Snow and swamp-going vehicles are a type of vehicle designed for movement on unsteady surfaces - swamps, viscous and crumbling soils, as well as deep snow. With their help, they deliver essential products to remote villages and get to places where they search for fossils.
Snow and swamp-going vehicles on wheels are very often used for other economic purposes, such as servicing oil pipelines, railway tracks or power lines, patrolling forestry enterprises and nature reserves in search of poachers, and to prevent fires. Smaller special equipment can also be found in private hands - among hunters and fishermen.
Characteristic features of snow and swamp-going vehicles on ultra-low pressure wheels
The main distinguishing feature of all-terrain vehicles with low and ultra-low pressure tires is that they use a frame with articulated joints. Thanks to this, the wheels can take almost any position, which has a positive effect on the vehicle’s maneuverability.
The articulated design, combined with low-pressure tires, prevents the all-terrain vehicle from falling on its side when passing through crumbling or rocky areas.
The design uses a carburetor or diesel engine as the power unit. The first is considered more durable and suitable for long trips. Swamp vehicles and snowmobiles of this type may have two or three axles.
Features of creating a homemade snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands
Many craftsmen know that an agricultural machine such as a walk-behind tractor can easily be transformed into a snowmobile, allowing you to successfully move off-road even on the snowiest days.
Moreover, the remodeling process itself is quite simple and uncomplicated. The main thing is to choose the right engine. Experienced owners of such “helpers” advise giving preference to a device that has manual control and a towing device. In most cases, a class of walk-behind tractors is used, the design of which involves the use of a 4-stroke, 1-cylinder gasoline engine with air cooling.
Before you begin the process of working on your future snowmobile, you need to prepare:
- powerful wheels (or tracks with snow hooks);
- frame;
- power unit;
- drive unit;
- runners;
- shock absorbers;
- steering column.
Some parts you can create yourself, and some you can purchase. For example, the frame is suitable from an old motorcycle, and the longitudinal pipes of frames from old bicycles should be used as rotating ski racks.
How to make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor: step-by-step instructions
- To begin with, an engine from a walk-behind tractor is installed on the caterpillar drive;
- Then two rods are attached to it, joining the cross beam (where the handlebars and skis are already attached);
- The front pillar and seat are mounted in the space between the two rods;
- Now the caterpillar mover needs to be attached to the specified transverse beam;
- All other parts should be attached using pins and bolts.
The result should be an excellent motorized vehicle that can transport a person (and a small load) in difficult weather conditions.
Pros and cons of low pressure tires
All-terrain vehicles are used where a regular car, even an all-wheel drive one, has nothing to do. Currently, all-terrain vehicles are produced on wheels, tracks, harnesses and air cushions. Wheeled tracks represent the most versatile and popular type of equipment in this class.
All-terrain vehicle tires have both advantages and disadvantages.
Positive qualities include:
- good buoyancy;
- increased cross-country ability;
- low probability of puncture;
- versatility (can be used at any time of the year, in any area).
Daniila Rukin
Snowmobile specialist "Buran". I go fishing in my free time.
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In addition, special equipment of this type is well suited for agricultural work, since the tires exert relatively little pressure on the ground.
Flaws:
- reduction in the service life of some machine components;
- high fuel consumption (but much less than that of caterpillar tracks);
- not suitable for hard surfaces.
It is highly undesirable to use a wheeled all-terrain vehicle with low-pressure tires on regular roads. In addition to the increased noise level in the cabin, various vibrations, rapid wear of the rubber occurs.
Types of all-terrain vehicles with low-pressure tires
Wheeled snow and swamp-going vehicles have a universal design, thanks to which they can cope with even the most rugged terrain. The special design of the tires allows you to almost freely pass along the bottom of shallow rivers and streams. Depending on the type of soil traversed, all-terrain vehicles can be divided into three groups:
- swamp walkers;
- snowmobiles;
- amphibians.
Snowmobiles
Such machines are used in permafrost areas, in the Tundra and in the Far North. Local residents go fishing on them or just relax in nature. In addition, food and medicine are transported using snowmobiles.
Swamp walkers
As the name suggests, this type of all-terrain vehicle is designed for driving in wetlands. They are most often used by hunters.
Amphibians
Amphibious all-terrain vehicles can move freely on water. This is possible thanks to special floating fillers that are located inside the wheel rims. In addition, such machines have hermetic protection of the bottom and adjacent compartments.
Search and rescue vehicle PPSA 3(3409)-01NN
PPSA 3(3409)-01NN – fire search and rescue vehicle Based on a snow and swamp-going floating tracked all-terrain vehicle. Designed for extinguishing fires and carrying out emergency rescue operations in particularly difficult road and climatic conditions, as well as delivering personnel and equipment to the emergency site. The car is able to move over any type of terrain, mountains, plains, sand, snow and open water. The cabin provides accommodation for 3 combat crew members, including the driver.
PPSA 3(3409)-01NN
Detailed characteristics of the equipment at the link: PPSA 3(3409)-01NN
How to choose the best
To choose the best all-terrain vehicle on ultra-low pressure wheels, you need to decide on the purpose of use and the availability of financial resources. It is worth saying that most all-terrain vehicles are an order of magnitude higher than conventional cars. A caterpillar suspension is suitable for moving through the forest, which is also suitable for swamps. In addition, metal is more durable compared to rubber.
The truck with three or four axles on ultra-low pressure tires rides smoothly over rough terrain. In most cases, such machines are universal, since the wheels easily overcome both unsteady and viscous places and move well on hard surfaces.
Learning to create an ATV from a walk-behind tractor
I wonder if the designers of walk-behind tractors could have imagined what craftsmen would turn their creations into? Hardly! Moreover, the masters are not going to stop there, and a clear proof of this is the ATV created on the basis of a walk-behind tractor.
It differs from a standard motorcycle in the presence of four wheels, allowing you to easily drive through the most mountainous areas. The ATV is also known for its relative safety, because if it gets into a hole on the road, it is much easier to fly out of a two-wheeled motorcycle than from a four-wheeled one.
General stages of transforming a walk-behind tractor into an ATV
- Wheelbase extension;
- Proper arrangement of the frame;
- Installation of suitable wheels.
Detailed stages of transformation
- First, you need to spread the wheels using special bevels, which are turned on a lathe or purchased in a store;
- Then you need to take care of creating the frame. These parts are often “borrowed” from a bicycle or motorcycle, but the possibility of welding them from classic water pipes is not excluded;
- Now you should attach this same frame to the walk-behind tractor at the swivel joint, using two pins;
- Afterwards you need to deal with the wheels. Naturally, car tire wheels (with a low profile) are considered the best option. They are distinguished by a fairly wide stock and an excellent rubber chamber that will fit perfectly to them;
- Cameras should be selected from trucks, then there will be no doubt about the practicality and endurance of the device.
Thanks to this simple modification method, you can get an excellent ATV that does not need a well-trodden road and is not afraid of sharp turns and slopes.
In total, it can be noted that if you have additional tools, materials, drawings, video tutorials and other things, the walk-behind tractor can be completely retrained and “breathe new life into it”!
Review of popular models
Currently, the market for special equipment offers a wide selection of all-terrain vehicles, both universal and designed for a specific type of terrain. The vast majority of professional all-terrain vehicles are manufactured by companies specializing in the production of such equipment. Below are a few of the most popular models.
All-terrain vehicles Max
Snow and swamp-going vehicles manufactured by Max combine functions that are inherent in a snowmobile, boat or tractor separately.
Main features:
- Capable of reaching speeds of up to 75 km/h on ground and 12 km/h on water.
- A spacious tank that allows you to cover distances of two hundred kilometers without refueling.
- The weight of the machine is 900 kg.
- The body can accommodate up to six people.
Among other things, a dump truck can be attached to the all-terrain vehicle for transporting goods. The machine has six independent wheels.
Argo all-terrain vehicles
Off-road vehicles "Argo" are designed to move through swamps, snow, and also very rough terrain in the forest. The vehicle has four axles, with all eight wheels being driven. There is a special cargo compartment inside.
The Argo brand produces special wheeled and tracked vehicles, as well as mini-all-terrain vehicles.
Crawler Tinger
This all-terrain vehicle is designed for driving on hard surfaces. A caterpillar mechanism is used as a propulsion mechanism. The drive does not have any chains that overload the axle shafts. The brake system is hydraulic, and the maximum speed is 45 km/h. This truck can accommodate up to four passengers.
Domestic models "Transmash"
This Russian-made model has a tracked suspension and a spacious closed body. The car can accommodate up to ten passengers, but is more often used as a cargo transport.
All-terrain vehicle "TARUS 2X2"
This motorcycle-type all-terrain vehicle is lightweight and has good maneuverability. As can be seen from the markings in the name, both wheels are driving.
Main characteristics of the all-terrain vehicle:
| Engine make and size | Honda, 210cc |
| Power | 7 l. With. |
| Maximum speed | 35 km/h |
| Dry weight | 80 kg |
This all-terrain vehicle has a collapsible design, thanks to which it can be taken to a hunting or fishing spot directly in the trunk of an SUV.
