TerraLiner:12 m Globally Mobile Beach House/Class-A Crossover w 6x6 Hybrid Drivetrain

optimusprime

Proffessional daydreamer.
Those black thing-am-a-jigs on that orange truck are mirrors.
If look at any commercial truck,you'll notice they have one,either centrally mounted above windscreen,or fixed passenger side and angled inwards.

( i would have quoted the post, but whenever i tried to quote it,it threw my connection out.)
 

dwh

Tail-End Charlie
Yeah, forward blind spot mirrors. Common on trucks and busses and in particular, school busses.
 

egn

Adventurer
At least one forward spot mirror is now compulsory with new Trucks. I removed the original mirror mounts of KAT I as the would have interfered with the cage. I also wanted heated mirrors for better visibility, so I installed an Actros mirror system at the doors, just like it was done with the Orange Work truck.

BTW, the Orange Work truck has changed the color since a about 2 years. Last weekend was the largest gathering of privately owned KAT vehicles with more than 50 KATs. It was a great event with the chance to drive off-road in a gravel quarry.

Regarding tire protection I don't see any use for run-flat technology here, if you are really far away from the next service. Run-flat tires allow only a limited distance to be driven until the flat tire is destroyed. Run-flat system for truck wheels can only be mounted and dismounted with special machinery, that is not available in remote areas. If you have to repair the tire by yourself anyway, then you need no run-flat system. You need a easy way to repair tires. Run-flat systems prevent easy repair.

Peter would not have been able to go the Canning Stock route with a run-flat system. Peter used tubed tires, that allow easy repair with patches. If you use tubeless tires you can also use patches, but for quick repair of small punctures you can use TipTop Sealastic kits. This works within minutes without removing the wheel.

If I would know in advance, that I have to go such a route I would probably use tire protection chains, that are used in quarries to protect the tires. Off course they are heavy. My snow chains weight at least 25 kg each. Tire protection chains would weight at least twice as much per chain.
 

biotect

Designer
Hi egn,

Here is a nice short YouTube video clip about the Actros mirror system:




Also see http://www.mercedes-benz.is/content...atego_construction_haulage/safety.fb0003.html , http://www.mercedes-benz.is/content...ctros_construction_haulage/Safety.fb0006.html , and http://www.mbtvni.co.uk/newmodels/actros.pdf .


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1. Tire-Protection Chains instead of Run-Flat Tires


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As always, interesting observations about the practical realities of using a big MAN KAT:


Regarding tire protection I don't see any use for run-flat technology here, if you are really far away from the next service. Run-flat tires allow only a limited distance to be driven until the flat tire is destroyed. Run-flat system for truck wheels can only be mounted and dismounted with special machinery, that is not available in remote areas. If you have to repair the tire by yourself anyway, then you need no run-flat system. You need a easy way to repair tires. Run-flat systems prevent easy repair.

Peter would not have been able to go the Canning Stock route with a run-flat system. Peter used tubed tires, that allow easy repair with patches. If you use tubeless tires you can also use patches, but for quick repair of small punctures you can use TipTop Sealastic kits. This works within minutes without removing the wheel.


The "Kiravan" design team should have employed you as a consultant!

What you wrote makes lots of sense: the difficulty of repairing and/or changing tires with the Michelin "PAX" system is one of the major reasons why it has not proven a success in the marketplace -- see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/a...q=Michelin giving up on run flat&st=cse&_r=1& . And the Hutchinson Run-Flat system is pretty much the same as the Michelin PAX system.

Here are some links for Tire-Protection chains: http://www.pewagchain.com/Products/Tire-Protection-Chain.aspx , http://www.pewagchain.com/Products/Tire-Protection-Chain/Einsatzbereiche/Tagebau.aspx , http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains.html , http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains/why-to-use-a-tyre_protection_chain.html , http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains/three-systems.html , http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains/product-range.html , http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains/download.html , http://issuu.com/rud_ketten/docs/en_erlau_imagefolder_70jahre_end?e=7744828/3239194 , http://issuu.com/rud_ketten/docs/tpc_prospekt_web_en_?e=7744828/3115839 , http://issuu.com/rud_ketten/docs/catalog_2005_2006_web?e=7744828/3115907 , http://www.mining-technology.com/contractors/chains/erlau-ag/ , http://www.mining-technology.com/contractors/chains/pewag2/ , http://www.tire-protection-chain.com/products.html , https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB1B29E501C407AA5 , http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0A55EF27F4AAB29 , and http://www.youtube.com/user/TyreProtectionChains :


4212.jpg 154197.jpg 151169.jpg
309874.jpg 1-erlau-garant-protrac.jpg 2-erlau-tpcs.jpg
catalog_2005_2006_web1.jpg catalog_2005_2006_web3.jpg catalog_2005_2006_web8.jpg
4-erlau-r75s.jpg



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biotect

Designer
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And here are some videos about tire-protection chains:


[video=youtube;LtRy5jZ-6es]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtRy5jZ-6es [/video]
[video=youtube;GvrfGB7e0FY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvrfGB7e0FY&list=UU6oNm_xvGrxcnbCy_p1ovOA [/video] [video=youtube;fiS8pWcwu6A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiS8pWcwu6A [/video]
[video=youtube;me8HlezPcVk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me8HlezPcVk [/video] [video=youtube;8_Wx50K93Jg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Wx50K93Jg [/video]
[video=youtube;pG8B1AfLqxQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG8B1AfLqxQ [/video] [video=youtube;kdgwkrlfjSM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdgwkrlfjSM&index=5&list=PLB1B29E501C407AA 5 [/video]
[video=youtube;Zih8iBYIYkM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zih8iBYIYkM&index=6&list=PLB1B29E501C407AA 5 [/video]

It's useful to be thinking about this in advance, because tire-protection chains would require additional wheel-well clearance -- see http://www.rud.com/Filestore.aspx/m...38a-8831-6456136fac82&lang=none&filetype=file :


minimum_clearance_en.jpg


Presumably tire-protection chains would work well with a CTIS tire inflation/deflation system?

RUD makes a wide variety of tire-protection chain types -- see http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains/three-systems.html and http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/tire-protection-chains/product-range/kleine_maschinen.html . egn, which type of tire-protection chains would you recommend for very-bad-road applications, like the Canning Stock Route?

If one fitted tire-protection chains to Michelin 14.00 R20 or 16.00 R20 XZL tires, would these then be OK even though they are tubeless? See https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/XZL_XZL_plus_DataPg.pdf or http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...7svURyDhnjN2N59TaA&bvm=bv.75558745,bs.1,d.bGQ . Or would you still want to do the Canning Stock Route with protection chains + tubed tires? Presumably the whole point to tire protection chains, is that they would virtually eliminate any possibility of puncture?


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2. Some Questions about Michelin XS-Series, Sand-Specified, Tubed Tires


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egn: Would you know which "tubed" tire type Peter Kapschefsky used on the Canning Stock Route?

I was looking through one PDF of Michelin's off-road range, and it seems that the XS-series 14.00 R20 tires are specifically indicated for sand use, and they do have inner tubes -- see http://www.hackneys.com/mitsu/docs/michelin-xzl-pages.pdf :


michelin-xzl-pages1.jpg michelin-xzl-pages2 copy.jpg michelin-xzl-pages3.jpg


But these pdf pages do not cover 16.00 R20 tires..... I could not seem to find the original, much larger pdf-catalog of Michelin truck tires from which Doug Hackney extracted his excerpt. If anyone reading this knows where it is/how to find it, please post! It certainly is not the same thing as the 2006 Michelin Tire Data Book -- see http://www.ncfma.org/downloads/2006TruckTireDataBook.pdf .

According to the following webpage, the XS-series is only available in the 14.00 R20 size:


michelin_tyre_use.jpg Untitled.jpg ....Untitled 2.jpg


See http://www.thexmod.com/michelin_xzl/ .

But does Michelin still make the XS series tire? I ask because I came across a few websites that seem to indicate that the XS series has been discontinued? See for instance http://trucks.michelin.co.uk/content/search?SearchText=XS . Although other web-pages suggest that the XS is still very much available -- see for instance http://transport.michelin.com.au/tbtyre/findalltyre/getByRoadCd/L :


Tyre Catalogue2 : New & Retreaded Tyres : Home - transport.michelin.com.au.jpg


In the following recent pdf press release, which dates recently as 2014, Michelin still seems completely committed to producing XS sand tires, and calls them "the must-have tire for the desert and sandy ground" -- see http://mb.cision.com/Public/55/9610598/b34a4070519813d8.pdf :


b34a4070519813d8d.jpg b34a4070519813d8c.jpg


So I am trying to figure out why it seems so difficult to find more detailed information about the XS-series on the web. What's wanted is a good summary pdf flyer, equivalent to the pdf flyers that Michelin circulates for the XZL series -- see for instance https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/XZL_XZL_plus_DataPg.pdf , http://www.czechmat.cz/data/stroje/285/soubor/1249391935.pdf , http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...sw4tg7svURyDhnjN2N59TaA&bvm=bv.75774317,d.bGQ , http://www.aircrafttyres.com/manuals/michelin_xzl_specifications_365_85R20_395_85R20_24R21.pdf , and http://www.the-taylors.us/Michelin XZL.pdf .


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biotect

Designer
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3. RUD Sidewall Protection for Speed


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RUD also makes a side-wall protection system: see http://www.sidewall-protection.com/english-language/ , http://www.sidewall-protection.com/english-language/system-advantages/ , http://www.sidewall-protection.com/english-language/how-does-the-system-work/ , http://www.sidewall-protection.com/english-language/application-photos/ , and http://issuu.com/rud_ketten/docs/rud_katalog_sideflex2013_neu# :


[video=youtube;hZV3-7M5vlo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZV3-7M5vlo [/video] [video=youtube;Gugsg2DQRro]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gugsg2DQRro [/video]
[video=youtube;k9PGY8gN8wA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9PGY8gN8wA [/video]


This website suggests that speed is one possible disadvantage of tire-protection chains, as opposed to mere side-wall protection -- see http://www.sidewall-protection.com/english-language/range-of-applications/ and http://www.sidewall-protection.com/english-language/no-speed-restriction/ . Although side-wall protection does not cover the tread of the tire that makes contact with the ground, this might be an advantage in situations where more speed is required. Sure, on the Canning Stock Route one will often need to go slowly. But in some sections where the ground is firm and the track is straight, perhaps even on the Canning Stock Route one might want to move more quickly? And perhaps tire-protection chains would limit one's top speed?

So egn: any thoughts (even just speculative) as to what a maximum speed might be, with RUD tire-protection chains fitted (say) to Michelin XS "sand specified" 14.00 R20, tubed tires?

The speed issue also makes me think that although tire-protection chains seems necessary for the Canning Stock Route, they might be less than optimal for other Australian Outback tracks, like the Tanami trail, that are not so demanding. On other tracks, perhaps just sidewall shields should prove sufficient, and would be better, because they would allow travel at higher speeds?


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4. Top 10 MAN KAT Conversions?


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The MAN KAT gathering last weekend sounds really interesting. Any web-links or pictures?

And finally, one more question: Apart from Blue Thunder, the Orangewerk vehicle, the Doleoni MAN KAT, and ActionMobil's "Desert Challenger", what would you say are the "top 5" or "top 10" most interesting, sophisticated, and globally capable MAN KAT conversions that you have seen and/or heard about?

Or, what were the most interesting MAN KATs that you came across last weekend, aside from Blue Thunder.....:sombrero:

All best wishes,


Biotect
 
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egn

Adventurer
There are not that many conversions and the base vehicles are equally capable. So will not rate any top 5 or top 10, just show images of KATs that I found interesting to me at the meeting.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D9B9aBkF2UY_wcRv1LHpugdbA4rDQywP3w-H6GdmbMw?feat=directlink

Next to BT this is also a KAT I 6x6. The cabin was build by Alustar like the one of Peter Kapschefsky. He is also following my way of no LPG and electrical cooking.


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZU4zEapFb-HR8KQPDWukwgdbA4rDQywP3w-H6GdmbMw?feat=directlink

Of course, you know this beast. It isn't a camper but is interesting regarding the changes that have been made to improve durability. Originally it was a rally protoype from ÖAF, which build military trucks with MAN license.


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/utxxNbAgMFCMv8Vf_klkBAdbA4rDQywP3w-H6GdmbMw?feat=directlink

You know this truck from a video you posted. The base is a MAN 1A1 8x8 which frame has be shortened by about 1 m. It has been optimized to drive rallys.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lBAv6efxz0d8vmeimrUeMwdbA4rDQywP3w-H6GdmbMw?feat=directlink

The owner has also build a very nice camper on base of a KAT 1A1.1, that is used to tie the Rally-KAT.


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9IcaO-verdraeAK1-vGp8AdbA4rDQywP3w-H6GdmbMw?feat=directlink

This is also a KAT I, which was build about the same time as ours.


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uMxHdf-CT3ciDMEwWEaN4wdbA4rDQywP3w-H6GdmbMw?feat=directlink

This also a very nice example for a KAT 1A1 conversion.


Most others were more or less in original state, or had a shelter on the platform. A new thrend seem to be to replace the standard engine of the 4x4 by the engine of the 6x6. This jump in power makes the 4x4 much more cabable, especially when you need power like in sand. I.E. one standard 4x4 managed the steep sand hill you see above without much problems, where the 1.100 PS monster and the Rally-KAT had serious problems, because of hteir higher weight. There was only a very short distance available to speed up.
 

biotect

Designer
Hi egn,

I still have some time on my hands until Art College begins again in October. So if you don't mind, I just wanted to quickly repost your pics as images that will become permanently resident on the ExPo server. Embedded links tend to expire. Of course, ExPo itself may not last forever, although I get the feeling that ExPo's future as a website is more secure than many others.....:) ... Embedded links also expire because people will eliminate photos, threads, old pdfs, etc. So, for instance, some of the photos that you posted as embedded links at the very beginning of the thread, 4 or 5 months ago, now seem to have disappeared. That's why I always upload photos directly onto ExPo, instead of using embedded links. Wish I could do the same with YouTube videos, because they also tend to disappear!!

These are such great photos, and they will give an American audience a feeling for just how vibrant and deep "big expedition vehicle culture" is in Europe, and Germany especially.

There are not that many conversions and the base vehicles are equally capable. So will not rate any top 5 or top 10, just show images of KATs that I found interesting to me at the meeting.


DSC_7501.jpg


Next to BT [egn's Blue Thunder] this is also a KAT I 6x6. The cabin was build by Alustar like the one of Peter Kapschefsky. He is also following my way of no LPG and electrical cooking.


DSC_7907.jpg


Of course, you know this beast. It isn't a camper but is interesting regarding the changes that have been made to improve durability. Originally it was a rally protoype from ÖAF, which build military trucks with MAN license.


DSC_7958.jpg


You know this truck from a video you posted. The base is a MAN 1A1 8x8 which frame has be shortened by about 1 m. It has been optimized to drive rallys.


DSC_8139.jpg


The owner has also build a very nice camper on base of a KAT 1A1.1, that is used to tie the Rally-KAT.


DSC_8144.jpg


This is also a KAT I, which was build about the same time as ours.


DSC_8158.jpg


This also a very nice example for a KAT 1A1 conversion.

Most others were more or less in original state, or had a shelter on the platform. A new trend seem to be to replace the standard engine of the 4x4 by the engine of the 6x6. This jump in power makes the 4x4 much more cabable, especially when you need power like in sand. I.E. one standard 4x4 managed the steep sand hill you see above without much problems, where the 1.100 PS monster and the Rally-KAT had serious problems, because of their higher weight. There was only a very short distance available to speed up.


Again, I hope this is OK. If it is not, let me know, and I will delete this post immediately.

Also: do you have any "overview" pictures of the rally as a whole, with lots of vehicles? Or pictures of clusters of vehicles? Or various vehicles running the course?

And: is there video material about the rally posted yet on YouTube?

All best wishes,


Biotect
 
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biotect

Designer
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Why is "MAN KAT Kultur" so vibrant in Germany?


I was thinking a bit about why there is such a huge "MAN KAT Kultur" in Germany for vehicles converted to expedition motorhomes. And why there does not seem to be anything comparable in the United States, say, for converted MTVR trucks, or 2 1/2 ton M-35's. The M-35 was a very capable vehicle, and had a multi-fuel engine as well -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M35_2½-ton_cargo_truck. But I've searched the internet, and cannot seem to find any interesting examples of M-35 camper conversions. If anyone reading this knows of some, please post!

One possible explanation is this: universal military service in Germany.

The following is a theory, and only a theory. If anyone reading this thinks that it seems mistaken, please feel to counter-argue. But as this thread has developed, and as I've found myself researching the world of large, 6x6 expedition motorhomes, including big MAN KAT conversions, I could not help but notice how "German" this world seems. I then began wondering why.....:confused:

Universal military service in Germany has now ended -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Germany , http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/world/europe/01germany.html?pagewanted=all , http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service , http://www.dw.de/germany-to-suspend-compulsory-military-service/a-6315122 , and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ny-to-abolish-mandatory-military-service.html . And it's quite possible that the end of the draft in Germany was a bad idea, on multiple fronts -- see http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/03/29/germ-m29.html and http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703722804575368971783076314 . But for egn's generation of German men, military service was still compulsory. And in the course of their military service, many young German men who are now middle-aged civilians learned how to drive big off-road MAN KAT 8x8 trucks.

Whereas the United States has had an all-volunteer military since 1973, when the Vietnam war was beginning to end. By 2011, only 20 % of the members of the combined U.S. Congress + Senate had served in the military, whereas in 1975 it was still 70 % -- see http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/20/congress.veterans/ , http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/20/fewer-congress-vets/1716697/ , http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/17/veterans-congress-fewest_n_2144852.html , and http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tan...gress-have-little-direct-military-experience/ :


Veterans-and-Congress_2.jpg


So too, the number of veterans as a percentage of the US population has been declining:


Veterans-and-Congress_1.jpg..... Veterans-and-Congress_31.jpg


Furthermore, only about 1 % of recently sitting Congressmen and Senators have children who serve in the military -- see http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2270473 , https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080123213710AAEIttt , and http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-22-iraq-congress_x.htm .

Many now worry that the U.S. military has become increasingly disconnected from civilian society, and that a kind of "military caste" has emerged -- see the excellent article at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/o...r-military-drifting-apart.html?pagewanted=all . For instance, many current officers are the sons and daughters of previous officers. There is also a problem at the civilian end: studies have shown that politicians who themselves lack military experience are much more likely to (a) go to war prematurely, and (b) give up on a difficult war prematurely. In effect, politicians who have not themselves served in the military are "ADD" regarding questions of war. Whereas those who have military experience and who know just how terrible war is, will tend to be more cautious and less hawkish about going to war in the first place. But once they've made the decision to fight, they will also demonstrate true grit, determination, and perseverance.

For our immediate purposes, what this means is that in Germany right now, most 40 and 50 year-old men who want a big expensive MAN-KAT-based motorhome conversion, and who can afford one, will be military veterans who also know how to drive it, because the Bundeswehr taught them how to do so when they were young. Just like egn. So in Germany there is a kind of "captive market" of able, ready, and willing MAN KAT motorhome drivers.

And these potential German MAN KAT motorhome drivers are not just from working-class, lower-middle-class, and middle-class backgrounds. Because of universal military service, many of those who know how to drive big MAN KATs come from upper-class family backgrounds. Perhaps after doing their military service they went on to university for engineering, where they got a Ph.D. After that they joined their father's medium-sized "Mittelstand" company. They are now in their 50's, they've inherited the family business, and they have (a) money, (b) technical expertise, and (c) a love of big MAN KATs. There is no equivalent class of men in the United States.

I have written about the Mittelstand before in this thread -- see posts #429 and #430 at http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...pedition-RV-w-Rigid-Torsion-Free-Frame/page43. But one of the more interesting aspects of Mittelstand companies is that those who run them tend to have doctorates (i.e. PhD's) in the Sciences. The heads of Miele, for instance, or the head of Beckhoff, are "Dr. Markus Miele", "Dr. Reinhard Zinkann", and "Dr. Hans Beckoff" -- see http://www.miele-project-business.com/international/en/project_business/values_3752.aspx and http://www.beckhoff.co.uk/english.asp?press/news1011.htm . If you know anything about the Mittelstand, you will know that this is typical, and not unusual. Whereas in the United States and the UK many perfectly good manufacturing companies were driven in to the ground over the last 5 decades by CEOs who only had degrees in "Law", "Management", or "Finance".

For some good recent YouTube videos about the Mittelstand, see:


[video=youtube;Uad1Ma5DSMA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uad1Ma5DSMA [/video]


All best wishes,



Biotect
 
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biotect

Designer
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The tires on the buses are standard radials & not swimmers or Mud tires as they all feature an inboard propulsion system & use boat ramps for entry & exit. My challenge is the rim size for an aggressive 44-46" off road tire with aggressive mud tread. I will be looking at the new Goodyears you had shown above. My 18" rims are hard to find rubber for. A lot of the goofy "show" rims are being used for 4x4s here in the US now which come in ridiculous sizes not intended for off road have some options, just not mine from what I can find so far. I will try to figure a way to "rip" the DVD to a file/medium I can post original test film. I will be using dual outboards for larger "waters"…..


Hi Amphibeast,

In the course of trying to find information about Michelin XS “sand specified” 14.00 R20 tires, I ran across the following pdf which may be of use to you. It's a pdf from Unimog Australia, that reviews various tire possibilities. In particular, I was struck by the Michelin XM tires, which seem to have treads similar to those on the “balloon” tires used by amphibious vehicles. They have deeply grooved directional treads that perhaps could also grab water?:


Untitled-1.jpg


See http://test.unimog.com.au/fileadmin/Content/tech_specs/ugn_c_gb_nov05.pdf .

For a range of much smaller off-road tires for SUVs, also see http://tgs.online-mediacentre.com/pdf/tgs-tyre-guide.pdf. But I figured that the Unimog pdf in particular might interest you, because many mogs are roughly the same size as your amphibious XM-140.

And tangentially related, here is a pdf for Michelin "super-balloon tires" for traversing mine-fields; tires that exert less ground pressure than a (presumably European) football, even when fitted to a vehicle that weighs 7.5 tones!



b34a4070519813d8.jpg b34a4070519813d8b.jpg

See http://mb.cision.com/Public/55/9610598/b34a4070519813d8.pdf .

All best wishes,



Biotect
 
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Orlov

New member
Forget about tire protection chains, they are way too heavy, you can not go fast with them, you will need a crew and special tools to mount them, and a trailer to drag them along!

With the price of 14.00 and 16.00R20 tires, a set of Hutchinson Tire Protection Shields as noted in post #623 seems like a good investment if planning to drive offroad like on the Canning Stock Route.

attachment.php
 

biotect

Designer
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Tire Protection Shields as noted in post #623 seems like a good investment if planning to drive offroad like on the Canning Stock Route.

Hi Orlov,

Interesting observation.

Would you know of any other manufacturers, besides Hutchinson, who make military-grade tire-protection shields? Perhaps a European manufacturer?

And, would you know of any manufacturers who make tire-protection shields out of Kevlar?

RUD also makes something like this, but their system does not seem as "military grade" as Hutchinson's -- see http://www.sidewall-protection.com and http://www.rud.com/Filestore.aspx/R...b26-92bd-2d7b2dff3df2&lang=none&filetype=file . And RUD's system seems designed more for the absolutely huge tires used by the mega-sized vehicles that work in quarries, on mining sites, etc:


cache_20272036.jpg Untitled-2.jpg cache_20272077.jpg
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That's why I asked about a European manufacturer who might make tire-protection shields for military vehicles in particular, i.e. for the comparatively "smaller" tires that such vehicles use, like the Michelin 14.00 and 16.00 R20s.

All best wishes,



Biotect
 
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dwh

Tail-End Charlie
So too, the number of veterans as a percentage of the US population has been declining:

Expect that to continue until the lords and masters are forced to re-implement the draft.

The new feel-good, rip-off-the-peons-and-sell-it-to-them-as-a-good-thing propaganda is called, "means tested". I.e., I met a guy who is a U.S. Vietnam veteran. Went to war, got shot at, got a Purple Heart. Now he's in his 50s [EDIT: oops, hit the 5 instead of the 6 - should say 60s], and has been a mechanic for a large trucking company for decades and is about ready to retire. He was telling me that after all these years of having V.A. Medical - they cut him off. No more V.A. Medical. Why? Because he can get his own medical insurance through his company. He has the "means" to provide his own medical insurance.

His war service? They don't care. Wounded? Don't care. Their PROMISE of lifetime medical? Sorry, times are tough, economy bad. Everybody (except the lords and masters) has to "tighten their belt" (a particularly heinous little propaganda phrase which actually means: starve). In other words, in American idiom - it's "root, hog, or die".





As awareness of this trickles down into the populace at large, there will be less and less volunteers since the benefits are the reason many volunteer. But Big Brother will have to re-institute the draft anyway, since they are about to start WWIII.


Many now worry that the U.S. military has become increasingly disconnected from civilian society, and that a kind of "military caste" has emerged -- see the excellent article at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/o...r-military-drifting-apart.html?pagewanted=all . For instance, many current officers are the sons and daughters of previous officers.


Nothing new about that. That's always been true throughout history. Phillip II was a serious general way before his son Alexander III was. More recently, under feudalism, a lot of second and third sons were bought commissions by their fathers who were also second and third sons and had commissions themselves. Military organizations have always had their "ruling families".



In effect, politicians who have not themselves served in the military are "ADD" regarding questions of war. Whereas those who have military experience and who know just how terrible war is, will tend to be more cautious and less hawkish about going to war in the first place. But once they've made the decision to fight, they will also demonstrate true grit, determination, and perseverance.

That's not particularly realistic or relevant - at least in terms of the U.S. Congress The last time the congress voted to declare war was 1942. Everything else since then has been either a "military engagement" or a "police action".

When the politicians don't call it "war" and they don't see it as "war", trying to analyze their behavior in regards to "war" is just a waste of time. Missing the mark, as it were.
 
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dwh

Tail-End Charlie
As regards tires...

How about something that's NOT pneumatic?



For instance Michelins on NASA spring wheels (lunar rover):

163_news090213_01l+michelin_tires_nasa+.jpg




Or maybe these Swiss Cheese tires (McLaren Flat-Proof):

 

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