Arctic Trucks are going to be assisting a ski race.

And they will be testing two 6x6 Hiluxes on 44" Dick Cepeks, and those will be accompanied by two 4x4 Hiluxes on 44s.

They will be there from mid December to mid January and cover around 2900 miles.

http://explorersweb.com/sitemedia/TSthumbs/20101123sixxarctictrucks.jpg

http://www.jaxons.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/toyota-hilux.jpg
:smokin:

Nice, more info on Trucks and race please!

Here is some info on the 33" 6x6, I can´t find a spec sheet for the 44" 6x6. (http://arctictrucks.com/pages/4701)

6x6 video. (http://www.arctictrucks.is/?pageid=4698)

And the AT44, 44" 4x4 Hilux. (http://arctictrucks.com/pages/4700)

YouTube - Arctic Trucks at the South Pole (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKyV1t9WYkM)

I´m looking forward to seeing how the 6x6 does.

I wonder how those rigs would work in the foothills of the Rockies, we winter wheeled for years but the snow here looks to be away softer than the snow in Antarctica. We use Jeeps on 44's and they seem to sink quite well.

so, IFS and 44s. :eek:

are they being really easy on the IFS, or has it been upgraded in some way?

looking at those tie-rods and the lower control arms... looks stock :eek: Maybe just cruising in a strait line with low throttle works?

But there is a lot of stress, watch the vid, somebody got to rebuild a tranny in -65. I am impressed with how they hold up nonetheless.

Arctic Trucks are going to be assisting a ski race.

And they will be testing two 6x6 Hiluxes on 44" Dick Cepeks, and those will be accompanied by two 4x4 Hiluxes on 44s.

They will be there from mid December to mid January and cover around 2900 miles.

http://explorersweb.com/sitemedia/TSthumbs/20101123sixxarctictrucks.jpg

http://www.jaxons.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/toyota-hilux.jpg
:smokin:

They look like marshmallow Tacoma's:laughing:

The blue ones look just like the ones they used on top gear to go to the North pole. Other than being a different color that is.
They beat the hell out of them on the North pole trip too.

so, IFS and 44s. :eek:

are they being really easy on the IFS, or has it been upgraded in some way?

The IFS is cut from the frame and lowered to achieve more clearance under the frame and to keep suspension angles closer to stock.

The IFS can handle a lot, with some reinforcements in key areas the IFS is very good for this kind of high speed, smooth surface driving. There are not a lot of rocks that hit the IFS in these conditions.

A solid axle is better than IFS in the way that the axle is much lower than the frame, drivetrain and fuel-tanks.

When the truck drives through the snow the axles and tires press down the snow, and when the truck bogs down it just lays on the axles and there is not a lot of digging required to get going again.

The IFS presses the snow down to about the same level as the frame, drivetrain and tanks, also the rear axle drags on the snow pressed in front of the truck. When an IFS truck bogs down it lays on the IFS, frame, drivetrain and fueltanks, its gets more stuck than the solid axle truck.

But the solid axle is also better in river crossings, there are often rocks in the fording and the banks are often high and have sharp ice edges. But I don´t think there are many rivers in Antarctica. ;)

looking at those tie-rods and the lower control arms... looks stock :eek: Maybe just cruising in a strait line with low throttle works?

These trucks and the general wheeling trucks here in Iceland are not driven like rock crawlers. There is no full-lock steering with a tire wedged against a rock and spinning tires on slick rocks.

Snow wheeling requires smooth moves, hard steering will get you stuck, sudden acceleration will get you stuck, spinning tires will get you even more stuck.

Some people drive rigs set up that way with no problems, while others have upgraded axles and beefy steering linkage.

There are Cherokees on stock axles and 36-38" tires and they do well, a solid axle Hilux (we had those with diesels until ´95 here) can retain the stock axles for 38" tires and some can make them work well with 44" tires.

We also have some people that have small rigs like Wranglers and Willis with healthy V8s, they are more into the day trips where there are other rigs with tools and fuel. And then there are those that load up for a weekend or half a week and are self sufficient and are more about the travel than the V8 roaring.

I've not seen these ones in person, but I have seen a few Icelandic trucks in Northern Germany that were spectacular. I love the freaking flares and low stance of these things. :smokin:cool

It seems like there are three AT expeditions there at almost the same time.

http://www.antarcticachallenge.com/pages/4911