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Post by F3W on Jan 7, 2009 16:10:11 GMT -5
I thought this would make a great discussion about whether or not one is favorable over the other. We all have seen many different videos on youtube that show mainly home built RWD RT's...as this has also been a controversy whether the RWD is even as safe as the FWD RT counterpart...I believe that there are several reasoning decisions why the RWD is favorable...first would be simplicity...take one used or wrecked motor cycle and build a front suspension or add a VW front suspension and that is basically it...though design implements the ease of the build, it is still the easiest of the two to fabricate...the only draw back to using a MC is that most produced MC's don't have a reverse gear and I feel that the clutch system is way under rated for the added weight...I will also mention that the MC(motor cycle) engine is the closest to high performance in sound and it's power to weight ratio...not too many car based engines can give the kind of power a MCE (motor cycle engine) can. When considering the use of a FWD set-up, several factors are required...first is the complication of most FWD systems...since they do several tasks at once, building a FWD chassis is not for the entry level builder...this is why most of what I have seen from (HB) home built FWD RT's use the donor cars front chassis and frame...to build a jig would require many long hours of measuring and cross support to keep it true and square...the donors car frame could be stripped to a minimum and then one could build a frame from that...this design is frowned upon as being jerry rigged and most would look at it as a death trap. I will also point out the many added features that a FWD RT has over the RWD...I would say that the FWD is more for the guy who wants creature comforts like heating and A/C or an automatic transmission...other features do include a window wiper system with a windshield...if a 95 or newer donor FWD car is used you can leave the original dash and have the added safety of air bags...with this feature, the wiring is done and gauges are intact...this does make the FWD a more functional appealing RT over the RWD RT. The main challenge I feel would be on how you tied the existing donor FWD with your own single rear wheel body design...this is how the FWD RT is in many aspects harder to build. Hope you enjoyed the read and if I had missed anything which I am sure that I did...please reply as I feel this subject would be of value to the new guy who wants to build an RT but is not sure on which type to do. Dave  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2009 0:10:14 GMT -5
I prefer FWD (Auto) over RWD (Bike). I don‘t know if one configuration is better then the other, for me it’s just a preference. A good design of either configurations should result in a fun/safe trike. When given the choice between a (light duty) driveline verses an oversize (heavier) driveline, I’ll abuse an oversize driveline every day of the week, never break it and get great fuel economy. Yes they are harder to incorporate but I believe they are worth it including the air bag.
Before the holidays I was working hard on my FWD hybrid trike. I found and punched a Honda Civic hybrid donor over the holidays. Unfortunately it wasn’t damaged badly so now I’m rebuilding a car when I should be working on my trike.
My pickup gets about 16 MPG (it’s no fun) the Civic hybrid should get 45MPG (don’t look like fun) and my trike should get 60+MPG. I guess I’m working my way up the MPG ladder but not having any fun yet.
Earl
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Post by 3verse on Jan 12, 2009 17:05:25 GMT -5
I like RWD trikes because I've always wanted a car with a high-revving motorcycle engine. There something about a motor that redlines over 10,000 that's exciting and different from the everyday driving experience of a regular car. Of course, I'm biased because I'm building this exact type of RT, and because I found a motorcycle donar for dirt cheap. But I would like the idea of attempting to build a FWD diesel RT with the purpose of getting 100mpg. An old VW Rabbit diesel would be an excellent donar car for such a project...hmmmm, I better wait until I finish my current RT.
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Post by F3W on Jan 13, 2009 22:46:40 GMT -5
3verse, I think we all have that problem with starting another project in our head before finishing the first one  I will also agree with the sound of a motor humming at 12,000+ RPM...sounds awesome!!! Dave |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 16:43:46 GMT -5
I prefer front engine RWD setup myself I have a lot of experiance with auto fabrication and not overly familiar with MC's although I did a full restoraton on a SL350 several years ago. I like the stregnth and availibility of automotive parts and will probably stick to using auto parts and a conventional RWD / front engine config.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2011 9:47:40 GMT -5
I'm kicking around the idea of a fwd rt, but I'm concerned about torque steer. I drove a probe turbo once and it just about yanked the wheel out of my hand, when I hit 2nd gear.
I want to use a corvair drive train, with a powerglide automatic. its air cooled the weight distribution would be perfect. just adapting good fwd suspension would be the key to it. I would probably go with power steering just to combat the torque steer.
I wonder if lsd differential would help or hurt ?
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Post by chromedome on Aug 19, 2011 12:06:57 GMT -5
Building yourself, you can eliminate almost all of the torque steer by keeping the front axles the same length. Torque steer is mainly caused by two different length axles. The longer one twist more and in effect takes longer for it's wheel to see full power, causing the other wheel to pull harder.
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Post by tryota on Feb 14, 2013 21:10:23 GMT -5
Hey I just wanted to say I built a FWD trike Check it out on Google Type in my name as spelled Tim DuBos and look under whitmen design , son inlaw web page and see my build . It was built from a 1990 toyota corolla 4 doorand I choped it in half and fab the back end used the doors as skin and the rear tail lights and just plugged it all back in and it works great I call it a TRYOTA. enjoy I live in Bonney lake Wa.253-862-4981 Tim.
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Post by Giovanni LiCalsi on Mar 4, 2013 20:08:46 GMT -5
FWD RTs have a much better weight distribution and can save your life in a panic situation in an intersection while making high-speed maneuvers. You can't compare the negative safety issues of a single rear drive wheel to front wheel drive wheels.
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Post by stretchmobileski on Mar 4, 2013 22:59:43 GMT -5
Burn outs are much more fun with RWD. Just sayin.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2013 18:52:57 GMT -5
What do you think is the best fwd combo to use. Please take into consideration simplicity and cost of donor vehicle. I want to build one as soon as my funds permit.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2013 12:49:43 GMT -5
I used a volkswagen transaxle with custom shafts. The VW transaxle is real light (65lbs or so), and if you wanted you can get one rebuilt to handle high HP. Works great with an electric motor!
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Post by Liteway on Mar 6, 2013 19:22:32 GMT -5
Sunworksco; Front wheel drive is safer. So what. Wonna be safe? Drive a Minivan. As a bonus they have air conditioning.
Sure, ignoring safety is not smart, but rear drivers can be made reasonably stable in rapid transitions if the cg is kept low and the track wide. Oversteer is way more fun than understeer. Its just a matter of priorities.
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Post by DaveJ98092 on Mar 10, 2013 0:14:03 GMT -5
I agree with Triple above. Rear wheel drive is a safe option if you follow the guidelines of low center of gravity, as wide a stance and long wheelbase. You want to mount heavy items as much forward and low too for weight over the two front wheels. As with any light vehicle with excellent front brakes, a stoppie will be easy. I would always install a adjustable brake proportional valve.
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Post by DaveJ98092 on Mar 10, 2013 0:23:36 GMT -5
And a good choice is a all wheel drive unit. Many options out there now days. Subaru's are heavy, mostly in the transmission area. I have three of them apart in the garage and can attest to how heavy they are. You can get a whole parts car from Copart.com auction for $200 or so. A 91-96 2.2 auto has about 135 HP, unless you go nuts and get a turbo. My 94 Legacy Turbo wagon can roast all the tires at will and it weighs about 3800 pounds. TOO MUCH in a 1200 pound RT.  ;D |
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2013 23:05:09 GMT -5
After 8 months and over 4,000 miles I must say that I totally love my Honda Civic hybrid powered front wheel drive trike. I wondered about replacing the struts with double A arms but I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve pushed it hard around corners till the front tires can't take any more and brake tested it till the tires were wearing funny. I’ve never driven a rear wheel drive trike hard but I’m totally impressed by what I’ve built. Using the hybrid drive train was probably a mistake but it performed well and gets great mileage so I guess it was worth all the extra work.
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Post by mtntech on Sept 29, 2013 14:02:21 GMT -5
After 8 months and over 4,000 miles I must say that I totally love my Honda Civic hybrid powered front wheel drive trike. I wondered about replacing the struts with double A arms but I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve pushed it hard around corners till the front tires can't take any more and brake tested it till the tires were wearing funny. I’ve never driven a rear wheel drive trike hard but I’m totally impressed by what I’ve built. Using the hybrid drive train was probably a mistake but it performed well and gets great mileage so I guess it was worth all the extra work. You should post some pics. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2015 4:29:18 GMT -5
I agree! Please share more pictures/procedures. I'm super interested in the FWD RT aspect. I was thinking of trying to get my old bike back, and using it to build a trike, but now I want FWD, just seems like it would be more fun in the corners, and I'd definitely feel better with a car transmission behind the power delivery.
I eventually want to go electric, however, has anyone accomplished that feat? I'm concerned with, say, a Celica's ability to handle the weight of the batteries. TRD has great aftermarket support, so I'd hope it isn't too hard to upgrade.
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Post by endeavor on Jun 29, 2016 20:33:34 GMT -5
Just an opinion but there is an advantage to fwd on a trike. It tends to promote understeer which is good if you want to see what you are about to collide with. and torque steer is a matter of offset and KPA. Negative kpa will help immensely with torque steer. Traction in general will be better also.
RWD is much better for burn outs and I am guessing that was the reasoning behind the elaborate drivetrain configurations on the slingshot. Plus with rwd you can use the rear of a motorcycle frame complete with engine and not bother with drivetrain construction.
It's a toss up
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Post by mtntech on Jun 30, 2016 9:27:24 GMT -5
It is hard to dispute that powering 2 out of the 3 wheels is better than powering just one. FWD works very well on an RT. It is just interesting however that most people when talking about FWD RTs, visualize the entire drivetrain package in the front.
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;D
