Go kart plans
Go kart plans
and blueprints
SpiderCarts go kart plans are dimensioned blueprints for building a welded steel go kart from off-the-shelf parts. Every package includes all seven plans as printable PDFs. Each plan has a parts list, a cut list, exploded views, weld steps and photos of finished builds. You pay once and download them for life.
- Seven plans, ten PDFs
- Beginner to advanced
- Lifetime access
Recommended
Plans & Video Class
All seven plans plus the video class
Everything in the Pro Plan Package, plus the 12-lesson video class filmed on a real Recluse build.
- Everything in the Pro Plan Package
- 12-lesson video build class
- Tools, metal and welding walkthroughs
- Lifetime access and future updates
Save $61 / only $20 more than plans alone
Plans only
40% offPro Plan Package
All seven go kart plans
Every plan we make, in one download. Print them at home and keep them for life.
- Seven kart plans, ten printable PDFs
- Parts lists, cut lists and materials
- Dimensioned drawings and weld steps
- Lifetime access
Save $40 / USD, lifetime
Secure checkout and instant access. If the plans are not for you, contact us for a refund.
Included plans
Every package includes all seven plans
Six full-size chassis and one kids' kart. You do not choose one plan. Both packages below include the whole lineup, and the same set of drawings backs each kart.
What's inside a plan
What each go kart plan contains
Each plan is a complete set drawn the same way. It has six kinds of page that cover the build from raw tube to a finished kart. Here is what each page is for.
- 01
Specification sheet
Length, width and wheelbase, tire and wheel sizes, engine, transmission, brakes, steering, and the tubing the frame is cut from. You know what the kart needs before you buy parts.
- 02
Exploded view
Every cut piece floated out into the position it welds into. It shows how the whole chassis fits together before you start cutting metal.
- 03
Numbered parts plan
The frame drawn in plan and side view with every tube and bracket tagged by a part number. That number follows the piece through the cut list, the part drawings and the weld sheets.
- 04
Dimensioned part drawings
Each part drawn on its own in top, side and iso views, with its length, cut angles, hole positions and quantity. You cut to the numbers on the sheet.
- 05
Weld assembly
The order to tack and weld the frame, with jig measurements, spacing, offsets and the squareness checks. You weld in sequence rather than adjusting at the end.
- 06
Finished build photos
Color photographs of a completed kart built from that plan, so you can see the drawings as a real machine.
What's in the plans
What the plans look like
These are real pages out of a SpiderCarts plan set. Every tube is dimensioned, every part is numbered, and the welds are shown in the order you do them.
Pages shown from the Recluse plan. Every kart gets the same treatment.
-
Full specifications - dimensions, tire sizes, engine, transmission and materials
-
Exploded view - see exactly how every part fits together
-
Every part labeled and numbered on the complete frame
-
Precise part drawings: top, side and iso views with exact measurements, cut angles and part numbers
-
Step-by-step weld assembly diagrams
-
Full-color photos of real completed builds
How the plans are drawn
Built to be finished by a home builder
Most first karts stall for the same reasons: too many one-off parts, unclear dimensions, and metal that is hard to source. These plans are drawn to remove those problems.
Duplicate parts
Many members repeat, so you cut the same part several times. There are fewer unique parts to make than in a one-off design.
One tube size
Most of each frame uses a single size of square steel tube. One trip to a steel supplier covers most of the material.
Cut to the number
Every tube has a length, a cut angle and hole locations in top, side and iso views. You cut to the numbers, not to a ruler on a printout.
Numbered end to end
The same part number runs from the exploded view through the cut list to the weld sheet, so each piece is easy to place.
Weld order
The assembly sheets give the order to weld in and the checks that keep the frame square while you build it.
Any engine
The frames are drawn around common horizontal-shaft engines with a torque converter or centrifugal clutch, from 3 to 10 hp.
Resizable frames
The frames can be stretched or shrunk to fit the driver, so the same plan works for a child or an adult.
Built for beginners
Every package includes a 19-page welding guide and the Two Minute Tek video library, so a first-time welder can follow along.
Compare the plans
All seven plans, side by side
Every package includes all of them. They build differently, so use this to choose where to start. Select a plan for its full page, specs and video.
| Plan | Seats | Suspension | Engine | Chassis | View plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrandDaddy Two-seat / dual suspension | 2 | Front + rear | 10 hp (any size) | 1 1/4" #14 square | View → |
| Arachnid Single-seat / dual suspension | 1 | Front + rear | 6.5 hp and up | 1 1/4" #14 square | View → |
| Scorpion Three-wheeled / mono rear | 1 | Front + rear | 6 hp horizontal shaft | 1" #14 square | View → |
| Tarantula Off-road / rear suspension | 1 | Rear | Your choice | 1 1/4" #14 square | View → |
| Recluse Classic racer / most popular | 1 | Rigid racing frame | 6 hp horizontal shaft | 1" #14 square | View → |
| BlackWidow Beginner / most durable | 1 | Rigid frame | 6 hp horizontal shaft | #14 square | View → |
| Itzy Bitzy Kids' kart / weekend build | 1 (child) | Rigid frame | 3 hp horizontal shaft | 1" #14 square | View → |
The free Itzy Bitzy kids' plan shows how a full SpiderCarts set is drawn before you buy.
Also in the box
Extras
Every order comes with more than the seven kart plans.
- Beginner's Guide to Welding
- 19 pp
- A 19 page welding handbook. Safety, gear, settings charts, and step by step MIG and stick.
- Itzy Bitzy kids' kart
- Free
- The free kids' mini go kart plan, included with every order.
- Quick-Jack Shop Lift
- 23 pp
- Plans for a foot-lever jack that lifts a kart off the shop floor and holds it at working height.
- Go-Kart Speedometer
- 5 pp
- Turn a bicycle computer into a kart speedometer. Parts, sensor mount, wiring and calibration.
Questions
Go kart plans FAQ
- What comes in the go kart plans?
- All seven plans, as ten printable PDFs. Each plan has a specification sheet, an exploded view, a numbered parts plan, dimensioned drawings for every tube, weld assembly steps, and photos of a finished build. Every order also includes a Beginner's Guide to Welding, the Quick-Jack shop-lift plans, a go-kart speedometer guide, and the Two Minute Tek video library.
- Do I need to know how to weld?
- The plans are written for beginners. Every package includes a 19-page Beginner's Guide to Welding and the Two Minute Tek video library. If you can run a basic MIG or stick bead, you can build one of these karts.
- What tools and materials do I need?
- Mostly square steel tubing, plus a welder, an angle grinder, a drill and basic hand tools. Most of each kart uses a single tube size. Each plan lists the exact tubing and hardware. Engines, wheels, brakes and running gear are off-the-shelf parts you buy separately.
- What engine do the plans use?
- The frames are drawn around common horizontal-shaft engines, from 3 to 10 hp depending on the kart, with a torque converter or centrifugal clutch. You can fit the engine you are able to source, and small design changes let you run other sizes.
- Can I print the plans at home?
- Yes. Every plan is a standard PDF you can print at home or at a print shop. Nothing is locked to a device, and you keep lifetime access to re-download it.
- How much does it cost to build a go kart from these plans?
- The plans are $59, or $79 with the video build class. Material and parts cost depends on the kart and what you already own. The largest costs are the steel and the engine. Most of a frame uses one tube size, which keeps the metal easy to source.
- Which plan should I start with?
- Most first-time builders start with the BlackWidow, the simplest and most durable frame, or the Recluse, which is light, fast and the most popular design. The Itzy Bitzy is a weekend kids' build. Every package includes all seven plans, so you are not locked into one.
- Is there a refund policy?
- Yes. If the plans are not for you, contact us for a refund.
Get the plans
Get all seven plans
One payment, from $59. Every package includes all seven plans and lifetime downloads.
Recommended
Plans & Video Class
All seven plans plus the video class
Everything in the Pro Plan Package, plus the 12-lesson video class filmed on a real Recluse build.
- Everything in the Pro Plan Package
- 12-lesson video build class
- Tools, metal and welding walkthroughs
- Lifetime access and future updates
Save $61 / only $20 more than plans alone
Plans only
40% offPro Plan Package
All seven go kart plans
Every plan we make, in one download. Print them at home and keep them for life.
- Seven kart plans, ten printable PDFs
- Parts lists, cut lists and materials
- Dimensioned drawings and weld steps
- Lifetime access
Save $40 / USD, lifetime