Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Any one seen it tried, how about just whacking a big electric motor on each diff and swapping the transmission for a generator? Motor for each wheel perhaps? Having some sort of variable torque drive system, with joystick controlled biasing. You could get really tricky with a plug outlet for electric trailer too.

I would have thought motor on each wheel, and a small (diesel?) generator for keeping the batteries charged. The biggest hassle would be dealing with the current levels required to transmit the power, but I suppose if you use a higher voltage that wouldn't be such an issue.

Of course, keeping all the wheels driving at the same speed could be an issue - Haultech Traction Control?

Ah i cant remeber who made it, i saw it a couple of months ago. It was a quad bike, 4x4, ran on fuel cells, each wheel had its own motor. Looked like the ducks guts. Do some googling on it you should be able to find it.

[edit] Found it, Peugeot made it, its called "Quark"

http://www.peugeot.com/default_design_c ... tm?lang=en

Click on all models, then quark...

NJ SWB wrote:I would have thought motor on each wheel, and a small (diesel?) generator for keeping the batteries charged. The biggest hassle would be dealing with the current levels required to transmit the power, but I suppose if you use a higher voltage that wouldn't be such an issue.

Of course, keeping all the wheels driving at the same speed could be an issue - Haultech Traction Control?

I more thinking of relying on the motor more than batteries like a diesel/electric loco. Possibly mounting the motor in the engine bay and replacing the gearbox with the generator, this wouls remove the tail shafts, you would want 3:1 reduction boxes between the motors & diffs and most common electric motors are only usable between 200-1400 rpm.

If you have a diesel alternator it could pump out 3 phase. no batteries needed other than to start it. 3 phase motors all round means heaps of power. Quick and constant winches. Or put a hydrolic pump on the diesel and hydrolic motors on each wheel. No diffs, four wheel steering, can run hydrolic lifters all round to raise the hight as high as you want to, and a hugh amount of torque at each wheel with no weak links.
sounds like the perfect rock buggy

If you have a diesel alternator it could pump out 3 phase. no batteries needed other than to start it. 3 phase motors all round means heaps of power. Quick and constant winches. Or put a hydrolic pump on the diesel and hydrolic motors on each wheel. No diffs, four wheel steering, can run hydrolic lifters all round to raise the hight as high as you want to, and a hugh amount of torque at each wheel with no weak links.
sounds like the perfect rock buggy

If you have a diesel alternator it could pump out 3 phase. no batteries needed other than to start it. 3 phase motors all round means heaps of power. Quick and constant winches. Or put a hydrolic pump on the diesel and hydrolic motors on each wheel. No diffs, four wheel steering, can run hydrolic lifters all round to raise the hight as high as you want to, and a hugh amount of torque at each wheel with no weak links.
sounds like the perfect rock buggy

and how much will it all weigh ?

i think hydrostatic drive would be the go with an hydralic motor driving each diff with a small engine driving a varible displacment pump. Just think it is nearly infinite reduction gear ratios.

Hmm I'm thinking, I possibly have access to a 1.5 tonne 24v electric forklift that has been retired and could grab for around $500, motor might be big enough to mount in a Sierra.

the biggest prblem with your forklift motor idea is the batteries are damm huge they usally average about 1.25 ton and are very damm expensive

Zeyphly wrote:the biggest prblem with your forklift motor idea is the batteries are damm huge they usally average about 1.25 ton and are very damm expensive

These ones are probably 1/2 tonne, would probably fit in the back of a SWB Sierra with the back seats out.

mustnt be a very big forklift then. from what i can remember the minimum battery weight for a 2 1/2 ton for is usally around a ton, but as well as the battery weith they have to push along about another 2 1/2 tons of stuff. and your serria is going to way a hell of a lot less than that. Just think it could just about be the slowest crawler you have ever seen.

Rainbow Warrior wrote:

Zeyphly wrote:the biggest prblem with your forklift motor idea is the batteries are damm huge they usally average about 1.25 ton and are very damm expensive

These ones are probably 1/2 tonne, would probably fit in the back of a SWB Sierra with the back seats out.

our forks at work each battery weighs 1.5ton and only last four hours if i give it a workout ( lifting 1000kg pallets of frozen crap ) so to turn tyres that have load would be similar i'd say !

plus if u roll her over with the battery in the back seat glad u r driving with all that battery acid spashing round the car