Practicality of a part time 8x8 vehicle

Why?

Having tried A framing both 2 & 3 vehicles together over various terrain I can imform you there is no advantage to be had joining cars together like that offroad. May go some way to explaining why you don't see many others doing it ;-)
Strange idea. Cheers Craig.................

Hi Willem,

Your experience is legendary here, so too are some of your ideas now;)

Sorry, but i cannot think of one good reason to do this. Even if there was a good reason, electric brakes are simply not possible to fit on the existing hubs (maybe possible to tap into existing hydraullic brakes - but I guess would be FAR more expensive than a decent trailer).

If nothing else, it's an "interesting" idea.

Cheers mate

Captain

Hey Dad,
Im with you all the way. Go for it forget the knockers :-) I see now that your alot like me.....when i get an idea in my head, I follow it through to the end. Win or loose, at least I tried it. I for one believe in you, your expierence alone is enought to convince me that its worth trying. Good luck
Ange

Willem, go for it!!!
Back in the 70's when 4wd's in private use were a rarity we all had FJ40's with the odd 55 wagon. No lockers, tyre choices vehicle options etc, we tried lots of alternatives, dual wheels, tractor tyres on special rims that were trailered to wherever you were going and A frames.
Most vehicles in the group were fitted with a standard attachment to take a standard design A frame. Not everyone carried an A frame but they could be swapped from vehicle to vehicle. As here on the eastern seaboard we have hills that can be very muddy in forest areas we would hook 3 or 4 vehicles together with A frames and away we'd go, was pretty scary being in the middle as you had bugger all control except the accelerator but those 'crocodiles' would climb just about anything.
With 12 driving wheels there were always a few that had traction.
I've seen a system set up on a vehicle towed behind a motorhome on an A frame that used a vacuum brake unit on a made up frame that temporarily bolted in to the floor of a towed vehicle in front of the drivers seat and pushed on the brake pedal to utilise the vehicles brakes. The fella had an 12v vacuum pump to provide the assistance on the towed vehicle, the pump from memory was from a 740/760 series Volvo car (it was used on turbo models and models with cruise control) I've got a 740 turbo and it has one. Also some of the Thomas brand compressors suck pretty well and are used for vaccuum.
One concern which you would have to take into account would be the increased wear on the GQ's drivetrain due to the constant load. Stone damage on unsealed surfaces would also be pretty horrific, I've towed a vehicle along the Gibb River road for a few 100 k's(with a snatch strap) and the damage was substantial.
What is the legality of towing with an A frame? I know people do it but what is the actual legal situation? Seems like one of those grey areas ;-))

Willem,

Mate you've obviously been stuck in the house too long with this hot weather LOL. The only reason you want to tow the cruiser behind is so that you can put the missus in there when she complains about never getting the chance to sit behind the wheel :P If ya do it make sure ya put some photos out of the rig.

Cheers,
Hughesy

C'mon Willem,

State the real reason for you wanting to do this, come out of the closet.

You really want the Tojo there to push the Pootrol home when it breaks down ........lol.

Perhaps you should get Roachie to buy a cruiser to do the same or better still you could hook him up to your Patrol and the Cruiser could push you both home.

Willem,

Wow, a crazy idea. However you won't know for sure what is good or bad about it unless you do it. And if you don't, you'll forever be kicking yourself that you didn't.

Who knows, maybe one day such a thing will be standard on all off road vehicles to help them get out of trouble.

So, go for it. Develop the idea and sell it to the army.

R.

Mate, I reckon ur a legend.

Go for it I say..........wish there were more people like urself in the world.........and had no idea there were others like me.

I always get knocked for my cooky ideas..........and yet u would be amazed how often they actually work really well.

There is nothing to lose by having a go and by hell you just might start something..

Go for it son.

Willem, didn't the Army have a 'driven' trailer at some stage that worked off the PTO on a Landy? You know the hole in the rear bumper.

Saw a great show on 'Mythbusters' the other night about fitting "R.A.T.O's" to a vehicle. Rocket Asssited Take Off. As the name would suggest, it's a rocket the US military bolt on to heavily laden transport planes to help get them airbourne.

Now there's an idea. Doesn't matter what the ground conditions are. Handy for overtaking road trains, lighting wet wood, drying your washing and boiling the billy too.

G'day Donut Muncher,

An earlier reference to our early pioneers reminded me that they went out to these remote areas with their model T's etc on no roads or even tracks to follow.
I think one of the reasons they got through was due to the types of tyres and rims that were on the vehicles. Some of those old trucks were way overloaded past the gunnels and still made it through. Maybe you should consider 24" rims with 3" wide tyres to get out into the country that you desire to traverse.

Best wishes for your project.

cheers
The Donut King

Not 8 x 8 But i am sure the OKA came from an idea like this!!

Good luck you nut case :) Pete

I remember from my time in the military that Bofors made a 155mm howitzer with hydraulic drive to the road wheels to assist in getting in and out of tough areas. I remember that it would also do about 8 kmh unhitched as well!

If you could fit the drive to a trailer it would make it easy to get in to some of those difficult sites : )

Cheers

Paj

I reckon the coolest thing would be if you had the Landcruiser being towed BACKWARDS!

That way, reversing would be a cinch!

Now, does the Toyota automatically gain status as a trailer for rego & insurance purposes?

Now.............. here's the thing............. Wolfie's got WAY TOO MUCH TIME..........

Toyota & Nissan.............. jumble them up, and leave off one "T", and you get.........

NASTY POISON!!

CHEERS

WOLFIE

Willem
I saw a Toyota Sahara in Adelaide in the late 80's / early 90's rigged out as an outback tour operators consist that had a 2 wheel trailer driven by a PTO shaft from the Tojo gearbox .
I assume there was a clutch for engaging / disengaging so it had 6 wheel drive on demand.
It was a very professional looking set up. They appeared to be catering to upmarket tourists wanting to see the outback that the normal tour companies would not have been able to get in to.
Glad to hear there some other "old buggers" prepared to think outside the square & think through their dreams.

Regards

John Adamson