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On The Move - Bad Boy Buggy PDF Print E-mail
Written by Craig Nyhus   
Tuesday, 06 November 2007
Jacquelyn Brown and Ronel Bronson test drive the 2008 Bad Boy Buggy on the Hacienda Ranch near Uvalde. Photo by David J. Sams
Jacquelyn Brown and Ronel Bronson test drive the 2008 Bad Boy Buggy on the Hacienda Ranch near Uvalde. Photo by David J. Sams
Getting to the blind or field is one thing, getting there without disturbing the game or your eardrums in another. The 2008 Bad Boy Buggies All Electric SUVs are out, and they offer unique and positive features that make the popular electric 4-wheel drive vehicle even more attractive.

The safety improvements from the 2007 models include a full-time electronic braking system that cannot be turned off, an automatic disconnect from the batteries if the vehicle isn’t used for 30 seconds, and all-time 4-wheel drive.

The braking system also has changed. The new ReGen system captures the energy when the brakes are not in use and transfers it to the batteries, extending their life and the vehicles range from 25 miles in the 2007 buggies to 30 miles in the 2008 versions. “This extends the life of the batteries and improves the range of the buggy,” said Mark Brown, owner of the Houston Bad Boy Buggies dealership.
Ronel Bronson owns the Hill Country Bad Boy Buggy dealership with her husband, Clint. Photo by David J. Sams
Ronel Bronson owns the Hill Country Bad Boy Buggy dealership with her husband, Clint. Photo by David J. Sams
The 2008 models have been made completely waterproof. With dual Sevcon controllers as opposed to the single controller, the controllers are fully protected, and the unwanted energy and heat is transferred to the batteries, creating no braking heat. “With two controllers, if one fails you don’t have a failure in the field, and the energy transfer prevents an in-field failure from overheating,” Brown said.

The connectors and throttle also are completely waterproof, and no throttle parts are exposed beneath the floorboard.

The improvements accomplish more than just safety and extended range. The buggy’s speed has increased to a top average speed of 19 mph vs. 16 mph in last year’s version.

The Bad Boy Buggy has a 69-inch wheelbase, offers 130 ft/lbs of torque, and is 113 inches long. The rear cargo bed holds 800 pounds, and the roof rack can carry an additional 200 pounds, along with the vehicle’s 1000-pound payload.

The Stretch version has a 100.5-inch wheelbase and is 148 inches in length, and carries additional passengers. Both versions are available in Realtree Hardwoods camo.

What I liked:

Quiet, quiet, quiet. To get to the blind quietly is the dream of most hunters, as long as the vehicle can get you there. Having driven the Bad Boy Buggy through a safari course with hills, rocks, mud, and sand, this one is up to the task, and can take you through any reasonable terrain. Deer and exotics turned and looked as the buggy came around the bend. When another gas-operated UTV approached, they scattered. The ample clearance handles the rough and rocky terrain, and the ride is perfectly smooth when on even terrain. The speed is plenty fast for any hunting or fishing application, and I’m sure we exceeded the 19 mph top average speed.. The range of the vehicle exceeds any anticipated use for a day or a weekend. The only risk of running out of power would be forgetting to recharge the buggy.

What I disliked:

Mark Brown negotiates a muddy spot on his Hacienda Ranch. Photo by David J. Sams
Mark Brown negotiates a muddy spot on his Hacienda Ranch. Photo by David J. Sams
The electronic braking system, while a necessity, takes some getting used to. While the normal reflex is to take your foot off of the throttle to slow down, the braking system gives you an unexpected lurch at first. After a few minutes of operating, you easily learn to slow down without removing your foot from the throttle. The 30-second automatic shut-off may be a little too quick; for example, when getting out to open a gate, you have to reset the buggy by turning it off and on. An easy adjustment can extend this shut-off time. The lack of a locking front differential can leave a wheel spinning, and some operators have performed after-market conversions to accomplish this.

Bottom Line:

Bad Boy Buggies achieved its goal of improving safety, waterproofing, range, and speed. The vehicle is everything the hunter needs, but without spooking game or having to wear ear protection. The cost, around $8,500 for the Bad Boy Buggy and $9,950 for the Stretch, compares favorably with other gas and electric UTVs with fewer features. Most hunters know you can get any ATV or UTV stuck if you want to, and the Bad Boy Buggy is no exception. But it will go anywhere the others go without the racket.

More Info: http://www.badboybuggiesoftexas.com/

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Photo by David J. Sams
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Photo by David J. Sams

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Photo by David J. Sams

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Photo by David J. Sams

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Photo by David J. Sams
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 November 2007 )
 
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