would this make the milcot more viable?

[c_canuk]

http://www.mattracks.com/html/product_information__brochure.htm

it's a track system that bolts on like a wheel does pretty much, the video clips are pretty impressive...

I know the milcot is mostly just a on road hauler, but would something like this make them more suited for the training area?

 

[Scarf Face]

Holy crap, that looks pretty cool. Though I doubt the military would pick that up - it's easier to just end up getting stuck and calling recovery, hehe.

 

[Ex Ranger Instructor]

UNCLAS LUVW 6004
BILINGUAL MESSAGE / MESSAGE BILINGUE
(TEXTE FRANCAIS SUIVRA)
SUBJ:  TIRE REPLACEMENT LUVW MILCOTS (GM SILVERADO)
1. IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE CAPABILITY OF THE MILCOTS VEHICLES
PMO LUVW IS REPLACING THE FIRESTONE STEELEX LT 245/75 R16 WITH THE
MICHELIN 245/75R16 LTX AT
2. TIRES WILL BE REPLACED BY ATTRITION ONLY USING THE FOLLOWING
PROCESS: WHEN TIRES BECOME WORN OR DAMAGED - REPLACE ALL TIRES ON
THAT VEHICLE WITH MICHELIN TIRES NSN 2610-20-001-3523. THE WORN OR
DAMAGED TIRES MAY BE DISCARDED. ANY SERVICABLE TIRES WILL BE HELD BY
MAINTENANCE SECTIONS AND USED AS SPARES FOR OTHER VEHICLES IN THE
LOCAL AREA. WHEN THESE SPARES ARE EXHAUSTED REPEAT THE PROCESS UNTIL
NO FIRESTONE TIRES EXIST
3. THE AIR PRESSURE FOR THE MICHELIN TIRES WILL BE FIFTY-FIVE (55)
PSI FOR ALL FIVE TIRES
PAGE 2 RCCPJAW4028 UNCLAS
4. FOR SAFETY REASONS THE USE OF TWO DIFFERENT BRAND TIRES ON THE
SAME VEHICLE IS NOT PERMITTED
5. BASES/UNITS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO HOLD STOCK OF NSN
2610-21-001-3523. THESE TIRES WILL BE STOCKED UNDER ITEM MANAGER
ADVISORY CODE 1Z AND WILL BE ISSUED UNDER NDHQ DIRECTION
END OF ENGLISH TEXT//DEBUT DU TEXTE FRANCAIS


Photos of prototype upgrades are floating around on the DIN, but I can't find any at the moment.

 

[Spartan]

I wonder if a lift kit for the trucks is in the works as well. Would certainly help...

 

[BernDawg]

Mattracks have been attached to 2 veh in Alert.  They are used by environment Canada because they have to access their sites daily and the snow drifts can be impassable to regular trucks at a moments notice.  The maintenance sect there feels that they are maintenance intensive and a waste of time but EC bought them and use them so we have to maintain them.
    Except for the worst possible ground conditions they actually hinder mobility.  Increased turning radius, incidental veh damage, reduced speed, increased powertrain wear and the list goes on.
    I believe they have their place but the MILCOTS isn't it.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Berndawg, thank you, observations such as your's are always the best contribution to this type of thead.

 

[NL_engineer]

Can the mattracks be used on road??

All the Millcots needs is a good lift kit, despite what some people on the LFRS form say; 4" is not enough ground clearance to go off-road with, and for that matter use on some of the roads in the base part of Gagetown, let alone the training area. ;D

 

[48Highlander]

Can the mattracks be used on road??

All the Millcots needs is a good lift kit, despite what some people on the LFRS form say; 4" is not enough ground clearance to go off-road with, and for that matter use on some of the roads in the base part of Gagetown, let alone the training area. ;D

Even with higher clearance....you may be able to take it off road, but how much are you going to transport in it?  Ever see the weight rating on the MILCOT?  Compare the figures on the data plate, and then think about wether you'd really want to off-road in one with anything more than 2 men + pers kit.  When all's said and done, the MILCOT was never meant to be used as a heavy-duty all terrain logistics vehicle, and no ammount of changes are going to make it capable of filling that role.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

There is a lifted MILCOT in Wainwright with real big tires.  I believe it is a trial version to see what can be done and I was told it was being upgraded by a civie garage and cost quite a bit.  That being said I think tires will definately make a difference but it still needs to be lift some.

 

[NL_engineer]

Even with higher clearance....you may be able to take it off road, but how much are you going to transport in it?  Ever see the weight rating on the MILCOT?  Compare the figures on the data plate, and then think about wether you'd really want to off-road in one with anything more than 2 men + pers kit.  When all's said and done, the MILCOT was never meant to be used as a heavy-duty all terrain logistics vehicle, and no ammount of changes are going to make it capable of filling that role.

You should never take a fully loaded Milcots off road. Four men with full kit, along with basic tools is no were near the full capacity of the truck. I am not talking about using it an ML or LS, but to at least be able to go through some of the Gagetown mud with out having to call recovery 8)

The undercarrage of the Milcots is built quite well, it would not be as low if there was no skid plates. The main thing is the body will get bent and dented, because it is only thin metal with some green paint on it.

 

[BernDawg]

No sweat.  ;D

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

"The undercarriage of the Milcots is built quite well"
That may or may not be true but I do know this.  There is a third battery behind the right front tire built into the undercarriage and is quite vulnerable.  Also the sides dent like an aluminum can.  But then I have to remind myself that it is not meant to go were an ML is supposed to go.  Got to love the AC and radio though.
In addition to a lift kit and tires I think the vehicle would do well to have a skid plate run the entire undercarriage.

 

[TCBF]

The lifted MILCOT is on hold at the moment.  The EME Maj and WO, just posted in,  inherited a memo on the CMTC MILCOTS written last spring by a CMTC WO. They were then directed from 'higher' to act swiftly.  They did, and now have met with a bit of a delay from Ottawa, and this will mean a delay in modding the CMTC MILCOTS.  Note that the mods were for CMTC, and NOT intended to be fleet wide.  This should be sorted out soon.

For us.

No luck for you lot.

Tom

 

[GK .Dundas]

Mattracks have been attached to 2 veh in Alert.  They are used by environment Canada because they have to access their sites daily and the snow drifts can be impassable to regular trucks at a moments notice.  The maintenance sect there feels that they are maintenance intensive and a waste of time but EC bought them and use them so we have to maintain them.
     Except for the worst possible ground conditions they actually hinder mobility.  Increased turning radius, incidental veh damage, reduced speed, increased powertrain wear and the list goes on.
     I believe they have their place but the MILCOTS isn't it.

A couple of years back Manitoba Hydro  tested them, most of the people in the Garage thougth they were dogs!

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Yeah I forgot to mention they were for CMTC.  The one I did see looked badass though.

 

[Gunnerlove]

If you want to be able to take a truck off road put some real tires on it.


General Grabber MTs or BFGoodrich mud terrains. They howl on the road but the traction is worth it. What kind of wiener is choosing our "off road" tires?

Running a skid plate rear of the transfer case would interfere with the drive shaft.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

The Milcots have been given the tire upgrade...eventually.  When the rubber they wear degrades enough to warrant replacements they will get better shoes.

 

[Gunnerlove]

According to Willy's post they are "upgrading" to another highway tire because the last ones sucked off road.

 

[lostrover]

the Milcot is already a very viable vehicle, along with most of the fleet, individuals need to be taught how to properly drive in order to get the most from the vehicle.  It replaced the Iltis, and provides enhanced mobility in garrison and the field verus the sea of panel vans and crewcabs that accompany most into the field.  Seems most of the military view off-road driving as going as fast as possible with no regards for either the vehicle or the environment.  When I got my 404's we still had the 5/4 and CUCV, CJ-7's et al..............How many people driving the Milcot realize or have been taught how the rear locking differential can be a benefit and how handling is affected by it, gee they would be in awe when they find out you can turn the wheels to the right yet move the vehicle to the left

Guess some will never be happy with what they have

 

[chrisf]

Even with higher clearance....you may be able to take it off road, but how much are you going to transport in it?  Ever see the weight rating on the MILCOT?  Compare the figures on the data plate, and then think about wether you'd really want to off-road in one with anything more than 2 men + pers kit.  When all's said and done, the MILCOT was never meant to be used as a heavy-duty all terrain logistics vehicle, and no ammount of changes are going to make it capable of filling that role.

Myself and TCBF had this discussion before.

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/23637.105.html

The data plate appears to have been incorrect.

Aditionally, no one is suggesting using the milcot as a heavy cargo carrier... it's got room to transport 4 troops plus supplies.

We had an RRB varient for a while (Standard Cargo milcot with an RRB radio install). The MPs use a varient (Standard Cargo Milcot with a Light bar installed on top as far as I know). The Linemen also use a varient (It's got a different cab, with a flat bed and mounted cable layer, also dual wheels).

Consider the following... I've had a basic cargo milcot bottom out repeatedly while driving on a moderately maintained dirt road.

If I had an RRB varient, it's an ideal vehicle for an RRB, in much the same way the old iltis was ideal... everything is mounted, ready to go and roll out from the CP at a moments notice... the difference being the iltis was actually able to get into location once you got where you were going... the milcot can't always brag that.

The line varient is one of the more ridiculous vehicles... it's got a second fuel tank that's just begging to be ripped off by a good sized pothole. The further problem of course being that the shortest distance between two points doesn't always involve a road, and the linemen rather prefer to run their line in a straight path... and believe me, I've seen them put LSVWs in some rather strange spots... and drive them out again... can't do that with a milcot...

It's like I said when somone asked me about the snorkels on American vehicles... "They won't give them to us... because if we had them, we'd use them..." same reason we don't have lift kits or big tires for the milcots.