[Texascavers] caver vehicle news

2009-11-30 Thread David
You have all seen the Smart Car now.   Right?

Have you seen this version of it?

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2006/2006-Smart-Forfun2-Concept-Climbing-1280x960.jpg

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[Texascavers] caver vehicle news

2009-11-29 Thread David
Here is a new concept Jeep:

 http://jeepin.net/images/news/2009ejs/JeepLower40images4.jpg

 http://jeepin.net/images/news/2009ejs/JeepLower40images2.jpg

Here are some specs:

 5.7-liter HEMIĀ® V-8 engine

 Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission.

 Dana 44 front axle

 Dana 60 rear axle equipped with 5:38 gears

 ARB air lockers

More pics:

 
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/11/Jeep-Lower-Forty-Concept.jpg

 http://media.il.edmunds-media.com/chrysler/ns/chrysler_rear_ns_3_717.jpg

 
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/jeeplowerfortylive_01.jpg

More specs:

 380 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque
 carbon-fiber hood.
 Custom Roll Cage
 Custom paint job
 20" diameter aluminum wheels with 40" off-road tires

The builders took a stock Rubicon and modified it, so all the other parts are
stock items, meaning just like the Rubicon at the Jeep dealer.
( which isn't cheap to begin with )

More pics:

 
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/jeeplowerfortylive_06.jpg

 
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/jeeplowerfortylive_05.jpg


Discussion:

I would be guessing that you would need $ 60,000 plus tax to get your
hands on this.

Would you take it to the Sierra Madres, and scratch up that pretty red
expensive paint job, or
ding up those shiny aluminum rims ?

I don't think a caving vehicle needs 40" tires.   However, that extra
ground clearance could
come in handy.

It would be risky to drive a vehicle this expensive in the
back-country.   If you were to run across some bad people, they may
not think twice about shooting you to have
the Jeep.   I would feel safer in an old rusty Jeep, Scout, or Bronco
with steel rims.
That way I could just smile and say "Amigo, es un gran placer venderse
este magnifca maquina por solamente cuatro mil pesos."   And then
hopefully hand him the keys and use the money to buy a bus ticket
home.

Most of the caves that I would like to go to in the Sierra Madres (
someday ) can be reached with a reliable 4x4 Suburban or Excursion
with good off-road tires and a spare.For example, the road up the
mountain to the karst area above the town of Gomez Farias in the El
Cielo area with caves like Joya de Salas.But there are lots of old
forgotten logging roads up there, that a short-wheel based Jeep would
be able to explore that the SUV's could not.Lots of other caves I
want to see someday, do not even require 4WD.

It looked like the recent Thanksgiving trip to Laguna Sanchez needed a
reliable 4x4 SUV or
truck.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs061.snc3/12867_1239362617427_1030131693_30661329_3731955_n.jpg

That sure looked like fun.

David Locklear

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