Octamog

[shahram]

I don't know if anyone's seen this, according to the search function, it's only been mentioned once.

Interesting Essarco/Isuzu custom vehicle:

Octamog

[DaktariEd]

Crazy! I wonder what something like that drives like?

[LJRockstar]

Thats pretty cool! Looks like a GIANT skid steer!

[Octamog]

Crazy! I wonder what something like that drives like?

I'm Mark, the owner/builder of the Octamog. It actually drives quite nice -- without the camper box on it I'd even go so far as to say it's fun to drive! With the box, it is a bit top heavy which is why I am in the planning stages to rebuild the box with a lifting top which will lower the C/G quite a bit as well as the overall height. It does require a lot of attention at freeway speeds, due to the rear steering and relatively quick steering ratio. I also have plans to disable the rear steering at highway speeds which should help greatly in that regard. The rear steer is great fun around town as it enables the truck to turn with a curb-to-curb distance of less than 30 feet -- a tighter turning radius than a Honda Civic! It looks crazy to pull into an ordinary two-lane intersection and flip a U-Turn within the curbs and without backing!

I've hosted a video of an Esarco during development by Stewart & Stevenson which showcases some of it's capability.

If you have any more questions, I'll try and answer them here to the best of my ability.

[oonimog]

Hi Mark,
Cool and unusual truck. I really like the Isuzu cab you've put on it. How do you plan to disconnect the rear steering for the highway? Another option may be to make the rear steering slower acting (less ratio than the front). It might mean a bit of tire scrub (= wear) but it may be worth the gain in stability. Another option would be to make the two front axles steer and have the two rear fixed. Obviously, a lot more work.

You mentioned that you're going to add a movable roof, any more details? Do you already have a plan? Will it be soft or hard sided? Will it be hinged or move straight up and down? Sorry for all the questions, just interested in how different people solve the same problem. Also, how did you manage to get such a large corporation to build the custom box, is it something they do as a part of their business?

Thanks

[Octamog]

Hi Mark,
Cool and unusual truck. I really like the Isuzu cab you've put on it. How do you plan to disconnect the rear steering for the highway? Another option may be to make the rear steering slower acting (less ratio than the front). It might mean a bit of tire scrub (= wear) but it may be worth the gain in stability. Another option would be to make the two front axles steer and have the two rear fixed. Obviously, a lot more work.

You mentioned that you're going to add a movable roof, any more details? Do you already have a plan? Will it be soft or hard sided? Will it be hinged or move straight up and down? Sorry for all the questions, just interested in how different people solve the same problem. Also, how did you manage to get such a large corporation to build the custom box, is it something they do as a part of their business?

Thanks

The rear steering uses a push rod that runs between two pillow blocks front and rear. My plan is to use hydraulic cylinders on the push rod and on the drag link in the rear. The hydraulic cylinders would hydraulically lock either the pushrod or a cylinder to lock the steering. With the drag link locked and push rod in the bypass condition, the rear steering would be locked or visa-versa. This would require cylinders that essentially have two separate cylinders end-to-end so that it can be locked in a "centered" position.

I've always wanted to incorporate motorized lifting jacks to remove the box from the flatbed. I'd like to make a lifting roof that is raised by flipping the lifting jacks and attaching to the roof. I also want a slideout on the side opposite the door, so the whole thing needs to be designed like a "transformer". I have a lot of the design in my head and need to learn Solidworks to put the ideas on paper (or silicon, so to speak).

MM makes the panels that the box was constructed with, and they build truck trailers (among other things) using those panels. It took one guy about two days to assemble the box, they said. We got really lucky getting them to build it.

Another plan is just buy a Fleetwood Scorpion trailer and take the box from it and mount it on the truck -- about a weekend of work and I would have the truck in a usable configuration.

[ZooJunkie]

WOW!! NICE TRUCK MARK! I would love to check it out in person!

[adventureduo]

Very cool! Looks like a smaller version of the military trucks that are out there...

[grouch]

I have a very serious question for you Mark, my birthday is in November....should I expect you to deliver one to me or should I pick it up myself???? Wow, that is a great looking truck. I could think of all kinds of things to do with the payload. Think about twin FlipPacks up top and all sort of cooking gear and toys you could haul around with that. Put a super large fridge back there...the list goes on and on.