Sand Rails

[Echos67]

This may be posted in here somewhere but i haven't came across it yet. I have often wanted a rail, does anyone have experience with owning a sand rail ?

Like everything else there is a shit ton of ways to go about these things but my thought is find a good running, reliable (as can be) fun rail to take to the dunes and see if i enjoy it enough i don't get into my usual sell it and find something else because i got bored attitude. A V8 long travel rail is definitely out of budget so is a v8 something that can be added to a mid or rear engine rail later ? I also dont need the 4 seater options as its just the other half and i. I had a sxs before so been there and done that.

Anyone have experience or thoughts on these "toys" ?

 

[Rick Flair]

Expensive, break often and will suck you dry. You had the SXS experience. Take that, think about something breaking on it each time and it costing $500+ to fix.


And that’s the VW or Subaru powered standard travel cars.


V8 and mid-long travel, even more.


I think that’s one of the reasons you see a lot of the sand car guys moving over to SXS’s. More reliable, cheaper and more fun.

 

[1o1proof]

Expensive, break often and will suck you dry.

So just like a Jeep?

 

[Rick Flair]

So just like a Jeep?

Worse if you can imagine!

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I've had two different air-cooled VW rails. Unfortunately I never really got as much use out of them as I wanted, or expected. They were faster when off road than any 4x4 I've ever had and they even did fairly decent in the mud as long as I didn't need to slow down. I wouldn't even think about adding a V8, that just makes them heavier and somewhat out of balance. I'd also stay away from any mid engine buggy, it may help the balance but it adds other random issues that can get in the way of off roading.

A couple months ago was the first time I saw a SXS in action and I was in shock. It was basically a 4x4 rail buggy on steroids. I watched it climb a steep wet hill that I don't think I could have climbed in either rail buggy or my Rubicon after a month long drought.

Whatever you end up getting, have fun!

 

[P man]

Most people that own sand rails are at the coast often to get maximum usage out of their toys. I can't imagine owning one and only using it a couple times a year

 

[Echos67]

So just like a Jeep?

Or in my case a previous relationship

 

[Echos67]

I hear what your all saying and financially its probably a really stupid purchase, I see several for sale here in the area and the market doesnt seem to show a big resale value as most listed stay listed for a long time.

I also can see it being like a boat, best days are when you buy it and sell it. I would think its a love/hate venture in the fact it would be tons of fun for awhile but i can see myself getting bored and it becoming more of a hassle to use unless i just tool around the neighborhood trails here.

JeepCJTJ, the sxs thing was a road i was down and honestly i wasnt impressed. yeah it had 4wd, a turbo and a suspension second to a trophy truck but i couldnt wrap my head around the belt drive, the small axles and lack of transmission so for me it was back to a Jeep. I mean how fast do i really need to go across the desert here lol. The aftermarket items was a whole expense in itself.

I guess i will hold off on the purchase of a rail but damn they look fun, thanks all for the comments

 

[ColoJeep]

I had a rail almost 30 years ago. It was 2 place and had a VW bus transaxle and a warmed over 2.0 euro Ford
engine. It totally hauled ass and was tons of fun. I don't follow the "unreliable" comments earlier I never had a issue
in the 4 years I owned it. Jumping dunes and catching air is more fun than you can imagine. Also when you land
the sand "blows" out from under the tires and you land very softly, (for you and the rail).
Good luck finding what works best for you!

 

[Echos67]

I had a rail almost 30 years ago. It was 2 place and had a VW bus transaxle and a warmed over 2.0 euro Ford
engine. It totally hauled ass and was tons of fun. I don't follow the "unreliable" comments earlier I never had a issue
in the 4 years I owned it. Jumping dunes and catching air is more fun than you can imagine. Also when you land
the sand "blows" out from under the tires and you land very softly, (for you and the rail).
Good luck finding what works best for you!

Great info and i would imagine a rail like anything else on reliability-it can be or it may not be but there are a lot of factors that decide that from mechanical to owner to use of. Sounds like a lot of fun and they look it too. Maybe i can befriend someone locally that has one lol