Those Iceland trucks rock!!!

 

very tuff.i like the stuffed look.

 

Geared final drives, wow. I have those on a 1949 tractor, I never even thought that people would use something like that on a truck, without a solid axle in between to give some kind of support they've got to be dicey. Any pics of the underside of one of these?

These things can't have any flex at all, the tires being so stuffed into the wells. I may be igonorant here, but whats the point of the large tires with no where to go?

 

These guys run the glaciers in Iceland, some have crevasse bars on the front that allow these trucks to go over gaps that are hundreds of feet deep.

Not much suspension needed with 3 or 4 PSI.

 

And not to mention, the "close to the bump stops" thing.

Lots of extension, not much compression. If one wheel goes up too far, it pushes the entire frame up causing the other wheels to extend to make up the difference.

Interesting... Maybe I have a new project for my SD...

 

I have been to Iceland a few times and ridden in a few of these modified vehicles on excursions to the Glaciers, Fjords, and Waterfalls of this beautiful country. In speaking with the owners of these vehicles, they typically are used trucks and vans purchased from the USA shipped in for a full suspension modifications. I have never seen anything like it, these vehicles (refered by the locals as "Super Jeeps")can do some unbelievable stuff.

These rigs are totally stripped of factory suspension parts and everything is custom made in this small country. The vehicles I have ridden in are on full air suspensions that make Kelderman stuff look puny. Amazing craftmanship and durability, they think our american stuff is just for looks. I have ridden through rivers and streams and on top of Glaciers in these vehicles, and they are equipped with everything in the cab, they can air up tires and suspensions with a flip of a switch. If any of you ever get a chance to visit Iceland, I think anyone of you would be amazed by these vehicles. Here are a few more pictures:

 

the vans look tuff also.i NEED one.

 

Man, Sportsmobiles don't have nothin' on those vans

thanks for the pics.

 

I was stationed in Iceland from 2003-2005. Most of these trucks were modified by "Arctic Trucks" in Reykjavik. Very cool vehicles, they ride real nice and are near unstoppable in ice/snow/sand.

Most of thier offroading is glacier crossing in the fall/winter months and going inland during the summer. Inland trails are impossible during the winter. We rescued many, many idiots off the inland trails when I was in. You cant exactly rock climb there since the rocks are so jagged. Blown tires on dirt roads are a common occurance. They actually put some of the wrecked vehicles on billboards showing the destruction caused by leaving the road at basically any speed. The rocks just mangle cars. Speed limits on all highways is 45mph (cant remember the KPH)

I owned a '89 Mitsubishi Montero over there that was on 37's. Purchased it for $1250 and it had the front axle with radius arms from an F-150 in the rear (LOL) and the same in the front. Looked dangerous but worked quite well. it was modified by Arctic trucks years ago. The last ower was an Icelander that used it as a grocery getter.

 

Another thing just to add.... They have A pile of 1st Gen broncos over there. I have never seen so many driven "everyday". I almost purchased one in the intention of bringing it back to the US but after reading Iceland and the US import export laws, they are non-importable as they were produced as "export only" vehicles and contain "Non-standard" building materials which I though was pretty strange since thay appeared to be the same as any other bronc. I later found them to have aluminum tubs and some differences in the steering system.