I first posted this note at www.expeditioncampers.com
Chip Haven
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A British team hired Iceland's Gunnar Egilsson to construct a vehicle
capable of driving across the Antarctic icecap. The team's goal was
to set a speed record for driving from the coast of Antarctica to the
South Pole, a distance of about 750 miles.
Here's what Egilsson built for the expedition:
The Ice Challenger vehicle started as a Ford E350 long wheelbase
van powered by a 7.3 L diesel engine. The Icecool shop added an
airbag suspension that provides 26 inches of wheel travel, transfer
case for all wheel drive, Dana 60 drive axles with locking differentials,
and modified bodywork. The tires are 44 inch tall Super Swampers.
Here's a similar vehicle on a test drive in Iceland
The Ice Challenger team proved up to the task, driving non-stop for
2 days, 21 hours to reach the South Pole: A new record.
One part of the story I find interesting is that the team shipped the van
from England to Buenos Aires, and Gunnar drove it over public roads
to Punta Arenas, Chile, a distance of about 1500 miles. In other
words, this monster van is perfectly suited for driving around on
regular roads, too. What a truck!
Chip Haven
Chip Haven
--------
A British team hired Iceland's Gunnar Egilsson to construct a vehicle
capable of driving across the Antarctic icecap. The team's goal was
to set a speed record for driving from the coast of Antarctica to the
South Pole, a distance of about 750 miles.
Here's what Egilsson built for the expedition:
The Ice Challenger vehicle started as a Ford E350 long wheelbase
van powered by a 7.3 L diesel engine. The Icecool shop added an
airbag suspension that provides 26 inches of wheel travel, transfer
case for all wheel drive, Dana 60 drive axles with locking differentials,
and modified bodywork. The tires are 44 inch tall Super Swampers.
Here's a similar vehicle on a test drive in Iceland
The Ice Challenger team proved up to the task, driving non-stop for
2 days, 21 hours to reach the South Pole: A new record.
One part of the story I find interesting is that the team shipped the van
from England to Buenos Aires, and Gunnar drove it over public roads
to Punta Arenas, Chile, a distance of about 1500 miles. In other
words, this monster van is perfectly suited for driving around on
regular roads, too. What a truck!
Chip Haven