Here's your dream vehicle. Volkswagen powered.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Trac#section_1

 

How about a Ripsaw from Howe & Howe Construction? Or that Badger thing they built?

 

I like tracks except on sidehill ice. The bad part is that when you use dirt as a lubericant things wear out quickly.

 

Don't know if much of ANYTHING that holds really well on ice, but certainly the more there is in contact with the road or surface, the better.
Indeed, there would be some Maintenance issues, but good PMCS could keep ahead of it before it becomes a roadside breakdown.:thumb:

 

Take pics along the way, would love to see them!!

 

OH Yeah, that's something like what I had in mind, (Snow Trak). Now if I could just afford the 120mm recoiless to go with it! LOL.
The 54hp is a little more than I had in mind, mostly from a logistics prospective. Diesel or a substitute can be had/made, thus the reason for thinking of using a 3, maybe 4 cylinder Yanmar. Pretty gutsy and reliable engines. Any good ideas or leads on a heavy duty ZTR transmission?

 

Correction on the tracks I found: They are 8 foot, NOT 6 foot.

 

Sounds like you just need to purchase an old track skid steer. Stay away from the old Cat machines with the ASV track system as they are junk. I'd look at the older Takeuchi track skid steers if I were in the market.

 

have you ever thought of a dual engine setup? that might be the easiest way to power it without a complex transmission. if youre designing it yourself anyway.

 

I hadn't considered the dual engine possibilities, but that would mean I could probably use smaller HP in each. Of coarse the detractor in using dual engines is that you don't have the "ZTR" ability that you would have using a pair of ZTR transmissions. I can't think of a way, off the top of my head, to easily reverse one engines drive direction. I've done a few simple CAD drafts of what I had imagined and in each, the drive sprockets don't really bear much weight. They would just sit at the front/nose and provide the drive torque. Since the tracks came from an old, small excavator, I think they are much longer than most skid steers use, but not positive on that.
It's still a research project at this point.
THANKS a bunch to ALL for your input. Every bit is appreciated!:thumb:

 

I always wanted me one of them H.R. Puff n Stuff vehicles. ::thumb:

Or maybe....

 

Yeah, me too. "Puff n Stuff" huh? That's telling ur age (I remember that too). I suppose what I've imagined is essentially a scaled-down Tank, without armor or armament, low profile with decent ground clearance. In practical seasonal use, it would have an aft cargo bed, possibly a dump-bed, so I could get back in soggy wooded areas and bring my cut firewood out to a waiting trailer without getting stuck or buried to the axles. That sometimes happens with my compact tractor & loader. I suppose in the end I imagine something like a small Russian BMP, but no armor or gun. All of this input, makes me wonder if I need to be looking for a transmission from an excavator.

 

Hey, check it!

A freakin airboat with free-wheel tracks!

Don't ask....I just found the pic on Google...

 

that freaking airboat with tracks is just.. freaking AWESOME!!!!

 

Anybody got specs on the old WW2 Weasel?

 

Anybody got specs on the old WW2 Weasel?

1944 M29 Weasel tracked vehicle in winter - YouTube

http://portrayal.com/manuals.html


will see what we have out at the shops for this monster of yours... is this the M29....and what engine is in it?

 

Use a VW pipe(sand) buggie frame with a VW engine and transaxle. Make body panels from alum. Skis instead of front wheels, cutting brakes for the rear tracks. Been done before. Pops

 

I don't think the ZTR drive would hold up. Think heavier duty.

 

When I posted last night I forgot about these. One of my customers bought severalmof these for a big jb in a swampy area. He bought the Morooka brand and they were older but worked great. I would guess that you can find these tracked dump trucks for low teens in price or less and have exactly what you need and want. So long as you can work on diesels and are fairly mechanical you could maybe buy one that needs some TLC and rebuild parts if necessary. You could easily spend $10-15k building one from scratch with what you have in mind.



http://www.racingjunk.com/Heavy-Equipment/2552446/MOROOKA-TRACK-DUMP-TRUCK-DIESEL-TRADE-1989.html

 

http://www.americantracktruck.com/index.php?page=hydraulic-kits

There's another approach.

 

Or check these for ideas.
http://www.snobear.org/

 

I'de be happy with a 113.:thumb: Only got to play with them for a little while, but man, what a Blast!

 

M113's are fun till a round comes thru the aluminum armor and ricochets around the inside for a time! I do have a friend rebuilding a M3 military half track.

 

I'm working on an electric version, 2 motors, 1 each side, a small diesel genny to charge the batteries.

So far the problem is the weight of the batteries (I'm using lead acid, 4 each motor = 48v) and the space needed to house them.

 

I want tracks for my Razor!!!!

 

I want tracks for my Razor!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbsc-t8qS48

Sorta cool but sounds like a quick way to either burn up your motor or at least overheat it in a severe way. Good way to clear big driveways with a small plow attachment.

 

Mattracks tank trucks

http://www.break.com/index/tank-tracked-truck-2281477

http://www.neatorama.com/2010/02/15/strap-on-tank-tracks/

And one of the best:

 

The old ww2 weasel was manufactured by the Studebaker corp.There are still a few around,although I haven't saw one for a while.Every now and then one will pop up on Ebay,or the Studebaker forum.

 

There is a guy out here near Payette, Idaho that has 3 ...all running and fully operable... really fun to ride in.

Kind of a hobby for me and some of my friends out here... rebuilding old armor vehicles....

 

Thanks to all for the awesome input!!!
I had a guy with similar ideas make me an offer on my tracks I couldn't pass on. I gave $400 for the tracks and this guy offered me $1K. Took it! Guess I'll have to start from scratch, with a little more capital this time!!