Archives for posts with tag: vehicle

In 1939 a 55-foot-long, 37-ton snow vehicle with a planned 8,000-mile range was deployed on Antarctica to explore the continent. It was called The Snow Cruiser. How did it fare? Not so well. If you saw my post from a couple of weeks ago, you know how it’s done today.

Nimbus e-Car

If you’ve ever wondered what an electric off-roader might look like, check out this concept for the Nimbus e-Car. It’s spec’d with a 180hp electric motor, 200 mile range and designed with wrap around windows. I love the look of it.

See more photos after the jump.

Thanks to Mas for finding this one!

Link:
Nimbus™ e-Car – Future is calling / hemisferiocriativo.com

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If you’re in the market for an amphibious, 6×6 off-roader, have a look at this mid-60s Alvis Stalwart. It features a 220-hp straight-eight Rolls-Royce engine, a 25,000-lb. winch, and a 12,000-lb. boom in the bed.

A few caveats before you grab your checkbook: The only way to get into this thing is through the hatches on the roof. It’s lack of a center differential means you can’t drive it on the road without destroying the transmission. And, of course, it’s British, so watch the electrics.

Another note of caution: some of these trucks had all of their swim gear removed in the 80s, while still in military service. Finding parts to rebuild those systems… let’s just say that Alvis never had much of a US dealer network.

That said, if you want a truly go-anywhere vehicle, and have the technical and financial resources to keep this 50-year-old beast running, it could be the vehicle for you.

This Alvis Stalwart is located in Puyallup, Washington, near Seattle, with an $8500 asking price.

A video about the Alvis and more pictures after the jump.

Links:
Bring a Trailer post
Craigslist ad
4wd Online, Alvis article
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storakey

This thing has saved me a couple of times now. Other times it’s just convenient. I used to have a spare key hidden in an old Altoids tin, Gorilla taped to the top of the trailer hitch and hidden in the bumper. That was fine for emergencies. It was completely invisible but getting it out was a pain. So was re-installing it.

Then my friend Greg told me about this thing. It’s called the Kiddie Stor-a-Key. Not a great name but it works. A strong magnet will attach it to any number of points on your truck. Even if it’s found, the three-digit lock will keep potential thieves busy.

Best of all it’s about $10 on Amazon. Some people there pan it in reviews but I think it’s a good product. Yes, you change the combination with the lock closed—that was one reviewer’s gripe—but you need to know the combination in order to do so.

One caveat. It may not fit modern, key-fob-type keys. If you’ve got an old-school key like me though, you’ll be good to go.

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Here’s an interesting experimental off-road vehicle from the 1930s. It looks like it has ten-wheel-drive, though I was only able to trace it to this source on Flickr. Apparently it’s English.

 


There’s a new fridge on the market from Basecamp. It can chill its contents from between 0˚ and 45˚ and is available in two versions, a 42-quart ($790) and a 63-quart size ($860). It features a wireless, digital readout showing the fridge’s internal temperature and the vehicle’s battery voltage. After the vehicle has been parked for while, the fridge will cut out in order to save the vehicle’s battery. Just when it does so is adjustable via three selectable settings. There’s also an internal LED light and an open lid alarm.

There’s no word on how it stacks up to the industry standard bearers like National Luna and ARB — its priced below both of them — but here’s a link to the Overland Journal fridge review from a couple of years ago so you can compare notes.

 Photo: Expedition Portal

Scott Brady, the founder of Expedition Portal and the publisher of Overland Journal, posted an excellent article on the Portal on outfitting a vehicle for overland travel. He covers the following:

  1. Safety Equipment
  2. Navigation
  3. Communication
  4. Tools and Spares
  5. Proper Recovery Points
  6. Recovery Equipment
  7. Loading and Lashing
  8. Light Truck All-Terrain Tires
  9. Suspension
  10. Bull Bar and Self Recovery

It’s a well thought out list. I recommend it, if you’ll be heading out into the back country. On the Expedition Portal forum other people chimed in with lists of their own. Forum member, coastsider, added a nice gear/camping/maintenance list.