Where the Builds Stand
The shop is in full push mode. Both front and rear steer portal buggies are on the table, the parts pile is shrinking, and the deadline is not moving. Episode 3 of the portal buggy build series is live now on the Motobilt YouTube channel.
Denver and Bender are deep into assembly on both buggies. This is the stage of a build where progress gets visible fast. Brackets, mounts, and components that took weeks to design and cut are finally going on steel.
Anyone who has built a rig knows this phase. The chassis stops looking like a project and starts looking like a machine. But it is also the phase where the punch list grows faster than it shrinks. Every part installed reveals two more things that need attention.
Two buggies doubles everything. Twice the parts. Twice the fitment checks. Twice the chances for something to fight back.
Why Front and Rear Steer Portals
These are not mall crawlers. Front and rear steer combined with portal axles puts these buggies in a different category of capability. Portals raise the axle centerline for clearance that a lift alone cannot touch. Rear steer lets the buggy pivot through tight lines that would stop a conventional rig cold.
Building two at once means every fabrication decision gets tested twice. What works on one gets proven on the other.
The Bobblehead Plan
Every serious build needs a little personality. In this episode Dan sits down with Bender and Denver to plan something different: a custom bobblehead of Hunter for the dash.
Watch the episode to hear how that conversation goes. Whether it actually ends up on the dash is a story for a future episode.
Will They Finish in Time
That is the question hanging over the whole shop. Parts are going on fast, but fast is not always fast enough. The crew is grinding. Whatever it takes.
Watch Episode 3 now on the Motobilt YouTube channel and follow the series to see if they pull it off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are portal axles?
Portal axles use a gear reduction box at each wheel end that raises the axle centerline above the wheel center. This adds ground clearance under the axle housing without larger tires or additional lift, and the gear reduction takes stress off upstream drivetrain components.
Why would a buggy have rear steer?
Rear steer allows the rear axle to turn along with or opposite the front axle. On tight technical trails this dramatically reduces the turning radius and lets the driver place the rear tires exactly where they need to be on an obstacle. It is a major advantage in rock crawling.
Who is building the portal buggies?
The buggies are being built in-house at the Motobilt shop in Alabama. Denver handles design work and Bender handles fabrication and welding, with the rest of the crew supporting the push to the deadline.
Where can I watch the portal buggy build series?
The full series is on the Motobilt YouTube channel. New episodes document the builds from chassis fabrication through final assembly.
Does Motobilt sell parts for buggy builds?
Yes. Motobilt designs and manufactures chassis components, armor, and fabrication parts for buggy builds and rock crawlers. Everything is laser cut and built in the USA. Browse the full lineup at www.motobilt.com.
We are Motobilt.
