Go-Cart Kits

Go-cart kits provide an easier way to assemble your very own go-cart.

Go-cart kits can be used to assemble your own racing cart. Does the idea of racing a go-cart get your adrenalin pumping? Why not build your own cart using a kit? It's easy to assemble a go-cart in your garage by following the instructions that come with the kit. It's a great activity for a father and son or a group of friends to get involved in.

Putting together the components of go-cart kits can be quite addictive. There is nothing like building a basic go-cart and then adding your own custom touches to the design. Your kit contains everything you need to build a serviceable cart that you can tweak and add to as you learn more about the mechanics of engines, gears, brakes and clutches.

By far the most important component of go-cart kits is the chassis. The cart's chassis provides for accurate turning using flex. Inside wheel lift is important to break the forward momentum of the cart as it goes into a turn. Go-carts do not usually have a suspension. A typical go-cart chassis is a tubular, steel construction - built with different grades and diameters of tubing.

If you want to use your cart for indoor or non-professional racing you should choose go-cart kits that feature bumpers on all four sides. If you want a high- speed shifter or direct drive cart you need a plastic or fiberglass spoiler. This helps to make the cart more aerodynamic and safer on the track.

Kart chassis can be either 'open' or 'caged'. A caged cart has a roll cage surrounding the driver. Open style chassis don't have roll cages. If you are going to be racing in dry conditions choose a stiffer chassis. In wet or poor traction conditions choose go-cart kits that offer some flexibility in chassis design.

Go-cart kits may not help you create a cart that is fit for racing. Before investing in a kit make sure that the cart you build is suited to its intended purpose. A basic kit is perfect for friendly competition but if you want to race competitively you must first find out what the rules say about your cart specifications.

So be sure to check out our pages about How To Build a Go-Cart, Racing Go-Carts, Racing Dirt Go-Carts, and Go-Cart Parts elsewhere on this site.