sandrail , or sand rail , or rail , is a lightweight off-road motor vehicle specifically made for traveling in sandy terrains. Similar in some respects, but often mistakenly referred to as buggy cars or sand, sandrail is a different kind of special vehicle. Sandrail is popularly operated in the actual sand dunes. Sandrails can be driven on other types of terrain but are specially designed for sand.
Video Sandrail
History
By the end of World War II, thousands of soldiers returning from the war had spent years driving Jeeps, tanks and half-tracks with little or no way. Having an increased income, this GI forms the original core of off-road enthusiasm. Initially, they used the Jeep Surplus and cut-up cars to build their off-road vehicles. Soon these "off-roaders" found that with a little more than a skid they could get an air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle to go anywhere. Throughout the 1950s the sport continued to grow.
In 1958 Pete Beiring of Oceano, California, took the framework of the body or "pot" of broken Volkswagen and shortened it into a new machine that eventually became the precursor to the dune buggy train. This eventually led to the first production of a dune buggy called "Sportster", developed around 1960 by the EMPI Imp Company. It was a corner metal sheet vehicle built on a stripped Volkswagen chassis. Many others followed including the ever popular Meyers Manx. Design. Dune buggies have their own style with fiberglass siding and other "heavy" body features.
As the late 1960s and early 70s approached, fans saw the need for lighter and stronger sand vehicles, which were easily able to climb steeper and higher hills. Many are beginning to experiment at home by building a super lightweight vehicle frame from metal tubes, often without coiled cages. Many are nothing more than frames, engines, transmissions, wheels and one or two chairs. Due to their versatility, the light weight and simplicity of the engine and the air-cooled Volkswagen transmission are the preferred power generation for many owners. It also offers a perfect body setting. By placing the motor and transmission behind the frame it allows the front of the sandrail to remain very light and thus capable of "floating" on the sand dunes. The additional value of placing the engine at the rear of the vehicle is that the heat created by the motor does not blow into the face of the driver and passenger. From the 1970's to the next, sandrail builders continue to develop a balance between weight and strength.
Maps Sandrail
Body style
When it comes to serious dunes, most off-road vehicles include those with relatively heavy four wheel drive and can only safely climb or descend a steep hill with approaches that are mostly perpendicular to slope or downhills. In the case of driving steep sand dunes, many are simply "digging" and trapped.
Sandrails are very light vehicles weighing 800 and 1500 pounds (? 363 and? 680 kg). They usually use high flotation or apply front tires and special rear tires, allowing it to jump over the sand surface without getting stuck. A sandrail has a low center of gravity, allowing it to make a tight bend even in the face of the sand dunes.
Sandrail frames are constructed from the framework of a tube chamber that incorporates an integrated cage roll. The difference between a sandrail and a dune buggy or sand car is a sandrail that rarely has windows, doors, fenders, or full body panels. Sandrail will also be a lighter weight vehicle compared to sandcar. In most sandrails, the machine is usually on the back. Some sandrails also use mid-engine configuration. This design offers a favorable distribution of weight and traction, which is highly desirable for "hill climbing" hills.
Engine and fuel
Initially popular in the 1960s, sandrails use light air-cooled engines such as Volkswagen engines from VW Beetle and Porsche (~ Â £ 200) or Chevrolet Corvair, Mitsubishi Minica and Cosworth DFV (~ 350 pounds). Due to the availability of affordable parts, the Volkswagen engine continues to be the mainstay of many current sandrails. At a point in the late 1970s behind Ford Pinto's product responsibility case, the first alternative engine came from Pinto, especially 2.0L and 2.3L. Recently, some fans have switched to lighter cooling water machines like the Subaru boxer or GM Ecotec engine.
The need for greater power comes from need and desire when driving on a steep dune. This has prompted sandrail machine makers to add performance features to engines such as stock (24 to 50 horsepower) Volkswagen engines. These include: larger pistons, turbochargers, dual racing carburetors, fuel injectors, and high performance cylinder heads. Some performance engines can run on unleaded premium gasoline. However, many high-performance engines must use fuel racing or fuel additives. A high performance Volkswagen sandrail engine can produce well into the 170-200 horsepower range and as high as 700 horsepower with methanol fuel.
Most sandrails use a manual transmission, although automatic transmissions are used as well.
Accessories
Early sandrails often consist of little more than steering wheels, brakes and accelerators. However, today the entire industry is built around all types of accessories such as HID and LED headlamps, radio, passenger communications headsets, and GPS navigation devices.
Other apps
Some states in the United States, such as Arizona and Utah, allow registration of sandrails and other off-road vehicles for "on-road" use. In this state, registered sandrails for street use usually must meet the minimum insurance coverage required by normal vehicles. In addition, they may require modifications to this feasible path usually including a wind shield, changing signals and plates. These requirements may vary by country.
Sandrail has been employed by US state authorities, US Border Patrols and even the military. They are still used today by Navy SEALs. The military design of this vehicle is based on the Chenowth Advanced Light Strike Vehicle model and has been modified for the third seat above the engine to control.50 caliber machine guns and other weapons. State authorities, such as forest guards in the sand dunes sometimes use sandrails to move passenger seats to convert sandrails into emergency ambulances on stretchers.
Although sandrails are primarily designed for sand, they have been successfully used in "soft pack" soils, mud and even snow. Some of these applications typically require the use of off-road tires versus "sand" tires. They are usually unsuitable for rocky terrain because the suspension is mostly limited and the lighter duty framework.
Security
Accidents are most common in collisions with other off-road vehicles, and often the consequences are not seen. In many dunes areas, all sand vehicles (motorbike, quads, sandrails, UTV and sandcars) should use a whip and an eight-foot antenna flag. This is very important to be seen by other vehicles when the driver passes from one bump to the next mound. Most sandrails use a variety of safety features for drivers and passengers. The most common is the use of three-point seat belt system. Many sand rails also utilize roll bar padding and fire extinguishers. More sophisticated security features sometimes include: arm and wrist restraints, nets for large frame openings, automatic fuel cut-out switches, and horns. In addition, the use of eye protection (glasses and ballistic class spectacles) is considered a must. Finally, the use of helmets while "duning" increased due to progress in performance. The sand association along with state and federal land management agencies works to provide mound safety information through pamphlets, online and in the classroom.
Future, industry and association
Because of the economical cost to build and maintain, access to new parts and a good balance between weight and strength, the sandrail continues to be used by many fans today. However, the heavier and usually more powerful sandcar now represents another style for the duners. This style often uses a giant car weighing several thousand pounds and uses a highly sophisticated suspension system and transmission coupled with a large-performance V8 engine such as the latest LS engine series, Ford Modular engine series or Range Rover engine series.
Associations such as ASA hold year-round events in parts of the country for sand racing and hill climbing. In addition, the association provides representation to fans with legislators and land management officials.
References
External links
- Links and information about dunes in the United States and around the world
- Sand naval links are important
- American Sand Association
- An online forum for sand and sand dune fans
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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