Snozuki - Samurai on tracks

[PJStimpy]

THis was my dad's project last winter, the tracks themselves turned out well, but the samurai turned out to not quite be the right vehicle for them. It needed lockers and other things that my dad didn't feel like putting into the little beast that still had to be street driven in the snow.

My dad has always wanted a set of Mattracks, but when he called them up and was quoted about $20000 for a basic set, he knew he could do it cheaper. These have about $3000 into them if i remember correctly. The frame is all 2.5" x.250 wall square and 2"x .250 square. THe tracks are the cheapest snowmobile tracks he could find online.


With track

its gonna be wide:

Side shot:

[PJStimpy]

More pics:

[PJStimpy]

Initial testing.






The samurai is now gone, but the tracks are still around, the idea is that they will be able to go back on the Buggy my dad is currently building that can be seen in the Offroad Fab section.

[r1ng3l78]

clever how hard was it to steer?

[PJStimpy]

We swapped in PS out of a 78 celica, it wasn't really that bad. Hydro assist, or full hydro wouldn't be a bad idea though.

[traxman25]

Absolutly awesome! I've wanted to do the same for a long time but can't afford something like that for the very very very few times it would be usable around here, and it's really never practical here. Nice work.

[rocknbronco]

Thats a pretty sick set up there I would like to see the buggy running tracks talk about one sick crawler with the right rubber track.

[Racin_Jason]

Cool idea! Couple questions - What was keeping the entire track unit from flipping around and completely rotating backwards about the axle if they got too much traction - like going up a steep hill?? Were they connected to the axle housing in some way?

[Racin_Jason]

Hmmm, I'm thinking a set of these on the rear of my sand rail with some skis up front!! Oh Yeah!!

[rocknbronco]

that would work well

[PJStimpy]

Originally Posted by Racin_Jason

Cool idea! Couple questions - What was keeping the entire track unit from flipping around and completely rotating backwards about the axle if they got too much traction - like going up a steep hill?? Were they connected to the axle housing in some way?

Essentially, the fact that the track is really long it is a huge lever to turn in order to flip the track around. It is easier for the track to drive forward than to flip around. It is not attached at all to the axle housing.

[Racin_Jason]

I see what you mean. It would take quite a bit of torque to spin one around. I like 'em!

[tonka]

any more details , of the drive wheels, and the rollers? im an intrested in trying to build a set

[Marty]

Originally Posted by tonka

any more details , of the drive wheels, and the rollers? im an intrested in trying to build a set

Ditto!

That is the coolest zuk I have ever seen!

[GeoTracker90]

I realy like the idea of having a set of home built tracks.

My first question is how did you tension the tracks so that they don't try to spin off of the structure? Also why are the drive wheels different for the front tracks versus the rear? Lastly how did it perform in the snow? Did it seem to float pretty good or did it dig down to get traction?

I have a Tracker and figured that each of my tires carry about 600 lbs of vehicle weight. With a footprint like those tracks have I bet it would get along quite nicely in the white stuff. It would be cool to have my own little snow-cat.

[PJStimpy]

Oops, i forgot to mention that the drive hub in the first few pics was the mock up/first design. the large UHMWPE was too difficult to cut accuately. THe final product was a round plate with little teeth off the side that drove the nubs that stick out of the tracks (as opposed to the teeth going into the holes of the tracks) All the wheels are castors bought at the local supply shop, they are in the 250 lb capacity range. And the two little red ones are to take pressure off of the trailer hub that supports the vehicle.

The tracks are tensioned with the last two bogie wheels as they are on a piece that slides inside the main frame and has a bolt to adjust the tension.

[Midwestern4x4]

Originally Posted by PJStimpy

Oops, i forgot to mention that the drive hub in the first few pics was the mock up/first design. the large UHMWPE was too difficult to cut accuately. THe final product was a round plate with little teeth off the side that drove the nubs that stick out of the tracks (as opposed to the teeth going into the holes of the tracks) All the wheels are castors bought at the local supply shop, they are in the 250 lb capacity range. And the two little red ones are to take pressure off of the trailer hub that supports the vehicle.

The tracks are tensioned with the last two bogie wheels as they are on a piece that slides inside the main frame and has a bolt to adjust the tension.

Got any good pictures during your build of the tracks?>

[Twisted Minis]

Thats cool. They look small until you see them on the vehicle.

[Jerm]

Thats cool, I always wanted something with treads like that.

[wyattboche]

could you do the same concept on a 4wheeler? where you come up with this idea?