Snowrail made with VMAX parts
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:41 am
I had an idea last spring to put my sand rail on tracks and skis.
After collecting parts for about 8 months, we got the pieces together and into the shop two weeks ago.
The tunnels and drive axles are from an SRV and an XLV.
The skid frames and tracks are from VMAXs.
I expect to find and install some taller skid frames over the summer.
Here are some photos of the assembly done today.
There are two videos uploaded to You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDLNzYcL7hg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioGWBse_ggg
There are a few bugs in the configuration right now:
1. The camber and toe settings that worked with the paddle tires are totally out of line with the tracks installed. The rear axle alignment needs to be adjusted.
2. One of the tracks has carbide points in it and they are chewing up the concrete where we were working. I have another track without carbides that will be more compatible with the workspace.
3. When I backed up to turn around, the tracks ate the flaps. The flaps need to come off. The video leaving the shop and turning right shows the flaps in the original location and the second video is after I backed over them and sucked them under the tracks.
4. I have not installed the traction bars therefore the fronts of the tracks come up when accelerating and go down when decelerating. This is very obvious from watching the first video.
5. I cut the belly pan off to save space at the front of the tunnel. The front of the tunnel rubs on the ground when decelerating. I will be cutting the bottom edge of the tunnels up about two inches and radiusing them with about 1 inch pipe.
6. The entire width is 107 inches. Legal width in the state of Washington it 102 inches. I need to figure out how to narrow the vehicle by at least 5 inches and/or buy a $20 overwidth permit and/or expect to remove one (or both) track assemblies when transporting it.
I hope to get it out on the trails in the mountains next weekend.
After collecting parts for about 8 months, we got the pieces together and into the shop two weeks ago.
The tunnels and drive axles are from an SRV and an XLV.
The skid frames and tracks are from VMAXs.
I expect to find and install some taller skid frames over the summer.
Here are some photos of the assembly done today.
There are two videos uploaded to You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDLNzYcL7hg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioGWBse_ggg
There are a few bugs in the configuration right now:
1. The camber and toe settings that worked with the paddle tires are totally out of line with the tracks installed. The rear axle alignment needs to be adjusted.
2. One of the tracks has carbide points in it and they are chewing up the concrete where we were working. I have another track without carbides that will be more compatible with the workspace.
3. When I backed up to turn around, the tracks ate the flaps. The flaps need to come off. The video leaving the shop and turning right shows the flaps in the original location and the second video is after I backed over them and sucked them under the tracks.
4. I have not installed the traction bars therefore the fronts of the tracks come up when accelerating and go down when decelerating. This is very obvious from watching the first video.
5. I cut the belly pan off to save space at the front of the tunnel. The front of the tunnel rubs on the ground when decelerating. I will be cutting the bottom edge of the tunnels up about two inches and radiusing them with about 1 inch pipe.
6. The entire width is 107 inches. Legal width in the state of Washington it 102 inches. I need to figure out how to narrow the vehicle by at least 5 inches and/or buy a $20 overwidth permit and/or expect to remove one (or both) track assemblies when transporting it.
I hope to get it out on the trails in the mountains next weekend.
