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Mud n' Water - Research for Major Project

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tack43:

--- Quote from: lee celtic on March 04, 2009, 20:06:54 ---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wBkX3UeQio

These are the best and you can get them for between £6500 and £15000 depending on age and condition, they seat 16 , they are all terrain and they float  :cool:

--- End quote ---

This is a BV206 I've used them in Norway. They are made by Volvo, early ones had a Ford V6 engine, later models were diesel. They are primarily used as over snow vehicles, amphibious for when the ice melts or breaks (they do need prep beforehand!). The US army uses them in all enviroments and while very capable off road they don't like mud and tend to throw tracks and break road wheels. On road use is also limited. Top speed 45 MPH (trust me you wouldn't want to go any faster) and again throwing tracks etc. If this could be sorted, maybe change the rubber tracks for something more robust, this could be an ideal base vehicle.

Rich

trautmann:
Hi folks, once again, thanks for the epic replies!

To answer some questions about the project, we plan to design a machine from the ground up, but this doesn't ban us from making use of existing parts, such as the tracks and drivetrain that exist underneath the BV206's.  By the way, a fantastic machine that we'd almost totally forgotten about!

We had a good chat over the internet yesterday with the Colombians we're working with on this project, and with them, we proposed an idea for a modular design, where the cab and engine would be interchangable with different 'undersides', I guess you could say.  With what has been presented here, it also seems like trying to design a single machine for all uses wouldn't prove to be very effective.  It also seems that trying to create an 'environmentally friendly' vehicle just wouldn't be appropriate, especially when you're going places that perhaps don't even have electricity.

As for the amount of engineering that needs to go into the project, we've been told that we need to demonstrate understanding and appropriate applications, but we don't have to go into any great detail, usability is the key here.

I'm going to link this page to the rest of the group due to the fantastically detailed and helpful responses I've had over the past few days.

We're having a group meeting as I speak, so I might come back and present some of the ideas we generate.

Once again, thanks for the valuable information  :cool:

clbarclay:
The BV206's I've delt with were only 50 Km/h top speed, though specs may well have changed over the years.

The front section consists of a steel tube which keeps water away from the engine and the desing is limited for modification. The rear section though is a very simple box section chassis (pictures below) with 4 mounts where the rear body bolts on, making them potentially much more versatile. The body provides the bouancy for the rear end though, without it they are no longer amphibious.

Suvvey:
Are you actually planing on donating the finished item to an emergency/aid agency? Or is this to be a one off 'example' of what can be done? If the completed machine is to be put into longterm use then maybe you need to look at the availability of parts/service items to keep it running and availability of guys that can work on it. 
Specialised vehicles like the BV206 are undoubtably extremely good at the jobs they were designed for but I am guessing that sourcing parts would be a headache and your local back road columbian mechanic wouldn't have seen many before. A landrover based vehicle however would I imagine prove simpler on both counts.
Also they are already relatively 'modular' in design.

Ps that is my unbiased opinion as I don't actually own a landrover ;)

carbore:
I suggest buying a few "tractor and machinery" and and plant mags, you see some differnt kit in there.

For example lots of tractors have dual wheels, so you can put anoter set of for floatation. This is possibly good in your situation as you done want to be too big all the time as you may have narrow tracks, but bolt on the duals for the muddy stuff (swamp) and you are away.

After all, when a 4x4 gets stuck what do you pull them out with, a tractor.

 

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