TerraLiner:12 m Globally Mobile Beach House/Class-A Crossover w 6x6 Hybrid Drivetrain
- Thread starter biotect
- Start date
NeverEnough
Adventurer
Or you can still send your daughter to college (along with several hundred of her friends) and have this, which weighs less than 30K lbs and can actually go down a fire road, well, at least a very wide one:
Always entertaining to catch up with this thread. Since I just spent another 4 days creeping up and down +15% grades on bad dirt and "paved" roads in my extremely huge and heavy rig, I'm still curious to see how something as big as the Terraliner is actually going to work. I don't care how many drive and steer axles you have, big and heavy definitely limits route selection and is just plain scary. I say a little prayer every time I roll over a cattle guard!
Always entertaining to catch up with this thread. Since I just spent another 4 days creeping up and down +15% grades on bad dirt and "paved" roads in my extremely huge and heavy rig, I'm still curious to see how something as big as the Terraliner is actually going to work. I don't care how many drive and steer axles you have, big and heavy definitely limits route selection and is just plain scary. I say a little prayer every time I roll over a cattle guard!
Haf-E
Expedition Leader
I appreciate your input as someone out there with a big rig doing it.
I love the really large rigs from a technical perspective but wouldnt want one - too many things that can go wrong - too many systems requiring maintenance and adjustments - too complex - I want to be more carefree when I travel and not constantly worried about one thing or another more than is necessary...
I love the really large rigs from a technical perspective but wouldnt want one - too many things that can go wrong - too many systems requiring maintenance and adjustments - too complex - I want to be more carefree when I travel and not constantly worried about one thing or another more than is necessary...
Can we go back to the topic of water for a minute, I have a question to ask. For those of you with the large 4x4 and 6x6 rigs, I've always been curious about where and how you refill your water supply while traveling the world. The small trucks aka Land Cruiser and the sort can pop into a grocery store and grab two cases of bottled water and be to capacity, but when you have 600-700-900 litres on board, where do you get your water from?
egn
Adventurer
As we not yet traveling the world for a longer time span, most of the water has been refilled at home. Up to now the about 650 l water was enough for 2-3 weeks for 3 persons, depending on shower use.
In most areas in Europe you can get water either at official refill station or fuel stations. But you may also ask people and get help from them. But we also have refilled water at water springs, wells and clean locking rivers. With a good water filter this is no problem.
When possible I use a small 12V water pump, which does about 20 l/min and a water hose. But I even have a large 230 V garden pump with 60 l/min, but never used it. If the water hose isn't long enough we use a watering can or a bucket to fetch the water and use the small water pump.
Here images from a refill from a water spring in Albania:
Some people use a higher opening to just refill with a watering can. Of course, all this takes some time depending on the flow rate.
In most areas in Europe you can get water either at official refill station or fuel stations. But you may also ask people and get help from them. But we also have refilled water at water springs, wells and clean locking rivers. With a good water filter this is no problem.
When possible I use a small 12V water pump, which does about 20 l/min and a water hose. But I even have a large 230 V garden pump with 60 l/min, but never used it. If the water hose isn't long enough we use a watering can or a bucket to fetch the water and use the small water pump.
Here images from a refill from a water spring in Albania:
Some people use a higher opening to just refill with a watering can. Of course, all this takes some time depending on the flow rate.
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nick disjunkt
Adventurer
The tank on my truck (about 450 litres) lasts us around 10 days to 2 weeks if we aren't being too careful and with this capacity we rarely have trouble filling up.
In the US we mostly filled up at camp grounds in state parks or national parks, often we just asked nicely and didn't even have to spend a night. The only time's we had difficulty were when boondocked in cities. In the UK almost every gas station has a water hose for topping off your radiator (sometimes you have to pay), but we found this less common in the US, and pretty rare in cities. Occasionally we found faucets at the back of gas stations which looked like they were intended for cleaning or landscaping, and nobody ever seemed to mind us using it fill the tank. On occasion we resorted to asking neighbouring houses or businesses if they minded us using the outside tap, and we never had anyone say no.
On a couple of occasions I've had to resort to using a tap on the outside of a shop after hours, or using an irrigation point in a public park, but I guess if I'd been less lazy and was willing to drive around a little I wouldn't have had to.
I have a big submersible pump that I can drop into a river or lake to pump water into our tank, but I've never needed to use it.
In the US we mostly filled up at camp grounds in state parks or national parks, often we just asked nicely and didn't even have to spend a night. The only time's we had difficulty were when boondocked in cities. In the UK almost every gas station has a water hose for topping off your radiator (sometimes you have to pay), but we found this less common in the US, and pretty rare in cities. Occasionally we found faucets at the back of gas stations which looked like they were intended for cleaning or landscaping, and nobody ever seemed to mind us using it fill the tank. On occasion we resorted to asking neighbouring houses or businesses if they minded us using the outside tap, and we never had anyone say no.
On a couple of occasions I've had to resort to using a tap on the outside of a shop after hours, or using an irrigation point in a public park, but I guess if I'd been less lazy and was willing to drive around a little I wouldn't have had to.
I have a big submersible pump that I can drop into a river or lake to pump water into our tank, but I've never needed to use it.
Further thoughts:
1. One advantage of 2-at-the-back 6x6 variant is that it enables use of a relatively simple and lightweight detachable tracks:
http://www.prowlertracks.com/over-the-tire-tracks/
http://www.bobcat.com/attachments/steel_tracks
2. Bio, I thought you may find it interesting, an RV sketch with segmented window:
Obviously very different from what you want, but may be an inspiration.
Source: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...rhome-aerodynamically-13149-8.html#post372611
3. Considering options:
a) small tractor + camper trailer
b) big integrated RV + toad
c) big integrated RV + trailer with toad inside
d) big integrated RV + trailer integrated with toad
e) big integrated RV + trailer integrated with toad, both with a train-like connection
I realized there's also another option:
f) articulated train-like RV with integrated (tractor + trailer) and no toad.
If the tractor is small enough to be used as a city vehicle, there's no need for a toad and you drop whole lot of complexity compared with options d) and e)
However, if you were to push the total size, you would end up with significant length differences between the tractor and the trailer.
Equal length advantages:
* with equal wheel setup, you get the same approach, departure, break-over angles
* if you got weight distribution right, there would be equal lever at the front and at the end
* it's easier to split weight precisely in half
* lowest turning radius at the given length
Also, f) would have to put the generator in the tractor which looses the advantage that on a trailer it's clearly just a generator and on a car it may be considered an engine. Still, it's the most space-efficient variant (in term of camper-usable volume per total length) that includes a smaller car that I see.
1. One advantage of 2-at-the-back 6x6 variant is that it enables use of a relatively simple and lightweight detachable tracks:
http://www.prowlertracks.com/over-the-tire-tracks/
http://www.bobcat.com/attachments/steel_tracks
2. Bio, I thought you may find it interesting, an RV sketch with segmented window:
Obviously very different from what you want, but may be an inspiration.
Source: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...rhome-aerodynamically-13149-8.html#post372611
3. Considering options:
a) small tractor + camper trailer
b) big integrated RV + toad
c) big integrated RV + trailer with toad inside
d) big integrated RV + trailer integrated with toad
e) big integrated RV + trailer integrated with toad, both with a train-like connection
I realized there's also another option:
f) articulated train-like RV with integrated (tractor + trailer) and no toad.
If the tractor is small enough to be used as a city vehicle, there's no need for a toad and you drop whole lot of complexity compared with options d) and e)
However, if you were to push the total size, you would end up with significant length differences between the tractor and the trailer.
Equal length advantages:
* with equal wheel setup, you get the same approach, departure, break-over angles
* if you got weight distribution right, there would be equal lever at the front and at the end
* it's easier to split weight precisely in half
* lowest turning radius at the given length
Also, f) would have to put the generator in the tractor which looses the advantage that on a trailer it's clearly just a generator and on a car it may be considered an engine. Still, it's the most space-efficient variant (in term of camper-usable volume per total length) that includes a smaller car that I see.
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I looked into international laws regarding vehicle sizing.
The best I could find was UN Convention on Road Traffic from 1949.
Following its rules should allow movement in the 97 countries that signed it except for Switzerland that did not ratify it.
There is at least one rule that goes against the laters Terra Liner plans:
Height shall not exceed 3.81 m (higher of 3.8 m, 12.5 ft).
Convention text
The best I could find was UN Convention on Road Traffic from 1949.
Following its rules should allow movement in the 97 countries that signed it except for Switzerland that did not ratify it.
There is at least one rule that goes against the laters Terra Liner plans:
Height shall not exceed 3.81 m (higher of 3.8 m, 12.5 ft).
Convention text
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biotect
Designer
Hi Pinstripe,
Actually, the TerraLiner will be 3.95 m high.
UniCats are quite tall, much taller than you stated, at least the larger 6x6 models. For instance, the following UniCat 6x6s are respectively 3.99 m, 3.95 m, 3.912 m, 3.81 m, and 3.99 m high. See http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX70HDQ-MANTGA6x6.php , http://www.unicat.net/pdf/EX70HD2M-MANTGA6x6-exposee-en.pdf , http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX70HDM-MBActros6x6.php , http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX63HDSC-MANTGA6x6.php , and http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX63HDM-MANTGA6x6.php .
Perhaps the smaller 4x4's listed on UniCat's website are shorter, but the 6x6s are the clear design precedent for the TerraLiner -- see http://www.unicat.com/en/individual.php . If memory serves, egn's Blue Thunder, discussed quite a few times in the thread, is also very close to 4 m high. Sure, this creates problems, but it also has benefits. As egn just recently stated, he and his wife feel like they never have quite enough space, and they have a comparatively large expedition motorhome. For the problems, see egn's excellent post, complete with pictures, at #741 on page 75 at http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...pedition-RV-w-Rigid-Torsion-Free-Frame/page75 (standard ExPo pagination).
My understanding is that 4 m is the universal limit, not 3.8. But I could be wrong....:bike_rider:
All best wishes,
Biotect
Actually, the TerraLiner will be 3.95 m high.
UniCats are quite tall, much taller than you stated, at least the larger 6x6 models. For instance, the following UniCat 6x6s are respectively 3.99 m, 3.95 m, 3.912 m, 3.81 m, and 3.99 m high. See http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX70HDQ-MANTGA6x6.php , http://www.unicat.net/pdf/EX70HD2M-MANTGA6x6-exposee-en.pdf , http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX70HDM-MBActros6x6.php , http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX63HDSC-MANTGA6x6.php , and http://www.unicat.com/en/info/EX63HDM-MANTGA6x6.php .
Perhaps the smaller 4x4's listed on UniCat's website are shorter, but the 6x6s are the clear design precedent for the TerraLiner -- see http://www.unicat.com/en/individual.php . If memory serves, egn's Blue Thunder, discussed quite a few times in the thread, is also very close to 4 m high. Sure, this creates problems, but it also has benefits. As egn just recently stated, he and his wife feel like they never have quite enough space, and they have a comparatively large expedition motorhome. For the problems, see egn's excellent post, complete with pictures, at #741 on page 75 at http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...pedition-RV-w-Rigid-Torsion-Free-Frame/page75 (standard ExPo pagination).
My understanding is that 4 m is the universal limit, not 3.8. But I could be wrong....:bike_rider:
All best wishes,
Biotect
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I found a precedent for an off-road truck with a series hybrid drivetrain and in-wheel-motors. And no friction breaks.
http://s4.e-monsite.com/2011/08/30/62869162letourneau-transporter-series-t-pdf.pdf
It's from 1969.
BTW, the company still does such hybrids, although it changed owner and name since then.
Example:
http://www.phmining.com/MinePro/Literature/Brochures/559294.pdf
http://s4.e-monsite.com/2011/08/30/62869162letourneau-transporter-series-t-pdf.pdf
It's from 1969.
BTW, the company still does such hybrids, although it changed owner and name since then.
Example:
http://www.phmining.com/MinePro/Literature/Brochures/559294.pdf
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biotect
Designer
Hi Safas,
Amazing stuff. Who would have thunk it? I wonder why there would be such a long-standing market for hybrid diesel-electric vehicles in such heavy-duty applications like logging? Would it be that the electric motors deliver instant torque, so that makes these trucks all the more capable in difficult, off-road situations?
All best wishes,
Biotect
Amazing stuff. Who would have thunk it? I wonder why there would be such a long-standing market for hybrid diesel-electric vehicles in such heavy-duty applications like logging? Would it be that the electric motors deliver instant torque, so that makes these trucks all the more capable in difficult, off-road situations?
All best wishes,
Biotect