My Future Expo Rig

[barlowrs]

(If I ever become rich)

This thing is great! it is 6 wheel drive, all locked, front rear stearing. Essentially like a truck with a trailer, but the trailer is build in! And the coolest thing...it is amphibious! no more checking water depth, just float across it! :smiley_drive:

I'd like to introduce you to the GAMA GOAT!:drool::drool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoXxYMbTBTk

 

[Deleted member 9101]

The cool part is a small block chevy bolts right in...lol

 

[FJLED]

Very cool. Here's the reasoning behind it not being utilized much in the military

"While the Gama Goat had exceptional off-road ability, its quirky steering made it hard to handle on pavement, and its tendency to founder in amphibious operations required drivers to have special training in order to operate it. This meant it could not be the "general purpose" vehicle the Army had hoped for, and production was halted after the original contract expired. The air-cooled engine overheated and high pitched noise issues resulted in a warning to all operators that hearing protection was required while driving the vehicle. The double hull construction and complex articulated drive train made maintenance difficult."

 

[Lynn]

So, you want an amphibious, articulated vehicle? The Hagglunds BV206 would run circles around a Gama Goat.

The following link is a plug for some 'adventure company,' but it has some pretty good footage of the Hagglunds in action:

On Youtube

Addited: There was a thread on here a long time ago showing a Gama Goat for sale. The guy had put a Chevy engine in it, and an Alaskan camper in the back. Pretty cool concept, but I noticed that even though he added a hard cab and claimed to have added soundproofing, there were hearing protectors visible in the photos...

 

[Lynn]

Here is the camperized one I mentioned.

 

[olympiccop2002]

Here is the camperized one I mentioned.

Looks like a Goat with an Alaskan Camper on it... Never been in or near one but I know that people who have say they are insanely annoyingly loud. Would love to see one with the SBC dropped in though.

 

[Jrally]

If a SB fits, wouldn't a BB be even better, what about the older Chevy diesel V8s?? Just putting it out there, in reality, a SBC is a great power plant and would be the most reliable, likely.

-Jon

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I got a ride in a Gamma Goat once...I was glad I had my flight helmet with me. It was the single NOISIEST vehicle I've ever been in, including all aircraft and helicopters.

Those headsets hanging there in the picture aren't just for looks....

 

[Rallyroo]

Hawaii's Department of Forestry uses the Gamo Goat for fighting wildfires. And dang are those Gamo Goat's noisy. I'll have to go through my photo archives to dig up photos of them.

 

[pcampbell]

Local guy had one and we convinced him to bring it wheeling with us on a trip a couple of years ago. Drug him down a couple of pretty gnarly trails. That thing was really neat. It was crazy loud, as wide as an H1, and required gorilla arms to turn, but it was still cool. I'll see if I can find the pictures.

 

[pcampbell]

BTW...he drove it 40 miles to the off road park. That is insane all by itself!

Pics...

 

[barlowrs]

BTW...he drove it 40 miles to the off road park. That is insane all by itself!

Yeah, they are completly street legal which is one of the cool parts

 

[pcampbell]

Yeah, they are completly street legal which is one of the cool parts

That's not what makes it insane...no top, 50mph tops, and 130 decibels....wearing a soldier's hard hat, with a fake M60 mounted on the front.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

And the noise seems mostly gear train related - so a decent muffler won't help.


Of course, the Bv-206 someone mentioned is kind of noisy too. Anybody know what they go for, with a Diesel?

 

[4Rescue]

Gamma Goats are "neat" for nostalgia and from an engineering stand-point. BUT, IMO they completely failed to be what they wanted them to be. THey were rediculously "ODD" to drive, Loud as all hell and massively underpowered. Along side all the neat Power Wagons my Dad's family had down in S.Oregon/Wolf Creek area for their logging opperation, they had an old Gamma and it was kind of fun to play with, but as stated already they're near imossible to steer and the motors DEFINATLY require you to wear ear protection. If you're like me, you'll find driving without being able to hear is really uncomfortable for any period of time.

IMO there are vastly superior platforms out there for a "Dream Expo Rig" so much so even that a GG isn't anywhere near my list for such a vehicle. But, to each their own and like nearly everything I'm amazed by the idea and engineering of the things so on that hand they are really cool and unique.

I love the pics above of the one out on the trail...that's NUTS that the guy drove it 40miles and then went wheeling and back home all in one day... Talk about a work out, I'd be exhausted from the noise alone. Great pics and thatnks for sharing mate.

Cheers

Dave