[TC26] Arctic Expedition Modular Truck

[Merlins_Technic_Garage]

when I saw @Thirdwigg's post on Instagram about the progress on his entry for this Technic Arctic Contest I knew I had to join! 

With many other projects and the limited time I had to narrow my options for contest. I didn't want to do a track a vehicle because of the limited off-road capabilities (and also because we don't have snow where I live). So I went with an expedition truck, however that's not interesting enough and wouldn't have many powered functions; so this thing is going to be modular . 

Now I had to choose the scale, for this I didn't want to go too big due to the time constraint or too small to the point where I would have spend precious time making iterations optimising for space. So I eneded up using the tyres from the Zetros Trial Truck, however the tyres look a lot larger on it (as they should on an arctic vehicle )

Next I had a look through some LEGO CITY Arctic sets and came across this:

I really liked the overall cab design of the truck so I tried to recreate it while adding my own little personal touches. 

The wheelbase is way too small (and very cute) this was just for drivetrain testing purposes.

[Merlins_Technic_Garage]

I have now extended the wheelbase:

The cab can also be opened to reveale the servo motor:

Testing out the suspension and trying out a cosmetic Central Tire Inflation System:

I didn't really like the look of the hose sticking out, maybe because it was too thick? Anyways I scrapped that idea.

Working on the mobile base outrigger system:

Trying to figure out the size and alignment

I spent some  time making the outrigger really compact while still being large when extended:

 

[Merlins_Technic_Garage]

The finished mobile base looks like this when in its lowest height:

In its loading height:

It has a ladder that can be stored inside and latched down so that it doesn't move around when traversing serious terrain:

The roof is easily removable for easy access:

 

Here is a closer look at the outrigger mechanism and the alignment raals used to help load the mobile base. NOTE: The knob on the rear is used to adjust the height og the outriggers:

[Thirdwigg]

Great job, and I love the mobile base. I hope you are able to finish this in time.

[Merlins_Technic_Garage]

1 hour ago, Thirdwigg said:

Great job, and I love the mobile base. I hope you are able to finish this in time.

Thanks, I am done; just have to post now

Testing out the suspension with the mobile base on the rear of the truck:

Unloading the mobile base:

[Burko-uk]

I'm enjoying the totally inappropriate weather for the subject :)

[2GodBDGlory]

36 minutes ago, Burko-uk said:

I'm enjoying the totally inappropriate weather for the subject :)

Yeah, not the ideal season for this contest for southern hemisphere-ers!

That unloading mechanism is pretty creative!

[Merlins_Technic_Garage]

4 hours ago, Burko-uk said:

I'm enjoying the totally inappropriate weather for the subject :)

Yeah, it's not ideal . That also why I went for a wheeled vehicle instead of tracked; no snow .

3 hours ago, 2GodBDGlory said:

Yeah, not the ideal season for this contest for southern hemisphere-ers!

That unloading mechanism is pretty creative!

Definetly not ideal!

Well at first i was gonna make the unloading motorized but I ran into so many problems with gears of the truck and the mobile base lining up so I scraped it.