Long distance travel on a quad?

[Ropeman]

It's just an idea that keeps bouncing around my head, bikes are a bit easier to manoeuvre, and a very popular choice for long distance travel but they suffer a bit from instability when fully loaded, a big 4x4 is a lot more able to handle much higher loads but they stand out a lot and are much more expensive, a major effort to recover due to weight and a lot harder to work on when they do break a suspension unit, for instance.

Has anyone ever seen the compromise idea of a quad bike as viable?

Obviously the military have seen the potential as a one man load carrier over rough terrain:

http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/LAND_ATV_Grizzly_UK_16Bde_lg.jpg

and

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/07/06/roush-diesel-quad-atv/


In its basic form, the Quad Bike can carry 45.3 kg on the front rack – and 90.7 kg on the rear rack.The twin cylinder in-line 686cc engine currently develops 18hp – and a massive 39 Nm of torque, with even higher performance variants being considered. The engine is water cooled and naturally aspirated. Transmission is via an automatic gearbox, with both a high and low range, which provides responsive acceleration and effective engine braking. Final drive is through sealed drive shafts, front and rear and constant velocity (cv) joints. The underside of the drive train is protected by a high-density skid plate to prevent damage when manoeuvring over stumps, rocks and other obstructions.

http://thekneeslider.com/images/roushdieselquad.jpg

A further massive pile of photos can also be found on this thread: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?144737-Military-Quads-amp-ATVs

I particularly like the look of these fellas, winches and everything:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/nickshepherd/dmvfcy.jpg

Obvious drawbacks are that a quad is considerably wider than a bike so able to sneak along fewer narrow tracks, the complete lack of environmental protection is another and the inability to leave the thing alone for fear of having no gear left on your return.

Is the compromise too disadvantageous to warrant?

[JungleBert]

The US special forces I was embedded with in Helmand loved their quads, I forget the model but they were the business, two seat, load carrying on the front and rear, gun racks a-gogo. They're not the most comfortable way to travel though, but for quick blasts in the desert they were perfect, even outperforming the locals on their Honda 125 copies :)

[Chui]

They are fun bits of kit. They certainly have load carrying advantages over a bike, but they also can suffer from too tough/too undulating terrain..........they're a mini Unimog but without the ground clearance.

I guess if you have roughish known terrain, need to carry loads - they are a good bet.

Outside of that, its possibly one of these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okrEPn_7GYw) .....or one of these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHaj5bDSgRA&feature=related)

[Saint-Just]

Obvious drawbacks are that a quad is considerably wider than a bike so able to sneak along fewer narrow tracks, the complete lack of environmental protection is another and the inability to leave the thing alone for fear of having no gear left on your return.

Is the compromise too disadvantageous to warrant?

Yes. Even sleeping is transforming your transport into a self service.
On top of that, they are considered the hardest choice of transport on the Dakar rallye, and they know a thing or 2 about long distance travel.

Having said that they are very cool for short-ish distances off road, very capable, and look like great fun :D

[Colin KC]

http://www.onroadbuggies.co.uk/?Buggies:RL500

[Colin KC]

http://www.onroadbuggies.co.uk/images/RL500%20mk2%20front%20corner%20350.JPG

[cuss]

This reminds me of a post i read a while ago on another forum, it may be of interest...

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234873

[Ropeman]

That buggy is about the same size as a Suzuki Jimny Col, surely the car would be better (it has a roof for a kick off :lol:)


This reminds me of a post i read a while ago on another forum, it may be of interest...

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234873

And I suspect that one of the posters on there has it about right:


...all the inconvenience of a car and motorcycle together with none of the advantages of either.

Still can't help but think they are cool :D

[Chui]

.........it's also why they still use ponies to get stalked quarry down off the moors.......:D


http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/PaulWiggins888/Miscellaneous/Picture14.png



....beats a quad every day

[Ropeman]

Never mind quads, I've found a new one :D

http://www.tractortractor.org/english/

[ANDYLASER]

I can see the viability of a quad on short excursions and their load carrying ability is excellent. Probably not too comfortable and will be quite slow on the road bit between excursions. Not too clever if you need to do 20 miles of motorway.

This would be way cooler though. :D

http://www.warandpeaceshow.com/images/stories/newsphotos/mototrack.jpg

[Basemetal]

Yeah, worst of both worlds once the novelty wears off :P

[Ropeman]

But, the novelty... :D

http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,21,/32336/Honda.htm

[Andy]

You could make hard lugguage for a quad to make things more secure.

I like the idea but I haven't ridden them for very long.

[Ropeman]

You could just bolt a few Zarges or Peli boxes to them to make them pretty secure.

[Andy]

I was thinking that but wasn't sure how secure you could make it. You may just be able to add a few big top boxes for bikes.

[Ropeman]

Zarges are at least as secure as the average car, a couple of holes through a 5mm bar and the base of the box and you have a very secure mount (rubber isolated) through the rack, a few rivets and you can add a couple of padlock hasps.

I have just the box for the job in my garage :D

[Ren]

How about a Prowler II ;) :D

http://www.atvcorp.com/home.html

http://www.atvcorp.com/video/256kbps.wmv

http://www.securityprousa.com/allteveprii.html

[Ropeman]

I quite like the little Prowler but the big one is a car with no body panels or windows.

[gregs656]

I have just the box for the job in my garage :D

Match made in heaven then once you get a quad!

I think it could be great fun, the compromises are more pronounced I think if you're planning to use it on the road all the time, but off road I would imagine they make a lot of sense if you have a vague idea of what you're going to come up against. Being out in the elements isn't ideal all the time, but it does give you a connection to your surroundings that you don't always get in a motor.

Would be a fecking hoot in the snow too.

[Hepotec]

I've used ATVs for a few hours, day long trips and all day, every day for up to a fortnight. They aren't particularly uncomfortable, but compared to a Landie/Toyota the seating position is obviously different, so they can appear strange at first. They are great over most terrain, but training is a must as a proper squashing is bad for the health. The quads I've used have optional trailers and they can pull quite a bit.

I think the fact that lots of farmers use them speaks volumes. They are cheap to run, give increased access with increased load carrying capacity but cheap enough to mistreat.

[mojofilter]

It's just an idea that keeps bouncing around my head, bikes are a bit easier to manoeuvre, and a very popular choice for long distance travel but they suffer a bit from instability when fully loaded,

:lol::lol::lol:If you think a bike suffers from instability when loaded you want to try a quad unloaded and then have a rethink. :rolleyes:


I've used ATVs for a few hours, day long trips and all day, every day for up to a fortnight. They aren't particularly uncomfortable, but compared to a Landie/Toyota the seating position is obviously different, so they can appear strange at first. They are great over most terrain, but training is a must as a proper squashing is bad for the health. The quads I've used have optional trailers and they can pull quite a bit.

I think the fact that lots of farmers use them speaks volumes. They are cheap to run, give increased access with increased load carrying capacity but cheap enough to mistreat.

I have also used a fair few quads, both the agricultural and racey type, and I agree with almost everything you say, apart from one major point. They are great over most terrain, apart from roads at any kind of speed, where they become the most horrible twitchy vehicles ever made.

I would never own one for any purpose other than a farm or estate utility vehicle, where they are great for their intended, lowish speed, purpose, but long distance travel, give me a break!

[Dogoak]

I have seen quads used for touring, in and around the Alps mainly, storage racks foward and aft and a few other gizmos. I had thought about getting one for taking my lad to school, 12 mile round trip. I think the insurance and tax is reasonable and probably more mpg than the old car we use. Unfortunately SWMBO thinks it would just be a toy, I tell her it would be very practical for other jobs, blah, blah, etc; but no go so far :(

[Kane]

I can see the viability of a quad on short excursions and their load carrying ability is excellent. Probably not too comfortable and will be quite slow on the road bit between excursions. Not too clever if you need to do 20 miles of motorway.

This would be way cooler though. :D

http://www.warandpeaceshow.com/images/stories/newsphotos/mototrack.jpg

How much do Bren Carriers go for these days :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAAlEbDnvjk&feature=related

[Ren]

I quite like the little Prowler but the big one is a car with no body panels or windows.

Yeah, the little one looks fun.

http://www.atvcorp.com/pdf/Driving_Ugly.pdf

Or there is one of these odd things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXc5QqMLI5g

www.rokon.com

[Hepotec]

:.... They are great over most terrain, apart from roads at any kind of speed, where they become the most horrible twitchy vehicles ever made.


Good point. If I'm on tarmac then I'm on four wheels. I do remember the vague panic when the quad starts to roll at anything approaching speed.

[leealanr]

How about a Prowler II

http://www.atvcorp.com/home.html

http://www.atvcorp.com/video/256kbps.wmv

http://www.securityprousa.com/allteveprii.html

Now they look like serious fun and would be absolutely perfect for the desert in Jordan.

I go places with my Pajero, but these can take you into some really wild places!

Alan L.