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XTV
- Xtreme Terrain Vehicle
Since then, the Sniper had evolved. A pretty cool rig designed by Steve Rumore. It seems to be the more visible of the two and has had much success, but still way out of my price range. I wanted something that was as good or better than what was out there with a reasonable price tag. Nothing, na da, zilch! Hmm, guess we're going to have to build it!
So, my partner and I continued to do what we do best. I build Jeeps and he builds rails. And for as long as I've known Mike, we've had an on-going argument as to which is the better of the two. Now I don't know when it happened, and I can't recall what the situation or conversation was. But somehow or another, we came across the idea of combining the best of both worlds. We took everything that was great about four-wheel drives and rails and put them together. It seemed kind of taboo at first, almost like picking your nose in traffic and getting caught or riding a moped and your friends finding out. But once put into action, the assets outweighed the liabilities.
Over the next few months, I will be describing from the ground up, the construction of our competition version of the XTV Raptor. In addition, I will be reviewing the awesome products of sponsors like Krupp/Bilstein, Advanced Adapters, TracTech Inc., Klune Industries, Randy's Ring and Pinion, Jaz Products, Mike Trammel Paint and Body, and others. The competition version is purpose-built to compete in the Goodyear Rock Crawling Championships for the 2001 season. I don't believe there has ever been an article on-line or in print describing in detail the build-up of such a vehicle. So, sit-back and enjoy. See you next month.
© 2000 Rockcrawler. All Rights Reserved |
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A
few years back, Soni Honegger introduced us to the now famous Scorpion.
It was awesome! Never had we seen such a vehicle with all it's capabilities
and functions. Like many, I was drawn to it. I would find myself in
a semi-hypnotic state watching it crawl with ease over obstacles that
most people dismissed as impossible. It was cool, but I couldn't afford
one. I would lie awake at night with the idea of a new creation crawling
and articulating over the ripples in my brain. 
The
first plans for a rock buggy obviously started in my head. It started
simple, but like the true men that we are, it wasn't long before I wanted
the biggest, baddest, best! "As good" would no longer do. I put the
ideas on paper working from many different angles. I called on engineer
friends to test the structural integrity of our chassis design. I put
forth tremendous efforts to install only the best products offered in
the four-wheel drive community. A huge power plant was the heart and
soul of a fire-breathing beast that could out flex the best and hold
together under fire. A newly designed custom suspension system never
installed under a four-wheel drive vehicle was the legs that could not
be swept. And the XTV Venom was created. 
It
wasn't soon after the tabulation of expenses for this vehicle far exceeded
that of anything on the market. It seemed that my partner and I got
a little carried away. We tried for more than a year to get financing,
but traditional institutions and rich "old" individuals could not understand
our motives. This is what I learned: "Actions speak, promises suck,
and a deal isn't a deal 'til the money changes hands!"
Think
about it, low to the ground with awesome clearance. Extremely light
weight with better distribution. A strong engine putting the power to
four wheels instead of two. An automatic transmission and planetary
crawler system that would allow you to run the dunes at high speeds,
or load up the very same vehicle and hit the rocks of Colorado or Utah
cruising an impressive 11 feet per minute at 4000 rpm! A proven suspension
system (with our own twisted design) that could crawl up and over a
six foot vertical wall. The ability to sit 18 inches off the ground
or with the touch of a button rise to 42 inches without binding your
driveline. A vehicle that automatically corrects itself during off-camber
situations and steers from the rear. And best of all, approximately
$10,000 less than any vehicle of its kind! Ah man, it's on now! I think
we'll call it the XTV Raptor.
Mike
and I were excited again. We found a new passion. We have to build it.
Welcome to our world.