Freelance Traveller

designed by Ewan Quibell

This article originally appeared in the March 2011 issue of the downloadable magazine.

CraftID: Buggy, TL1, Cr 114
Hull:    1/1, Disp=0.25, Conf=4USL Open, Armour=0W (Buggy), 0Z (Cover), Unloaded=0.07 tons, Loaded=1.07 tons
Power:   External=0.000745 Mw
Loco:    1/2, Simple Wheels x4, Outboard Suspension, P/W=0.7, Road=16 kph, Offroad=2.4 kph
Comm:    -
Sensors: -
Off:     Hardpoints=1
Def:     -
Control: Direct
Accom:   Crew=1  (Driver), Seat=Bench (2 sophants)
Other:   Cargo=1 klitres, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=None

This TL1 wooden, livestock drawn, buggy is a passenger vehicle that can be found on almost any low tech planet. The hull has a 1cm thick wooden bottom and 80% is covered by cloth or hide to offer some protection from the weather. The cover can be folded down into an integral storage area within the hull.

The driver uses direct controls to the livestock, reins, and a direct lever action foot break that can be applied to the on-side front wheel. There is a small luggage compartment at the rear of the vehicle but the vehicle is not intended to take much load.

The buggy is drawn by 1 animal, in the above case the external power source was calculated using the standard Terran horse thus producing 1hp. The speed of the vehicle varies considerably depending on the road conditions and load, and while theoretically can be driven up to 46kph, the wheels are likely to disintegrate at these speeds. The transmission for the buggy, or the harness, is external to the vehicle itself and attached to the animals directly in front of the buggy. The suspension is also external to the vehicle. The transmission can be removed from the buggy and broken down into its individual wooden, metal and leather parts to a much smaller volume for storage as needed.