monster van, icelandic style

[haven]

I first posted this note at www.expeditioncampers.com
Chip Haven

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A British team hired Iceland's Gunnar Egilsson to construct a vehicle
capable of driving across the Antarctic icecap. The team's goal was
to set a speed record for driving from the coast of Antarctica to the
South Pole, a distance of about 750 miles.

Here's what Egilsson built for the expedition:

http://www.icecool.is/photogallery/Verkst%E6%F0i/images/F1060007.jpg

The Ice Challenger vehicle started as a Ford E350 long wheelbase
van powered by a 7.3 L diesel engine. The Icecool shop added an
airbag suspension that provides 26 inches of wheel travel, transfer
case for all wheel drive, Dana 60 drive axles with locking differentials,
and modified bodywork. The tires are 44 inch tall Super Swampers.

Here's a similar vehicle on a test drive in Iceland
http://www.icecool.is/photogallery/Ferdir/images/j%FAn%ED-%20leysingar%20copy.jpg

The Ice Challenger team proved up to the task, driving non-stop for
2 days, 21 hours to reach the South Pole: A new record.

One part of the story I find interesting is that the team shipped the van
from England to Buenos Aires, and Gunnar drove it over public roads
to Punta Arenas, Chile, a distance of about 1500 miles. In other
words, this monster van is perfectly suited for driving around on
regular roads, too. What a truck!

Chip Haven

[haven]

If you don't need 6x6, the Icecool shop in Iceland builds
great 4x4 vans and pickups, too.

Here's an emergency vehicle before the trip to Iceland's
"Monster Garage"
http://www.icecool.is/photogallery/Verkst%E6%F0i/images/bbk%20okt%202004%20076.jpg

And here's the same truck after the Icecool treatment
http://www.icecool.is/photogallery/Verkst%E6%F0i/images/Tindar%20og%20Myvatn%2014%2010%2004%20011.jpg

I wonder how expensive it would be to ship a USA-spec van to
Iceland for an extreme makeover?

View more Icecool photos at
http://www.icecool.is/photogallery/Verkst%E6%F0i/index.htm

Chip Haven

[Coachgeo]

now all they need is Portal Axles :jump:

[Den.]

I want one!! (Wonder if Quigley would build one?)

[stjjames]

I need to jusy move to Iceland . . . :jump:

[ujoint]

No need to ship to Iceland, just do it herer!!!

[devinsixtyseven]

No need to ship to Iceland, just do it herer!!!
Yup...everything they did to that van can be done right here at home.

It's just not as common here to see a build like that.

[XXXpedition]

i like the 6x6.
i'm sure that would work fine for our xxxpeditions :-))))))))))))))

[PAToyota]

I was looking over Icecool's website - the language barrier was a bit of problem... :)

Any idea how the final axle is driven? One picture sort of looked like there was a transfer case to split the driveline to the two rear axles - sort of like the (now defunct) USA6x6 gearover box. Any other pictures anywhere?