What could go fastest down a heavily rutted track?
Discussion
Purely theoretical and just out of interest.
Preface: I am certainly not a 4x4 expert!
I drive a new shape Shogun occasionally and sometimes and go down some very rutted/pot holed tracks on farm land. However, I don't find the ride very absorbent and it gets deflected pretty easily. Combined with vague steering it isn't very confidence inspiring. I haven't been in a Disco for a few years but I'm sure one would be able to tackle it much better. I'm assuming its ruggedness in terms of construction just isn't matched by suspension sophistication.
But what, out of the factory, could hammer down such a lane the quickest? Would an Amarok do a good job? A Disco? Land Cruiser? Could anything beat an F150 Raptor with Fox shocks?...
Preface: I am certainly not a 4x4 expert!
I drive a new shape Shogun occasionally and sometimes and go down some very rutted/pot holed tracks on farm land. However, I don't find the ride very absorbent and it gets deflected pretty easily. Combined with vague steering it isn't very confidence inspiring. I haven't been in a Disco for a few years but I'm sure one would be able to tackle it much better. I'm assuming its ruggedness in terms of construction just isn't matched by suspension sophistication.
But what, out of the factory, could hammer down such a lane the quickest? Would an Amarok do a good job? A Disco? Land Cruiser? Could anything beat an F150 Raptor with Fox shocks?...
I would imagine the main difference is that a Shogun is a monocoque chassis with full independent suspension. Mine rides very hard even on the road, and is equally stiff offroad.
Something ladder chassis / live axle would likely fare better. I remember my old air sprung RangeRover being far more supple off road.
Something ladder chassis / live axle would likely fare better. I remember my old air sprung RangeRover being far more supple off road.
Not wanting to disagree, but on terrain as you describe I think something IFS/IRS would be the ticket. Any live axle vehicle will result in more work and less ability to steer where you want, as the wheels don't react independantly.
Look at any of the Baja racers or Stadium trucks, they are all independent.
On this theme I suspect and know a Freelander can be very capable on such terrain. Although if you are really hammering it a lot at speed, you may wish to add some additional bracing and maybe some uprated shocks with a remote reservoir.
LWB will generally also work better too over SWB as it'll add stability and improve the ride.
Back when McRae drove for Ford, they used to use Freelanders as the recee vehicles. I believe McRae liked them so much he bought one of them.
Look at any of the Baja racers or Stadium trucks, they are all independent.
On this theme I suspect and know a Freelander can be very capable on such terrain. Although if you are really hammering it a lot at speed, you may wish to add some additional bracing and maybe some uprated shocks with a remote reservoir.
LWB will generally also work better too over SWB as it'll add stability and improve the ride.
Back when McRae drove for Ford, they used to use Freelanders as the recee vehicles. I believe McRae liked them so much he bought one of them.
300bhp/ton said:
...On this theme I suspect and know a Freelander can be very capable on such terrain. Although if you are really hammering it a lot at speed, you may wish to add some additional bracing and maybe some uprated shocks with a remote reservoir.....
Sorry for laughing, but M-Sport had to get Reiger to custom make some dampers for the recce cars so they could withstand the punishment of rallies like the Acropolis. Those are not available off the shelf so I'd think the mods you suggest may not be as easy as you think....
OP I think 300's suggestioon of a Baja truck is a good one however closer to home, one of these may last a bit longer than a Freelander...
Needs to be a proper factory car really... Obviously aftermarket the sky's the limit...
Am interested in benefits of ladder vs monocoque in terms of capability? I thought a benefit of the G-Wagen's construction (for instance) was excellent articulation, meaning it would be very stable in such a situation?
Am interested in benefits of ladder vs monocoque in terms of capability? I thought a benefit of the G-Wagen's construction (for instance) was excellent articulation, meaning it would be very stable in such a situation?
Edited by LongLiveTazio on Tuesday 17th September 17:12
Ranger 6 said:
Sorry for laughing, but M-Sport had to get Reiger to custom make some dampers for the recce cars so they could withstand the punishment of rallies like the Acropolis. Those are not available off the shelf so I'd think the mods you suggest may not be as easy as you think....
Ranger 6 said:
OP I think 300's suggestioon of a Baja truck is a good one however closer to home, one of these may last a bit longer than a Freelander...
Where did I suggest a Baja truck?? Getting fed up of people not bothering to READ.I said vehicles used for fast off road driving on such terrain tend to use Independent suspension rather than live axles, and cited some examples.
300bhp/ton said:
Ranger 6 said:
OP I think 300's suggestioon of a Baja truck is a good one....
Where did I suggest a Baja truck?? 300bhp/ton said:
...Look at any of the Baja racers or Stadium trucks...
You could claim that you only mentioned a Baja racer, but I'd dismiss that as you mentioned truck in the same sentence and ultimately they're pretty much the same thing 
...and I suggest when someone compliments your suggestion, then perhaps extend the same courtesy
LongLiveTazio said:
Needs to be a proper factory car really... Obviously aftermarket the sky's the limit...
Am interested in benefits of ladder vs monocoque in terms of capability? I thought a benefit of the G-Wagen's construction (for instance) was excellent articulation, meaning it would be very stable in such a situation?
The G Wagon actually has quite poor articulation which is why the later 463 models come with both front and rear diff locks as well as the more usual center lock to compensate for this. Am interested in benefits of ladder vs monocoque in terms of capability? I thought a benefit of the G-Wagen's construction (for instance) was excellent articulation, meaning it would be very stable in such a situation?
Live axles are a bonus when traversing uneven terrain at low speeds because as one wheel is forced up the wheel on the opposite side of the axle is forced down which helps to maintain contact and traction ( provided you have sufficient articulation ). At high speed over uneven terrain the live axle becomes a liability and creates a very bumpy and unstable ride compared to a vehicle with independent suspension.
(2 4wd versions, if you count the single engine and twin engine variants 
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