain vehicle is ready for use.

Video testing a homemade all-terrain vehicle


The modern world of cars often turns out to be too narrow for lovers of independent development. That’s why photos and videos so often appear in Russia demonstrating such a variant of equipment as homemade all-terrain vehicles. Craftsmen with their own hands create incredible versions of cars that can overcome any off-road problems. Among such vehicles there are tracked versions, as well as multi-wheeled vehicles on low-pressure tires. Videos of tests of such SUVs are especially interesting.

Most often, craftsmen create a homemade all-terrain vehicle using an existing car or buggy (if we are talking about mini equipment). In 2015, many new descriptions and diagrams of this type of transport appeared, so today we will look at the most popular methods of producing these types of SUVs right in our own garage.

All-terrain vehicle from a small car - OKA or the first VAZs

One of the best ways to create true homemade all-terrain vehicles is to use existing design. This way you don’t have to create an idea for the frame, interior, controls - everything is already at hand. If you want to make wheeled vehicles with enormous cross-country ability, you should carry out the following serious transformations in the technical part:

  • completely discard the chassis of the old car, install powerful springs and long-travel suspensions;
  • find large wheels (you can use ready-made solutions for large SUVs);
  • replace the engine and gearbox with your own hands, it is advisable to use a transfer case for all-wheel drive;
  • collect all this happiness and conduct tests, not forgetting to film them.

It all sounds simple enough, but in reality creating such an SUV will be extremely difficult. It is especially interesting to conduct tests. You can find many photos of such machines on the Internet, but not all of them turn out to be successful. At the time of testing, it is recommended to limit the speed to 30 kilometers per hour. It’s good to take small machines for the production of a homemade all-terrain vehicle, because the base is very short, which has a good effect on cross-country ability.

Handmade crawler versions



In most cases, low-pressure tires are used on large rims to create the desired ride quality of the car after modification. But the height of skill is to create a tracked vehicle with military tracks and the most serious cross-country ability. The practical use of such all-terrain vehicles has no description, but for the sake of beautiful videos and popularity, the following work can be done:

  • acquire tracks from a small tank or small construction equipment;
  • think over a system for fastening track chains, produce support rollers;
  • replace conventional rims with track wheels to drive tracks;
  • slightly modify the chassis, discarding unnecessary elements.

Such equipment rarely turns out to be productive if assembled in an ordinary garage, but it will be spectacular from the moment it moves. A DIY tracked vehicle is an incredible achievement for a craftsman. You can show off such homemade all-terrain vehicles at various exhibitions and meetings, but you won’t be able to drive on the roads.

Other ideas for creating an all-terrain vehicle

In 2015, creating mini SUVs with your own hands became especially fashionable. It is not so important whether it will be a tracked or wheeled vehicle, but the very fact of realizing a completely original vehicle will bring a certain pleasure. Of course, photos and videos should be distributed to various sources, because such a development will be of interest to many fans of unusual technology. There are several ideas for creating such a transport:

  • you can take the body and frame of a small buggy or other non-standard car;
  • it is possible to find drawings of homemade cars and create a car completely from scratch;
  • It’s better to first check the diagrams with a specialist to see if they are realistic or contact the distributor;
  • It is possible to create a car based on any other vehicle by ordering individual components.

Today you can take advantage of the open market and find both a completely finished homemade all-terrain vehicle with tires, as well as spare parts for its assembly, low-pressure tires and other parts. Some developers who have already created such vehicles sell or even distribute diagrams for free with detailed instructions on how to create such vehicles. Therefore, creation will not be too difficult, although it will require certain skills from the assembler.

Let's sum it up

Some creators of all-terrain vehicles made history by simply posting a video of their development in open sources. If you have a desire to add your name to the history of off-road vehicle construction, create your own homemade all-terrain vehicle. Perhaps some of the technologies in your development will be of interest to investors, which will allow you to create a full-fledged production of a separate type of car.

Using existing experience, it is quite possible to create amazing vehicles with incredible maneuverability. History knows successful eight-wheeled mini-jeeps, special private developments for special equipment, and excellent investment projects with the creators of such equipment. Homemade all-terrain vehicles are also an exciting field of activity for every person who loves technology.