E450 4x4

[rallypanam]

"an off road capable book mobile"

Is there a big need for such a thing?

[Pntyrmvr]

I wonder how the power gets to the front axle. If it's a regular transfer case then there would be a nice rear output shaft just begging for a yoke and driveshaft combo to power a rear D60 or such. Lots of work.


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

[gnty]

There is one of these type of units at the local wrecker, I thought it was 4wd drive until i got under it, low and behold, front wheel drive.

[carringb]

Originally Posted by Pntyrmvr

I wonder how the power gets to the front axle. If it's a regular transfer case then there would be a nice rear output shaft just begging for a yoke and driveshaft combo to power a rear D60 or such. Lots of work.


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

It uses some sort of power transfer gearbox. I don't know the details, but I suspect its gear-driven, since these were all transit certified for a 10-year operating life.

There's really no way to add rear power. The driveline would end up above the floor, and there's no rear axle. It has independent trailing arms. The only think I can think of hydraulic drive, running a pump off the PTO (even they ordered it with one, and it's not used for the air compressor) or maybe electric hub-motors.

[MadScience]

And even if you did manage to cut out the floor to make room for a drive shaft and rear axle and boxed it all in again, you'd be in serious trouble on just about any trail in a hurry. Especially once you load the thing up with books.

That though reminds me of this story:

Black Rock Desert, Getting Stuck in the Playa – June 1, 2016 (Day 1) | Robinson Fuso

Edit: Looks like someone pointed this out to them and they fixed the ad. It now reads "FRONT WHEEL DRIVE".

[Pntyrmvr]

FWD sorta takes the steam outta the price


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."