Back in the early twentieth century, designers began to come up with extreme cars. Super trucks and all-terrain vehicles were developed by many engineers in different countries. The Soviet Union proposed many models of trucks with the characteristics of all-terrain vehicles.
ATV Features
Not all trucks can get the title of all-terrain vehicle. To do this, you must meet a number of criteria.
All-terrain vehicles move on low pressure tires. A wide tire is mounted on the rim. Due to the large area, traction with soil (or any other road surface) is improved. The air in the tire allows this type of equipment to overcome water barriers, creating some kind of buoyancy.
Another important difference between all-terrain vehicles is the “breaking” frame. It consists of two interconnected parts. This gives it flexibility, allowing all wheels to touch the ground in all situations.
Wheeled trucks
All-terrain trucks that move on wheels are universal equipment. They are able to move without harm both on roads and on unpaved areas. Even water will not become an obstacle for them. Wheeled all-terrain vehicles weigh less than tracked vehicles. But at the same time they are capable of transporting loads of the same mass.
Given the design of vehicles, it is believed that wheeled super trucks are easier to repair than their tracked "cousins." The undercarriage of tracked vehicles consists of a large number of metal parts that are severely damaged and damaged. In the field, they are much more difficult to repair than wheeled trucks.
All-terrain wheeled trucks:
- YAG-12 - the first Soviet all-terrain vehicle.
- ZIL-49061, which is better known as the "Blue Bird". This is a three-axle, four-wheel drive truck. He overcomes all water obstacles at a speed of up to 8 kilometers per hour.
- ZIL-135P under the name "Dolphin". This is another amphibious truck. On roads, he is able to reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour, and in water - up to 16.5 kilometers per hour. He withstands a storm with a power of 5 points and stabs ice on his way.
Tracked vehicles
Tracked all-terrain trucks have their own advantages. Vehicles of this type are characterized by increased cross-country ability, which is higher than that of wheeled vehicles. Crawler trucks are capable of moving through snow, swamps, plowed soil and other difficult areas.
Another feature is the folding of the links in two planes. Due to this, tracked all-terrain vehicles are often compared with a snake that crawls on the ground. Such a technique is capable of overcoming high obstacles that are higher than the technique itself.
The best Soviet all-terrain vehicles moving on tracks:
- "Knight DT." It features an articulated design, which is more characteristic of wheeled vehicles. Vityaz is capable of speeds up to 47 kilometers per hour. It overcomes obstacles with a height of up to 1.5 meters and an elevation angle of 30 degrees. It passes sections with water with a total length of up to 4 meters.
- TM-120, which is similar to the previous all-terrain vehicle. It differs only in the absence of articulation.
- SM-552-03 is small in size. But it is able to carry comfortably up to 8 passengers.
To say which cargo all-terrain vehicles are better is very difficult. It depends on the tasks assigned to them and the operating conditions.