You can expect an average sand rail weight to be about 1,400 lbs (635 kg). Many also refer to a sand rail as a dune buggy interchangeably when first getting into the sport.
In addition, the weight of fuel is about 6.3 (2.9 kg) pounds per gallon of gas. Fuel tanks on sand rails hold about 5 gallons. When considering the weight of fuel, you can expect on average a full tank of gas to add 31.5 pounds (14.5 kg).
For pulling sand rails, it's recommended to use a vehicle that can tow at least 2,000 pounds. This would be for a towing a single sand rail and trailer. In many cases, people tend to underestimate the weight of their "lightweight" sand rail. It's always better to be over than under in towing power.
Make sure to check your vehicle's towing capacity. This can be found in your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website as your gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
7 Example Sand Rail Weights
The following chart features example sand rail weights of specific models ranging from the lightest to heaviest used in the sand dunes. Additional details can be found on the manufacturer's websites. Here's the sand rail weight chart:
Sand Rail Model | Average Weight |
|---|---|
Bugpack VW | 960 pounds (435 kg) |
SandToys Coviar VW | 1,170 pounds (531 kg) |
SandRails Utd. | 1,380 pounds (626 kg) |
Funco Gen1 VW/Bus | 1,548 pounds (702 kg) |
Genisis | 1,670 pounds (758 kg) |
AlumaCraft V8 | 1,800 pounds (816 kg) |
V8 Rail Ford V8 front engine | 2,380 pounds (1080 kg) |
Additional Weight and Trailer Options
The additional weight you will encounter with a sand rail will come from a few areas. Those areas being storage, add-ons, and gasoline (wet weight).
Depending on the size of your sand rail, you may need a trailer for transport as it's too large to fit inside a truck bed. This also creates an additional weight to consider when towing and traveling with your sand rail.
Make sure to refer to your vehicle's owners manual and read the section on towing capacity. It's always safer to leave some extra wiggle room to not damage your engine.
RHINO USA Ratchet Tie Down Straps
When buying a hitch trailer for your sand rail, you'll also need a way to secure it to the trailer. These straps are easy to tighten down and quite smooth to use. Having a pair of good quality straps will save your sand rail from tumbling down the highway.
To Conclude
Sand rails provide a fun mode of transportation on many different areas of terrain. Each type also comes with it's own weights based on it's size and power.
It's important to know the correct weight when looking to tow and transport your sand rail. If you're unsure and want specific weights, you can always check the manufacture's website or go to a local cat scale to get a more accurate weight.