A truggy or truggie is a specialized off-road vehicle. Truggy is a portmanteau of the words truck

Truck

A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...

 and buggy

Dune buggy

A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. The design is usually a modified vehicle and engine mounted on an open chassis. The modifications usually attempt to increase the power-to-weight ratio by either lightening the...

. The truggy nomenclature is derived from using a truck frame as the basis for the vehicle, whereas a "buggy" would have started from the chassis

Chassis

A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...

 of a Volkswagen Bug.

Truggies are most commonly built for off road racing and occasionally recreational purposes. A majority of them are built at specialty shops that know and understand the rules of the racing classes. Popular racing series that include these vehicles are the Baja 1000 and Baja 500. Truggies might be built from scratch, or they might be heavily-modified street vehicles that have been altered to the point that they barely resemble their original form. A truggy generally has several defining features:

1. A full roll cage
   Roll cage
   A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
   
   , built off a factory style frame.
2. Large off-road tires.
3. Long-travel suspension
   Suspension (vehicle)
   Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
   
   , featuring a solid axle in the rear and independent suspension in the front.
4. Low gearing usually featuring dual transfer cases or aftermarket
   Aftermarket (automotive)
   The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
   
    gears in a single case.
5. Locking differentials

Many truggies are equipped with powerful engine

Engine

An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...

s and winch

Winch

A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and...

es. Some are street legal, though many of them are built and used for off-road use only.

The most common recreational uses of truggies are rockcrawling, and desert racing, such as the Baja 1000

Baja 1000

SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...

.

External links

• http://www.truggy.nl

• Herbst Truggy Article