Top Gear Polar Expedition

[blur13]

Just watched the Top Gear Polar special, has anyone else seen it? A couple of the hosts (Jeremy & James) race Richard and a dog sled to the North Pole in a Hilux.

The Hilux is really well built, and the scenery is awesome. Here's a link if anyone is interested (to the torrent).

http://www.mininova.org/tor/808894

 

[paulj]

Pictures of the truck and its mods:
http://www.topgear.com/content/timetoburn/sections/galleries/other/top-gears-polar-hilux/01/

I found this description of the route:
"The distance between Resolute in northern Canada and the magnetic North Pole at Ellef Ringnes Island is 320 nautical miles [450 miles]. "

I didn't think they were talking about the geographic North Pole. Ice ridges and open water leads would be too much for even a well equipped truck.

This drive has been added to wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Magnetic_Pole

http://polarrace.com/about/route/

 

[Brian894x4]

I watched that and that was REALLY cool!

Those Hiluxes are really impressive. I'm curious how the moved the front suspension "forward". I wonder if they extended the frame or something. I'm sure it couldn't be easy on an IFS truck. They also mention upgrading the diffs. I wonder what that means, unless it's just lockers.

It definately makes me long for some winter snow driving. Only a few months away.....or so.

 

[Clay]

It's cool, but what's up with the gun case on the outside? That's funky, IMHO.

 

[Brian894x4]

I thought that was weird too, but it does allow quick access. The only time you're going to need the gun is standing around the truck, at camp, or using the restroom or while digging out. All outside and all pretty close to the truck. That way, the gun is right there and you don't have to fiddle with digging it out from inside the truck or out of the back.

I noticed the support vehicles had the gun case set up exactly the same way, so it must serve a real purpose.

Seems like it would be easy to knock off the truck though.

 

[CornDog]

It's cool, but what's up with the gun case on the outside? That's funky, IMHO.

I haven't watched the video yet, but I really hope they didn't have to use it. In the kind of tempratures they're talking about, a firearm kept outside like that wouldn't function. And a shotgun for polarbear protection? Might as well have used a BB gun! You won't know he's there until he's on top of you. I've dealt with polar bears before, and I wouldn't want to have to face one, even with slug shot.

 

[teotwaki]

I'd rather have a large caliber scoped rifle than a shotgun. With the proper lubricants the weapon should function fine in cold temps.

SLiP2000 Gun Lubricant
( SLiP2000 )

Sandy and Dusty Conditions
Slip 2000 Gun Lubricant is a pure synthetic blend of the highest quality, so it does not attract dust, dirt or sand like petroleum based products. Even in extremely dusty conditions your gun will function properly.

Wet or Humid Conditions
It is excellent at displacing moisture. This will help prevent corrosion in wet or humid conditions including exposure to coastal elements.

Extreme Hot and Cold Conditions
Slip 2000 Gun Lubricant has a temperature range of -110 degrees F to a +1250 degrees F so it will not freeze, become sticky or slow down in cold weather and, it will not evaporate in hot weather or burn off during repeat firing. This temperature range will help prevent jamming, freezing and misfires you would encounter with a lesser lubricant.

 

[CornDog]

I'd rather have a large caliber scoped rifle than a shotgun. With the proper lubricants the weapon should function fine in cold temps.

I'm sure that's true now. I spent a year and a half in Barrow AK back in the mid 80's. We had special gloves with thin palms to hold the rifle around the action/trigger assemble because they would freeze up. The ammunition as well; we had to keep inside coats. If you left it out in the rifle, it wouldn't function after about 15~20 minutes in the winter. I spent a couple winters in Murmansk Russia; same story.

Makes sense though, seems like better oils would fix that.

 

[paulj]

Here's a longer writeup on the Arctic Trucks site:
http://www.arctictrucks.com/?PageID=1218

http://www.arctictrucks.com/?PageID=1219

 

[teotwaki]

I'm sure that's true now. I spent a year and a half in Barrow AK back in the mid 80's. We had special gloves with thin palms to hold the rifle around the action/trigger assemble because they would freeze up. The ammunition as well; we had to keep inside coats. If you left it out in the rifle, it wouldn't function after about 15~20 minutes in the winter. I spent a couple winters in Murmansk Russia; same story.

Makes sense though, seems like better oils would fix that.

Good points that it is not just the weapon but also the clothing and techniques. I think by storing their weapon outdoors in the hard case the weapon's metal is already normalized to the ambient temps. Bringing it in and out of a cab would attract moisture that can freeze and jam the moving parts.

 

[seth_js]

Awesome! Digg'n that Hilux.

 

[paulj]

According to the Arctic Trucks description, the expedition had 2 of these trucks, a Land Cruiser with trailer, and some unspecified number of snow mobiles.

paulj

 

[seth_js]

According to the Arctic Trucks description, the expedition had 2 of these trucks, a Land Cruiser with trailer, and some unspecified number of snow mobiles.

paulj

Yeah, they show the crew several times. Watch the whole thing, it's awesome.

 

[Clay]

Here's what I would want for a polar bear:
The .577 T-Rex
ROFSheriffHL:

Once again, very cool rigs. I'd like to go for a run in one.

 

[viter]

cool story! thanks for posting this!
more pics from arctic trucks from this trip are here, btw, - http://www.arctictrucks.com/?pageid=1062&categoryid=279

and also in case somebody haven't found these yet, top gear's story/blog/pics/vids are here - http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2067/