Hydrostatic crawler

Jeff B

Jeff B

Thanos was right
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Location
Lincolnton N.C.
Has anybody ever attempted or thought of a hydraulic powered rock machine
give me some thoughts
 
I'm thinking of a skid steer except with articulation, won't it be heavy and have slow wheel speed?
 
jdubb said:
I'm thinking of a skid steer except with articulation, won't it be heavy and have slow wheel speed?
Click to expand...
Heavy, yes. Pumps, individual wheel motors and the fluid itself. Slow wheel speed, not necessarily. So much construction equipment today is hydrostatic and the technology is there. My little Kubota tractor is as peppy and quick as you could want and I have had it on the URE trails during workdays.
I don't think that skid steer would be the way to go though.
It sure would suck when you developed a major fluid leak!
 
I think someone did that last year or the year before. One of the competitions out west. And the same rig also had hydraulics in the suspension so that the driver could independently lift a tire 3 or 4 feet off the ground. But I may just be getting old and forgetful.
 
I have thought about it.. but havnt taken it must past a day dream...
 
i remember seeing the buggy lifting a single tire up off the ground several feet. that would be cool cruzin the malls!!!
 
jeepinmatt said:
I think someone did that last year or the year before. One of the competitions out west. And the same rig also had hydraulics in the suspension so that the driver could independently lift a tire 3 or 4 feet off the ground. But I may just be getting old and forgetful.
Click to expand...

That thing had chains driving the front.
 
I wheeled with a guy (Nathan) who had a Scout with hydraulic suspension and he could lift up or push down as needed and it helped him at times. His drivetrain was still mechanical of course.
 
I'm thinking of a hyd. motor on each axle no driveshaft just torque & still gear reduction
or wheel motors
 
High engine RPMs to maintain any speed, A LOT of HEAT, the need to have a sealed hyd system to prevent having any air intrusion into the pump while operating ( cavitation is a BAD BAD thing to happen to a hyd pump).
You would need a HUGE fluid storage tank and pump to accomidate the sort of speeds and power you would want/need.
Hydrostaic drive units of any size are $$$$+
I'm not saying it wouldn't work, or be possible, just a few obsticals to over come.
 
hydro

Most hydrostatic equipment is diesel too, right. Wheel speed would be a problem if it was slick. I don't think you could spin the tires much. If he's talking about a motor for each wheel, its a skidsteer in my book
 
I thinking of A 3.3 cummins diesel it's about 85 horse. A motor on each axle so you still have the gears for reduction when you spin you loose traction A pressurized tank (10 psi) to keep the trash out I already have the components to do this pump & hyd motors just no engine yet still a little collectin to do
 
I had visions of a small, one person, tube buggy with parts from a JD Hydro Garden Tractor with HI/Lo ranges. When I woke up, I realized I just had a bad dream....

:beer:
 
I started doing the math on the same ideal. I stopped when I found out the cooler for the hydro system would be larger than the vehicle.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I think someone did that last year or the year before. One of the competitions out west. And the same rig also had hydraulics in the suspension so that the driver could independently lift a tire 3 or 4 feet off the ground. But I may just be getting old and forgetful.
Click to expand...

Is this the one, Matt?
http://www.4wdandsportutility.com/events/0309_4wd_superlift_prorock_championship/photo_10.html

...from the Dec. '03 issue of 4Wheel & OffRoad
100_0765.jpg
 
Thats exactly the one I was thinking of. At least I wasn't all wrong.
 
now thats cool!! Close to what I was thinking of
 
This setup would not be as bad as everyone thinks. I've already researched it in the past and was pleasantly surprised.

The reservoir doesn't need to be extremely large. From my past research, I'd think 5 gal. max would work. The cooler would be comparable to a normal sized radiator.


There was one problem, the engine needs to run at the same rpm for maximum efficiency. Flow would be controlled by the valving, which controls the speed. If you controlled the flow by the engine rpm, the amount of fluid you'd need would be astronomical (sp?)...

Some wheel motors offer gearing, i.e., Hi/Lo

Price is always an issue. Safety is an issue as well. Hot, high pressured hydro lines are no fun when one busts, especially when its the main drive setup with gallons and gallons of fluid.
 
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