Hello all

I am starting to put a build together and trying to work out some material choices.
I am building a mini and have a question about the front forks.

I am looking to build forks designed like these from a Silence




So the question- what type of material is needed for strength here?
These look to be alloy but is that enough to carry the side loads when on two wheels?
Is that tube or solid??


Thanks all

From the size of the material and the look of the welds it would probably be steel rod.
Just an engineering thought 'Keep It Simple' unless you are a very good welder every join is a weak point and a possible place or failure.

Thanks for that.
I am a fair welder but have a buddy to do anything like this which has to be good to go.

I am trying to get my head around the loads on this gear.
It seems the simple up load when on the level is easy to meet with this design.
The odd twisting as the wheel loads on side is what is escaping me just now.
This is a different load case than seen in bikes/motorbikes as the load in that case is still in same plane when the bike is lain down?

The steering geometry of land yachts often confuse people, but think of a bicycle or motor cycle and the angle of the forks and position of the front wheel as they turn a corner at SPEED and in MOTION.
The wheel actually lays over and thats what is trying to be achieved in the forks design.
Rather than re-inventing the steering and all the angles why not just use the plans for the Lake Lefroy Mini design?
They work!!!

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/Build-a-Landyacht-Lake-Lefroy-Mini-Yacht/

I agree with Gizmo, keep it simple make a LLM fork.

Seagull fork looks good. Possibly made from M12 and M8 Rod. That alloy wheel looks good but $$$$

You have a picture so you can make it. Geometry will be the same as LLM. Suggest you use a jig to keep it square and true. Looks fiddly lots of welds.

Have a go. if it breaks, make it stronger.

lovely set up fom seagull.probably 12mm steel rod,very light and strong. would be simple to replicate.but that would be cheating

I think the steel rod will be good.