Metal size for a go kart?

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I was just wondering if anyone out here knew much about the strength of metal? A friend and i are just about to start building the frame for a go cart, and i need to know what size steel tubing to use as well as the thickness of it? I will say a bit about this go kart and what i want it to do, I want it to be a 50 mile per hour kart as well as off road. The frame is just going to be a rectangle frame tapered from front to back, it will not have a roll cage on it or nothing like that just 4 sides of tubing and that is it. I am thinking of 1 1/2" square tubing 3/16" thick. But i would really like your help on this matter, getting itchy to start this project.                                           Thanks for your help on this matter i really appreciate it!
Reply:i have a frame for an indy car style cart i made out of 1 1/2" x 1/8" sq tube, i used angle i places to add more rigidity. 3/16" wounldn't hurt if you are planning off road use, As with a lot of things, you can't overengineer enough with steel!!StangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Ricky, Ricky, Ricky,A 50 mile an hour CART, off road to boot, and no roll cage??  Come on, just one bar over the top even with the seat, okayyy?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:excellant point on safety,  i used a cad program to design a roll cage for mine, the frame areas are ready for the cage to mount on, i have to get started on it though, Probably going to get to that after i get the engine dialed in perfectly. I'm using a gas turbine for power so it's a nhra style cage setup for my safety.   zenith for sure nowStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:I'd also suggest the roll cage for any off road vehicle, especially one capable of 50 mph.  I tend to have more fun when I feel safer in a vehicle which usually means some type of roll cage or bar and decent seating/belt/harness.  See the Welding Projects section of this site under "Experienced Go Kart Builder Needed" topic for some additional information that you might find useful.  There is a link to an SAE site that offers good information on roll cage, seating, belt design for small kart style off road vehicles.If you want some good reference and design information for building projects with steel tubing (round, square, rectangular) check out the "Handbook of Welded Carbon Steel Mechanical Tubing" available for a free download at http://www.steeltubeinstitute.org/literature.htm   More information than most folks need but it answered a lot of my questions.  Most of my repair and fab work is done on our sandrail where most folks tended to standardize on 0.120" thickness round tubing.Good luck with the kart project, keep us posted.Last edited by Tinker; 07-15-2004 at 12:06 PM.TinkerCentury 135GS, ThermalArc 250GTS
Reply:keep us updated with pictures and commentary of all projects!!!thanks for the link tinker, it's usefull!!StangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:By using a roll cage, it can be incorporated into the frame.......That way you could build it out of Conduit.............Strenght in Structure............