VW Group-owned industrial car producer Man Truck & Bus has revealed a van that may be geared up with tank-style caterpillar drive models instead of wheels, considerably enhancing its off-road credentials.
The TGE 3.180 4×4 Combi van is designed to trip on typical tyres whereas on the street, however when confronted with extra extreme terrain, equivalent to “snow-covered slopes or muddy meadows”, may be fitted with caterpillar tracks in lower than one hour – with no specialist assist.
The conversion, stated Man Truck & Bus, is carried out “like a wheel change”. The one modification essential to the van’s wheel hubs is fitment of a devoted adapter plate, which is fastened to the unique wheel bolts and establishes the connection to the axles.
The tracks are made by monitor conversion equipment producer TrackSystems, and add round 300kg to the burden of the van.
Man Truck & Bus stated the TGE 3.180 is “splendid” for ski resorts, the place it could possibly be used to move company between inns and ski lifts, for instance, and to achieve troublesome to entry alpine pastures.
Together with the motive force’s seat, a complete of eight seats are provided. Utilizing the caterpillar drive, the van may be pushed at speeds of as much as 31mph, with no modifications wanted for its normal eight-speed computerized gearbox, which is not going to exceed third gear when the tracks are in use.
Different options that make the TGE 3.180 particularly suited to tackling troublesome terrain embrace a Seikel chassis, raised by round 3 cm. Whereas the transformed van is ready to drive on snow, the tracks should be eliminated when the TGE returns to the street, to keep away from injury.
The TGE 3.180 stays an idea for now, however Man is prone to supply the conversion equipment as an choice for the van in future.
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