The Russians have crossed the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole.

[Frozen Sea]

Hello from the Canadian High Arctic Archipelago. I run a 4x4 website on Vancouver Island, BC, but I'm currently working in the field in and around Resolute Bay, Nunavut. I'm up here contracting with oceanographic scientist, working through the 6' of sea ice right now. While I have been here I have been watching with interest these crazy Russian explorers: Polar News ExplorersWeb - Russian amphibious cars crossed the Arctic Ocean

They just arrived in Resolute today, and I got to inspect the trucks in person. Pretty impressive feat, crossing the Arctic Ocean and North Pole from Russia to Canada. I've been planning out my own Arctic vehicle so it was pretty cool to witness their arrival. Photo taken about an hour ago.

P1030917.jpg

[Frozen Sea]

I forgot to mention how I found this site. I'm here in Resolute to recover, and deploy two sub-surface scientific moorings (ocean observatories is the fancy term). We fly out from the base about 300km, and land on sea ice about 6 feet thick. Once there we melt out a 40" slug in the ice, and pull it out with a winch system. Then we retrieve and deploy the moorings through the hole.

Anyway, the weather has been terrible for flying so I have been here for 26 days waiting for 4 decent days to fly out to the site. While I've been waiting I was talking to a scientist who asked me about Argo 6x6s. He wants to station one up around 80 degrees north at a remote ice field he is studying. The problem is an Argo won't fit through the doors of a Twin Otter so I have been searching around the Internet to have a closer look at these things, and see what I can do.

So that's how I got here in a round about way. After looking at these cool little critters, I figure I could build him one from scratch, that disassembles into manageable chunks.

Pretty cool site you have here!

So ya, I figure an aluminium tub, with removable wings (floatation fenders...or whatever you want to call them) so that it can be squeezed into a Twin Otter's cargo doors. Make the engine and trans easy to pull and replace, and Bob's your uncle. Well...wish it was that simple; I know it's going to be a bit of a challenge, but should be a fun project. I have a couple old 28hp Rotex motors that I've been saving for something like this.

[Rock Doctor]

Interesting line if work. Sounds like you have full shop facilities and some spare time. It would be cool if you post pics of your build as you work it out.
Welcome to the site.

RD

[jpswift1]

VERY cool! Thanks for sharing that with us. Welcome to 6X6World!

[Rusty-Gunn]

Please post pics of this project, if you get around to doing it.

[Frozen Sea]

Please post pics of this project, if you get around to doing it.

Certainly I will pop in from to time, and post some pics when I get started on it. The AATV the scientist wants, doesn't need to be completed until July 2014 to be shipped via sealift for the following spring 2015 season. That's all still dependant on funding, so for now I'll do up some drawings for him to submit to his higher-ups. I'm getting excited since I already have some of the components I'd need to start building. I'll likely build one to test out design features, and just for fun to bomb around the property.

I've also been collecting wheelchair motors and controllers etc. to build an off-road wheelchair for a buddy who has a spinal injury. Now I'm thinking 6x6 would be the way to go. I'll be starting in that project as soon as I get home from the Arctic.

[Frozen Sea]

Interesting line if work. Sounds like you have full shop facilities and some spare time. It would be cool if you post pics of your build as you work it out.
Welcome to the site.

RD

I have a decent little shop at home. Stick, MIG, TIG, and Oxy-accetalyne, metal lathe, and small knee mill etc. I'm no expert at anything, but I do enjoy tinkering around with this sort of stuff.

[JoeMeg]

I've also been collecting wheelchair motors and controllers etc. to build an off-road wheelchair for a buddy who has a spinal injury. Now I'm thinking 6x6 would be the way to go. I'll be starting in that project as soon as I get home from the Arctic.[/QUOTE]

Member coosaridgerider has done this for a disabled family member. Good stuff!

Joe.

[rcn11thacr]

I wonder what happened to this guy? interesting read...