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Arctic Trucks what would it take to convert an H3T?

RamRod

RamRod

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,914
Location
AB, Canada
So I have been in love with these Arctic Trucks that I am starting to see everywhere.

They are made my a company out in Iceland, and have been used to explore the Antarctic for the past 7 years.
http://www.arctictrucks.com/?PageID=1281
They are the first trucks to drive to the North Pole (TopGear), they have set the fastest record to the South pole.

I got to reading an article about the world record polar truck, and its specs.... and got to thinking.... Why not my H3T?

tumblr_lve0a52lYf1r7ruf3o1_1280.jpg


I spend most of the year in a climate where snow is on the ground more days then it isn't.

The majority of my wheeling is done in the snow, some of our best trails in my area are only open in the winter once there is snow and the ground is frozen.

Why not build up my T to handle the deepest of the deep snow and be able to break trail and drive any where I want!?

Most of the arctic trucks are built with an IFS setup, however there are a few solid axle units.

The "Balloon tires" they use are a 38x15.5r15 or 44x15.5r15(x16) so instantly I know there must be problems with the brakes on our units being too big for the rim.

Say a guy went with the 38x15r15, (got around the brakes issue)
Toss on either a 1'' or 2'' bodylift
Now you have the wheel well clearance height wise, but would the width be an issue? TAPDH3T has 37x13.5's on with minimal rubbing.... these ballon tires are just an extra inch in diameter and 2'' wider...
How much trimming would be needed to get these to tuck in there?

Or would you even want to make them tuck in? Maybe you could get away with having a shallow back spacing on your rims to "push" the tire out ,then trim the front bumper right down and make some fender extensions (no longer flares at that point).

I am just spit balling for next winter, not saying I am going to do this for sure, but I am thinking about having a winter and a summer set up if this is possible.....

If not its always fun to scheme and drool over a build!

I'd love for your guys feed back and maybe it will turn into something, maybe it wont.

I'll leave you with this fun visual:

[video=youtube_share;7TB02gkgTCI]http://youtu.be/7TB02gkgTCI[/video]
 
S

skeptic

Well-Known Member
Messages
737
Location
Orygun
I would think starting with an Alpha, adding a heavy duty 4" lift, flat fender conversion, "balloon" tires on low backspace wheels, and strengthening a few things would be a good start. Unless you are talking some kind of competitive racing I don't think it would be difficult to setup an H3T Alpha for that kind of driving.

Looking at your sig, I'd say you are a set of wheels/tires and a couple fender mods away from a good starting point. Maybe upgrade a weak part or two (tie rods) and find softer springs/shocks, although I'd bet those big balloon tires help to soak up a lot of bumps.

Watching that video looks like a lot of fun.
 
RamRod

RamRod

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,914
Location
AB, Canada
skeptic said:
Looking at your sig, I'd say you are a set of wheels/tires and a couple fender mods away from a good starting point. Maybe upgrade a weak part or two (tie rods) and find softer springs/shocks, although I'd bet those big balloon tires help to soak up a lot of bumps.

Watching that video looks like a lot of fun.
Click to expand...

The truck I uploaded in the first post is a supercharged V6, with IIRC 360hp..... I have a supercharged V8 with approx 430hp

The Toyota was upgraded to a 4.10 transfer case... The T already has that.

Toyota was equipt with ARB lockers front and rear... The T already is fully locked!

I think your right those tires will soak up a lot of the bumps!

Never thought of a set of flat fenders! That would make it too easy!!



Sent from handheld smoke signal device
 
Portager

Portager

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Messages
1,506
Location
Silverado
Performance in snow is more a function of diameter and ground clearance than width. See http://www.snowtrek.org/snow-tires/deep-snow-tires.php

You want a large diameter, siped radial M/T. Then you want to air down to very low air pressure,like 0 to 2 psi. I think the 17" beadlocks you were talking about would be perfect. You could go with the IROK radial 37x12.5R17LT with your rancho lift. To go one size larger, i.e. 39.5x13.5R17, you'd need >1.25" body lift. The 41x14.5R17LT would require a 2" body lift.

I think you could get away with these big wheels in provide you avoid spinning.In the summer with more traction, I'd worry about the higher torque breaking halfshafts.
 
Airborne

Airborne

Just a regular dude
Messages
294
Location
Utah
Honestly based on your sig.... I would be completely shocked if you could not do everthing and more than those trucks are doing. The amount of surface area that you would gain with a 2" wider tire would be nominal vs the issues that would come with trying to work around it. Maybe some upgraded suspension?? Blistens any one?? :) Your truck sounds beefy as hell as it is. The only thing that may be a slight issue is the H3s are so damned heavy. Not the best when you want to "ski" on the snow. However based on what the vid and their site shows vs what you have listed and posted, again I would be floored if you already couldn't out perform those guys with just some heavier duty suspension.

I remember watching when the Top Gear guys took those trucks to the north pole they are impressive no doubt but I think your truck might be on the same level minus the 44" tires.
http://www.arctictrucks.com/pages/4700
 
SuperBuickGuy

SuperBuickGuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,403
Location
Woodinville, WA
ummmm... those tires are 54s, not 44s - Dick Cepek sand dune tread.

The conversion to your H3T would be a dana 60 front and a 14 bolt rear. You don't need travel, you don't need articulation, you simply need the altitude to clear the tires and the strength so they don't break when you push the skinny pedal... oh yeah, and central inflation would be nice too.

Keep this in mind, though, the eskimos are right, there's a thousand types of snow - where I live in the PNW, you need bogger or MT tires to get through the Cascade cement. Mudders simply aren't necessary on either end of our planet.... picture Minnesota with 100 feet of snow conditions.

When TG America went to the pole, they drove a bunch of little trucks, and one NA powered diesel 4x4 Chevy pickup on 54s with 4" lift. It's only mods were the lift and the tires - it was a former army truck, so it was 24v and had a 60 front/14b rear. It made it all the way AND carried the fuel for the other rigs.

... oh yeah, and when I saw that my mind went racing because I own this

 
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High Five H2

High Five H2

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,627
Location
West Texas
i have nothing to add other than.... Doooo it!

2nd on the SAS. i don't think the h3 IFS could handle tires that big. aam 925 works with GM electronics, so i've heard :)
 
4speedfunk

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
I would never take an H3 into that sort of environment...its just not reliable enough. It would take serious mods, and I think you would be better off to start with a diesel-based rig. I assume you would start the truck, and leave it running continuously for the duration of your adventure....that's standard practice for sub-zero machines, and the diesel is designed to do so. I would also "de-electronic-afy" it, so there was nothing more than a bank of batteries, an alternator, and a fuel cut-off for the diesel. Sailboats use the same basic principle on their motors, for the same reason....your life depends on it! Remember, this type of wheeling isn't just playing around. If that thing breaks or you get stranded...you got about a two-weeks until you are eating one of your mates to stay alive.

I think winch would need some sort of heater. It would surely become encrusted in ice, and rendered useless. Also, unless you have another truck to tie-up to...whats the point? Thousands of square miles with not single tree, log, or rock to connect to.

Whatever the rig...count me out. Too damn cold for me! :)
 
ReconH3

ReconH3

Guardian Angel
Messages
2,288
Location
Raleigh, NC
Here's an H1 converted like you want! It belongs to Master Pull and they use PullPals for snow anchors Hunner. :D


"Ex Umbris Venimus"
 

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Portager

Portager

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1,506
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Silverado
Love the Arctic H1. Ground or snow clearance is very important in snow. When you start plowing snow with the undercarriage is when you usually come to a stop. The H1 has great ground clearance and it is diesel so it would make a great snow vehicle. I also love the Navigation radar on the roof.

I'd like to know what Master Pull did to it besides the obvious tires and fender flares.
 
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