Homemade tracked snowmobile with your own hands. Making a snowmobile with our own hands - it couldn't be easier! How snowmobile tracks are made

Dear visitors of the site “ Self-made friend»Today we will figure out how to make tracks for a caterpillar all-terrain vehicle on our own and what is needed for this? They drove ... Tracked all-terrain vehicle is the most passable among its fellows, and all because the specific pressure on the ground is evenly distributed over the entire lower plane of the caterpillar, that is, it is a homogeneous fulcrum. But on wheeled all-terrain vehicles, the pressure is distributed over 4 points, so they often get stuck and skid. A simple example to you, why tracked tanks? Yes, all for the same reason, in order to evenly distribute the huge weight of the machine on the plane of the caterpillar in contact with the ground, otherwise they will simply get stuck in the ground and not budge.

Caterpillars for homemade all-terrain vehicles are made mainly of a conveyor belt and rectangular pipes, and the tracks are pre-pressed on a home-made machine where they are given the necessary shape. The tracks are fastened to the belt with bolts and nuts. And so, let's take a closer look at the process of creating an all-terrain vehicle caterpillar.

Materials (edit)

1. conveyer belt
2. rectangular pipe
3. bolts, nuts, washers, grover
4. fittings

Instruments

A step-by-step process for creating an all-terrain vehicle caterpillar with your own hands.

The first step is to get a conveyor belt, it looks like this.

You will also need a rectangular pipe.

Well, of course, fasteners in the form of: bolts, nuts, washers, engravers.

First, we make the blanks of the tracks according to the width of the produced caterpillar, saw it with a grinder and put it in a pile)

After that, these blanks need to be given the desired shape and crimped on a special home-made machine. For clarity, let's see how a professional does it, 40 seconds for crimping one track is not a joke to you guys)

It is advisable to grease the ends a little with used oil.

After the track is given the correct shape, it still needs to be welded on the fangs-restraints.

In the upper part, reinforcement is additionally welded in the form of the letter " V»

In general, such a track should turn out.

First, you need to check and fit directly already at the installation site of the track itself.

Then you can start assembling the caterpillar, but first you need to make holes in the conveyor belt, basically such a homemade tool is used. The tube is sharpened from the end, and on the side there is a hole for removing chopped rubber.

The tracks are also drilled with a drill, 2 holes on each edge.

This is how they make homemade tracks for all-terrain vehicles, as you can see, it is quite possible to do it yourself, which will significantly reduce the cost of the all-terrain vehicle you assemble.

Thank you all for your attention!

A home-made track for an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile with a low weight can be made on the basis of a simple bushing-roller chain and a conveyor belt. And it's very simple to do it, there is no need to purchase a special tool. In order for such a homemade caterpillar to serve longer, it is necessary to stitch the edge of the conveyor belt with fishing line. The step is about a centimeter. This procedure will help to keep the tape from "fraying". But you can connect it into a ring in any way that is acceptable and accessible to you. Less reliable is simply stitching the ends of the tape. Most often it is advised to use a hinge like a piano hinge. But the thickness of the tape depends on the power of the engine installed on the all-terrain vehicle. An indicator from 8 to 10 mm will be appropriate if you are using a motor from a domestic motorcycle. A device made in this way is well suited for use on a snowmobile. Plus, such a self-made caterpillar can be easily repaired and replaced in case of damage. This greatly simplifies the operation of your invention.

Making a snowmobile with your own hands is much easier than it seems. This will require desire, a few parts from equipment that is idle in a shed or garage, amateur skills in working with metal and a little time. Purchased units will most likely also be required, but the cost of a snowmobile or snow scooter with a motor, assembled in a few evenings, will be much cheaper than a purchased one.

General construction rules

Homemade products for driving on snow are varied in appearance, size, layout, power, and even in the principle of movement. But in each version there are nodes that provide the properties necessary for snowmobiles, namely:

1. Don't fall into the snow.
2. Move on the surface with minimal friction and in the desired direction.

Obviously, the probability of sinking into the snow and the friction force depend on the weight of the unit, the contact area, the shape of the contact surface with the snow. Of course, the condition of the snow has its effect, but this must be taken into account.

To fulfill the main purpose, the following components are always present in the design of a snowmobile:

Making homemade products simplifies the availability of parts from specialized equipment. Spare parts from Buran snowmobiles or any tools and vehicles with a motor - scooters, motorcycles, motoblocks are often taken. The area for creativity when creating each node is huge. There are many varied and proven solutions for every detail.

Simple kids snowmobiles

The easiest way to make support is to fit wide skis under the frame. The option of creating snowmobiles is especially attractive in that a children's snow scooter and a tool with a low-power motor are used for their assembly - for example, a screwdriver, a hand-held lawnmower-trimmer or a 2-horsepower chainsaw.

A children's snowmobile from a chainsaw is assembled without reinforcing its frame, but for transporting adults in winter clothes, it is worth adding strength to the structure.

Ice snowmobiles

Walking along the river in winter is a slippery activity. However, if you replace the snow scooter with a sled and attach a 4-5 hp engine from the Druzhba chainsaw to them, you will get a safe means of transportation on ice:

The efficiency and speed of the ice sled is significantly higher than that of other designs. But on loose snow, such a structure will go with great difficulty.

Inflatable wheels

In terms of time consumption, the second most attractive design after snow-scooters and sledges is a home-made snowmobile from a chainsaw on wide inflatable chambers from the wheels of a truck or tractor. For strength, a uniform layer of liquid rubber is applied to their surface or another flexible and waterproof material is glued. In a circle, at an equal distance from each other across the chamber, chains are put on or crossbars are firmly attached to increase traction. Rims for wheels can be borrowed for bicycles, motorcycle or do it yourself.

If there are no runners in the inflatable structure, then it will be able to ride even without snow on the soil. On such all-terrain vehicles, frames can be installed together with engines from Izh, Ural or Dnepr motorcycles. Design flaws - dimensions, weight and a high degree of wheel vulnerability, but this does not affect the popularity of high-speed home-made pneumatics.

Tracked

Caterpillar supports are used more often than others, while simultaneously performing the function of propellers. The reason is high efficiency and reliability. This design allows for high speeds while maintaining stability and maneuverability. There are several options for how to make tracks for a snowmobile with your own hands:

• from a conveyor belt;
• from truck tires;
• from drive V-belts.

Across the conveyor belt, it is necessary to bolt plastic or PVC pipes cut along the axis, no more than an inch in diameter.

Even a child can handle such a light apparatus.

Old truck tires with winter tread can also be used as tracks if the sidewalls are cut off. They do not need crossbeams, but they will have to sweep the edges with a line in increments of a centimeter, otherwise the tire will quickly get loose.

Drive belts, like the conveyor belt, must be equipped with lugs. Several parallel belts, from 2 or more, are interconnected with transverse strong lugs, attaching them to the belts with rivets or screws. The distance between adjacent hooks should be equal to the pitch of the drive sprocket.

Tracks made from conveyor belts or belts are often reinforced with a chain, which increases the reliability and durability of the propeller.

These snowmobiles combine lightness with a reliable drive.

One of the varieties of tracked snowmobiles is a motorized dog, which is named after its resemblance to a sled dog. To the detriment of maneuverability, the design was lightened, the tractive effort also increased. But it is the most efficient snow towing mechanism.

To change direction, you need to apply considerable effort with a shift in the center of gravity of the motorized dog.

The basic dimensions for assembling a two-seater snowmobile shown in the drawing will help to make the ride comfortable. The rest of the dimensions will depend on the availability of spare parts, assembly diagram.

When driving, discomfort from headwinds is alleviated by installing a motorcycle glass and mudguards for the legs. But it is impossible to completely close on such transport from the cold wind. For comfort, you need a fully enclosed cab, which means more weight and a more powerful engine.

A snowmobile with a car engine is designed for long journeys over long distances. With the heat-insulating material of the body, the ride is comparable to the comfort of a car.

And the easiest way to achieve comfort is to simply place the rear-wheel drive car on wide supports such as skis, tracks or pneumatic wheel tubes, and also start up the drive of the standard wheels to the snowmobile propellers and attach the front ski to the steering bipod.

It will not be superfluous during manufacture to provide for a replaceable scheme for replacing wheels with skis and vice versa, if you use spare parts for alteration.

Upgrading homemade snowmobiles

Having a ride on a simple snowmobile assembled with your own hands, it is impossible to resist thinking about improving transport. First of all, you can reduce the influence of frosty wind. For this, ready-made fairings, windshields are usually used - for example, as in the popular "Buran":

On short winter days, the light from a motorcycle or car headlight comes in handy more than once. In order for the lamp to shine, you need a generator. For mini-constructions, it is enough to install a bicycle generator driven by a motor reducer. High-speed vehicles will require more powerful lighting.

There is no limit to perfection. Once assembled, the snowmobile can be endlessly retrofitted with all new accessories for performance, comfort and reliability. Many forums on this topic exist on the network, allowing you to transfer your own and taking into account someone else's experience in designing winter transport.

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Fishermen, hunters and winter sports enthusiasts use snowmobiles to travel to the best recreational areas. Even inexpensive models of such equipment cost about a hundred thousand rubles, more often more. Those who want to save money can assemble a homemade snowmobile on tracks in an ordinary garage workshop. The cost of parts for construction does not exceed 40 thousand rubles.

Snowmobile device

Self-made snowmobiles are arranged on caterpillar tracks. The tracks are driven by an internal combustion engine mounted on a rigid metal frame. Supported in working position by wheels and special rollers. Basic execution options:

• With a solid or breakable frame.
• With rigid or shock-absorbed suspension.
• With an engine from a walk-behind tractor or from a motorized carriage.

Short skis are used for steering. Lightweight snowmobiles (weighing up to 100 kg), designed for a maximum speed of 15 km / h, do not require a braking system. They stop easily when the engine speed drops. Make a homemade snowmobile on tracks you can use the algorithm:

1. Engine selection, frame and chassis calculation.
2. Spot-welded frame assembly.
3. Steering device.
4. Installation of the engine in the design position for a temporary attachment.
5. Checking the structure for resistance to overturning.
6. If the check is successful - major welding of the frame, installation of the engine.
7. Installation of drive system, bridges.
8. Assembling and installing tracks.
9. Body parts assembly.

After that, the final tests are carried out. If the snowmobile rides normally and does not tip over, then it is driven into the garage and disassembled. The frame is cleaned of rust, painted in 2 layers, the remaining elements are finished, after which they assemble a homemade snowmobile on tracks with their own hands.

Engine selection

Gasoline engines are used for motoblocks or sidecars. The engine speed is controlled by the throttle stick placed on the rudder grip. To make a homemade tracked snowmobile with your own hands, the easiest way is use ready-made small-volume engines for walk-behind tractors with pre-installed:

• Fuel tank.
• Ignition system.
• Reduction gear with a ratio of 1: 2.
• Centrifugal clutch that automatically engages when revving up.

The power of these motors does not exceed 10 horsepower, but they are easy to install: the master does not need to separately assemble the ignition system, supply fuel pipes, adjust the clutch, etc. There are different options on the market:

If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made engine from a walk-behind tractor, then you can use an engine from a motorized carriage. Such engines are more powerful by 10-15 horsepower, but require self-assembly. The system includes:

• Engine.
• Clutch.
• Reducer.
• Gas tank (volume 5-10 liters).
• Muffler.
• Generator.
• Switch and electronic ignition coil.

Some of the elements will fit from old motorcycles (Minsk, Vostok, Java, Ural). The gas tank is positioned as close to the carburetor as possible to shorten the length of the pipes.

Frame and body

It is recommended to draw up a drawing of the frame before work. The structure is welded from a 25 x 25 mm square tube with a wall thickness of 2 mm. With a payload of over 150 kg, the section size is increased to 30 x 25 mm. The loading area and body elements are sheathed with plywood. Seats are matched with a hydrophobic coating.

In the center of the fracture frame, there is a hinge that allows rotation around a vertical axis. The maximum angle of rotation is limited by welding metal plates. The front half is used for steering and the engine is placed on the rear frame.

The one-piece frame is welded in the form of a rectangle, inside which bridges and tracks are located. The engine is placed at the front on a special platform, rigidly welded to the rest of the frame. In both cases, the motor is placed in the transverse direction (the shaft extends to the end).

Drive system

A small diameter drive sprocket is installed on the motor output shaft. From it, the torque is transmitted through the chain to the driven shaft located under the engine seat. On the driven shaft there are:

• Large diameter driven sprocket.
• Cogwheels that drive the tracks.
• Track guides.

The driven shaft is mounted on the frame with bearings. The cogwheels push the tracks, driving the tracks. The chain and sprockets are removed from one device. Old motorcycles and snowmobiles ("Buran") are suitable for the role of a donor. The cogwheels for tracks can only be removed from other tracked vehicles.

The guide rollers rotate with the shaft, are attached next to the gear wheels and serve to tension the belt. They are made of wood or plastic and have a layer of soft rubber at the ends. Rubber prevents damage to the track. It is easy to make such rollers yourself by fixing the edging with a furniture stapler.

Calculation and assembly of the caterpillar

The caterpillar is a tape on the outer surface of which the tracks are fixed. Tracks are rigid lugs installed along the entire length of the tracks. Track options:

• Made of 3 mm thick conveyor belt.
• From a car tire.
• From V-belts.
• Factory-made ready-made caterpillars.

The conveyor belt must be looped back. Its strength is only sufficient for light snowmobiles with engines no more powerful than 10 hp. with. Car tires are stronger than tape and are suitable for powerful engines. Solid tires do not need to be looped back, so the chance of rupture is minimal. A tire of the right length is more difficult to pick up than a tape.

Ready tracks are removed from other similar equipment (snowmobiles "Buran", "Sherkhan"). Grousers are installed on them from the factory. Products are not suitable for use with low-power motors from walk-behind tractors. Homemade snowmobiles made from Buranov tracks must have gear wheels from the same donor.

The size of the track is selected according to the required driving characteristics: the wider the width, the lower the controllability, but the higher the cross-country ability. The minimum area of ​​the contact patch from a snowmobile (skis and tracks) should be such that the pressure from the equipped vehicle does not exceed 0.4 kg / cm 2 of the surface. In light snowmobiles, a conveyor belt 300 mm wide is used, cut lengthwise into 2 strips of 150 mm.

Preparing the ribbon

The tracks are attached to homemade tracks with M6 bolts with a wide head. The bolts are fixed with a nut, a washer and a grover are used. Before fastening, leading holes with a diameter of 6 mm are drilled in the tape and tracks. When drilling, a jig and wood drills with a special sharpening are used.

The conveyor belt is also looped back with M6 bolts. To do this, the edges of the tape overlap each other with an overlap of 3-5 cm, the connection contains 1-2 rows of bolts. For track width 150 mm withstand the following distances:

• From the edge of the tape 15-20 mm.
• Between the bolts on the tracks 100-120 mm.
• Between the bolts when ringing 25-30 mm.

Just one track requires 2 bolts, one tape connection - 5-10 bolts, depending on the number of rows. When using car tires, only the treadmill is left, and the sidewalls are removed with a shoe knife.

The tracks are made of a polyethylene pipe with a diameter of 40 mm with a wall thickness of 5 mm, sawn in half in the longitudinal direction. An entire section of the lug is adhered to the belt. In light snowmobiles, one track connects the track pair. With a track width of 150 mm, the track length is 450-500 mm.

The lugs are cut with a circular saw into wood. A special machine is used with two guides (metal and wood), rigidly fixed on a fixed tabletop. The pipe walls are sawn in turn.

The distance between the tracks depends on the parameters of the gear wheels on the drive shaft. Usually it is 5-7 cm. The specified distance is maintained with an error of no more than 3 mm. Otherwise, the operation of the drive is disrupted: the lugs "run over" the teeth of the driving wheels, the caterpillar begins to slip and fly off the rollers.

Chassis

Lightweight snowmobiles designed for riding on loose snow are equipped with an articulated suspension made of an extended M16 nut. This is a lightweight design with a simple device that does not provide the comfortable driving characteristics of a homemade product.

Snowmobiles on tracks, designed for driving on packed snow, must provide shock absorbers (from a motorcycle or moped). Shock absorbers are installed at the points of attachment of skis and bridges to the frame. The suspension travel is selected so that the moving parts do not touch the snowmobile body during operation.

Steering wheel and skis

The steering is displayed on two front skis according to a scheme structurally similar to the suspension. It is made of a threaded stud installed in an elongated M16 nut, rigidly welded to the frame. The steering wheel from a moped or a motorcycle ("Minsk") is used.

In total, the design uses 3 plastic skis from a children's scooter (or homemade from plywood 3 mm thick). A pair of front skis are used for taxiing. Skis up to 1 meter long are used, if necessary, reinforced with a steel pipe and plate.

The third ski is supporting, serves to maintain the belt in working order. It is shorter than the others and is located between the bridges (in the center). A T-beam is attached to the support ski, rigidly welded to the frame. On top of the beam are freely rotating track rollers. Installation of this design is unnecessary if the track does not sag.

Construction of bridges

The bridges are located under the loading dock. One bridge has 2 inflatable wheels from the garden cart and a metal rod. The wheels rotate freely and are not driven. In snowmobiles built on the basis of motors from motoblocks, the wheels are half inflated. Clamps are welded to the outer ends of the wheels, with the help of which the axles are attached to the frame.

The front axle is stationary, its clips are rigidly welded to the frame. The rear axle should move freely along the frame, as it serves to tension the track. Its locks provide for frictional tightening of M10 bolts, securing the bridge in the working position.

With the onset of the winter period, two-wheeled vehicles are losing their relevance. Using a car to overcome short distances with high snow cover is not particularly practical, and in most cases is impossible. The snowmobile copes with this task much better.

A winter motor vehicle is in most cases equipped with a rear-wheel drive track and front steering skis. High cross-country ability, versatility and ease of use make the snowmobile by far the most popular means of transportation in the winter season.

Features of homemade snowmobiles

Nowadays, you can buy a snowmobile in any motorcycle showroom, both in a large metropolis and in a small city, but the prices of this technique force many winter driving fans to make a homemade snowmobile on tracks with their own hands.

There are four important advantages of a self-made vehicle over a factory one:

1. Price is the most important factor for most. The cost of some units of the leading manufacturers of motor vehicles can exceed the cost of those assembled from scrap materials by 5-10 times.
2. Parameters - the ability to assemble a vehicle of the desired configuration. This applies to both the appearance and the power reserve, the type of chassis, etc.
3. Reliability is the point that even well-known manufacturers do not always boast of. When self-manufacturing, a person uses the highest quality materials and pays special attention to the most important components of the mechanism.
4. Benefit - the ability to use materials, parts and devices from other devices lying around in garages and backrooms.

At the same time, homemade snowmobiles are used both on the streets of settlements and on roadless areas of suburban expanses and ski resorts.

Homemade snowmobile on tracks with your own hands: where to start?

1 - rear light; 2 - hitch; 3 - body (plywood, s16); 4 - side reflectors; 5 - rear shock absorber (from the Dnepr motorcycle, 2 pcs.); 6 - gas tank (from the launcher of the T-150 tractor); 7 - seat; 8 - main frame; 9 - electronic ignition switch (from the Voskhod motorcycle); 10 - ignition coil (from the Voskhod motorcycle); 11 - power plant (from a motorized carriage, 14 hp); 12 - muffler (from motorized carriages); 13 - steering column; 14 - steering joint in a leather case filled with grease (joint from "UAZ"); 15 - limiter for vertical movement of the steering ski (chain); 16 - steering ski turn limiter; 17 - steering ski; 18 - side ski (2 pcs.); 19 - generator; 20 - clutch lever (from a motorized carriage); 21 - drive chain shield; 22 - footboard; 23 - drive shaft drive chain; 24 - the drive shaft of the caterpillar; 25 - lower track chain guide (polyethylene, s10, 2 pcs.); 26 - caterpillar chain (from the header of the forage harvester, 2 pcs.); 27, 31 - upper front and rear chain guides (polyethylene s10, 2 pcs.); 28 - shock absorber of the propeller hinge frame (shortened rear shock absorbers of the Dnepr motorcycle, 2 sets); 29 - support ski; 30 - rear spacer frame; 32 - rear axle.

A drawing of a homemade snowmobile is the most important stage in the preparatory stage of manufacturing. Here to help engineering skills come in handy, and in the absence of such, surface sketches are made, creating a general image of the future mechanism.

Before creating a drawing, it is necessary to determine the list of required components. The basis of the standard configuration of the snowmobile is:

1. Frame - depending on the complexity of the design, it can be borrowed from an ATV, motor scooter, scooter, motorcycle, etc. In their absence, the part is usually cooked from thin-walled metal pipes with a diameter of about 40 mm.
2. Seat - given the difficult operating conditions of the equipment, the material of this element must have a high water-repellent ability.
3. Engine - is selected with the calculation of the required speed and the total weight of the vehicle. The most commonly used motors are motoblocks, scooters, motorcycles, etc.
4. Tank - 10-15 liter metal / plastic container will fully provide carefree trips over relatively long distances and will not take up much space on the unit.
5. Skis - in the absence of ready-made options, it is recommended to use nine / ten-layer plywood sheets with a thickness of about 3 mm for self-production.
6. Steering wheel - chosen with the calculation of convenience and practicality. Similar to the frame, engine and seat, it is removed from the specified two-wheeled units.
7. Drive - a part that transfers rotary motion from the engine to the track. A motorcycle chain performs this function well.
8. The caterpillar is the most complex and important element. Their types and methods of self-production will be discussed further.

How to make homemade caterpillars?

One of the most common materials for making a propulsion unit at home is car tire... A homemade snowmobile track from a car tire has one important advantage over other options - it is made in the form of a closed loop, which significantly reduces the likelihood of rupture.



The beads are separated from the tire using a boot knife, leaving a flexible treadmill. The lugs are attached to the drive blade - plastic pipes sawn along with a diameter of about 40 mm and a thickness of about 5 mm. Cut to fit the width of the tire, half-pipes are attached to the canvas with bolts (M6, etc.) at intervals of 5-7 cm.

Homemade caterpillars are made in the same way. from conveyor belt... Their main advantage is the ability to choose the length of the propeller. After cutting to the required length, special attention should be paid to the hitch. The ends of the tape overlap each other by 3-5 cm, and are fixed across the entire width with the same bolts as the lugs.

DIY materials such as V-belts are often helpful in making homemade tracks. Fastened in width by means of lugs, they make up a full-fledged caterpillar track with hollows for the gear already existing on the inside.

Note that the wider the track, the better the snowmobile's flotation, but the poorer handling. Factory options have three samples of canvas width in inches: 15 - standard; 20 - wide; 24 - extra wide.

Let's go to practice

A frame made of pipes or corners is primarily equipped with a steering gear. Having chosen the height and angle of inclination, weld the element with spot welding. Install and fix the engine according to the drawing, taking care not to tilt too much. The snowmobile should not have a long fuel line, so try to position the tank closer to the carburetor.

The next step is to install the track. Attach the driven axle with the belt fitted to the rear of the frame (on a fork, suspension, shock absorber, etc., depending on the type of construction), the leading axle in the middle of the snowmobile (most often under the driver's seat), in the shortest possible hitch with the engine. The gears of both axles are pre-engaged.

Homemade snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor



This transformation is especially popular today. The walk-behind tractor can be used, either partially or completely. In the first case, a supporting frame with a rear axle is added to the unit (engine with steering fork and wheels). The most difficult stage in this case is the transformation of the working shaft of the walk-behind tractor into a drive gear.

A homemade snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor with partial use of parts is more versatile. In this case, only the engine and the steering fork are removed from the "donor", to the lower part of which skis are attached instead of wheels. The motor itself can also be located at the rear of the structure.

It should be noted that the engines of the main part of the motoblocks are designed for the weight and pressure of the wheels, which is several times less than the tracked one. Therefore, in order to avoid increased wear of parts and fuel consumption, it is better to equip such a snowmobile with low pressure wheels.

Each driver decides for himself whether to buy tracks or do it himself. We will consider both aspects, but each of them is advisable only if the car drives not only on the highway. Tracks are a great way to improve off-road capability, and tuning is a must for many motorists. Is it worth buying tracks for Niva if you can make them yourself?

The challenges of transporting incredibly heavy camp gear and being tied to public transport on the hunting grounds are a must for every hunter. An off-road vehicle, even one such as the Niva, solves these problems only partially, since there remain obstacles in the form of gullies, slopes and off-road terrain, which a car on standard wheels cannot cope with. There is an urgent need to switch your transport to caterpillar tracks. How to make tracks for Niva in three ways, in which cases is it better to buy ready-made ones?

In the production of tracks, special rubber is used with a special substance in the composition, thanks to which even aggressive weather conditions do not reduce their strength and elasticity. The weight of one track can vary between 75 - 110 kg, which is influenced by the design of the product and its type. Despite this weight, the transformation of the "Niva" into an all-terrain vehicle is not difficult, since the caterpillar easily rolls on the ground, there is no need to lift or drag it.

There is also nothing complicated in the design of the tracked propeller - a powerful metal frame in the shape of a triangle, one large roller at the top and five pairs or more of a smaller size at the bottom. The caterpillar is put on them.

The classic wheel hub is installed in the upper roller, then it is put on a rigid hitch, so that when the hub rotates, it transmits the rotational movements of the entire structure. The key advantage is the ability to turn the steering wheel just like with the wheels. If necessary, the tracks for the car are removed and replaced with ordinary tracks.

What are caterpillars for? Pros and cons of the design

The basis of the audience of drivers installing tracks on a car is made up of extreme people, hunters and fishermen, who, in pursuit of pristine beauty and maximum comfort, do not skimp on elements of car modernization. Given the purpose of using your own car and the size of your wallet, you will have to choose between buying tracks and making them yourself. If you rarely go off-road, and most often your Niva sees only the main road, there is no point in buying.

If you are fond of fishing and hunting, then increasing the cross-country ability of the vehicle due to such a modification is vital in order to master new cordons, as well as safely, quickly and comfortably get to the so-called fishing places. After installation, you will notice the following positive changes:

1. The level of comfort when driving off-road is significantly increased, the difference between wheels and caterpillar tracks is immediately felt.
2. The vehicle's speed increases when traveling in snowy, swampy or sandy terrain. Indicators reach 80 km / h.
3. The vehicle's cross-country ability also increases and this parameter can be compared with the cross-country ability of the Belarus tractor. The only limitation is the amount of ground clearance, which for the Niva is 30 cm.

The first tracks on cars appeared about 100 years ago, and during this time, motorists have fully appreciated their advantages, however disadvantages also exist:

1. A set of tracks is expensive, and when making a homemade structure, you cannot do without basic skills and additional equipment.
2. Slopes, hills and terrain with sudden elevation changes can be a problem for the suspension system and transmission, as a vehicle of this size requires more track area.
3. Moving over a fallen tree trunk or similar obstacle is also not always possible.

Main manufacturers and prices

The first tracked mechanisms were developed in the USA, after which they were distributed throughout the world. Now, several dozen manufacturers are engaged in the production of such structures, including domestic ones. Of the imported brands, Mattracks is considered one of the most popular. Their prices correspond to a big name - one set corresponds to the cost of a Russian car.

Several companies are now engaged in the production of caterpillars for passenger cars, but such a purchase, again, will not be cheap. Pricing depends on the following factors:

• diameter of bearings and axles;
• metal thickness and quality;
• design features.

When choosing imported caterpillar mechanisms, focus on the price of 230 - 700 thousand rubles. By deciding to buy domestic tracks for Niva, you can cut costs in half.

Development of Chelyabinsk engineers

Engineers from Chelyabinsk offer an alternative design, thanks to which the vehicle will be able to conquer not only off-road conditions, but also water. Movement on water is provided by quick-detachable pontoons fixed on the chassis.

If not needed, they can be stored on a ski wheeled trailer or trunk. The installation of the tracks in this case is somewhat more time consuming when compared with the classic tracked mechanisms, the installation of which does not take more than an hour. You will have to follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. At the first stage, the car should be started on the tracked module, get rid of the wheels and lower the suspension onto the safety catches.
2. Next, the car is attached to the frame, and the module bridge is connected to the cardan.
3. At the final stage, the control unit is installed and the hydraulic system is pumped.

Such an all-terrain mechanism is installed for 2 hours, at least, after which control is available through the steering wheel. After another off-road raid, the car is brought back onto the platform, and the tracked modules replace the usual wheels. The price of the issue is 100 thousand rubles. and higher.

Can I make caterpillars with my own hands?

If the cost of a ready-made set of tracks discouraged you, you can consider an option with self-production, but you should know in advance about the laboriousness of such a process. You must have master level locksmith equipment and construction skills. Garage production may not even be considered, since you have to use special machines and tools for turning hubs, assembling and installing sprockets, shafts and bearings.

There are three ways in which the caterpillar made by you on the "Niva" will perform its functions - from a conveyor belt, from car tires or from belts. These will be the simplest designs, which, despite their functionality and maintainability, cannot be called full-fledged tracks.

Conveyor belt tracks

To assemble the tracked set, you can use a conveyor belt with a thickness of 8 - 10 mm and a sleeve-roller chain. Be sure to sew the edges of the tape with fishing line to reinforce it and avoid fraying. Use an overcast seam. The hinge can be used to connect the ends of the tape. The connection through flashing can also be used, but the reliability will be questionable. In general, this design inspires confidence in terms of reliability and is easily repairable.

Also, caterpillars can be made from the conveyor belt using a rectangular shaped pipe. To do this, you must first give the tracks the required shape using a pressing machine. You can use nuts and bolts to fix the tracks to the tape. We will consider this technology in more detail. You will need the following tools and materials:

• pressing machine;
• hammer and a set of keys;
• hole puncher;
• drill, angle grinder and welding machine;
• fittings and profile pipes;
• Grover, washers, nuts and bolts;
• conveyer belt.

The phased technology is as follows:

1. Taking into account the width of the caterpillar being manufactured, cut the tracks with the help of a grinder.
2. Press the workpieces on the machine to give them the desired shape, use waste oil to lubricate the ends.
3. Weld the fangs on each track and additionally at the top of the V-shaped reinforcement.
4. Check the correct dimensions at the track installation site.
5. Use an industrial hole punch to create holes in the conveyor belt. You can make such a hole punch yourself - it will be a tube sharpened from the end part with a side hole for removing rubber waste.
6. Drill two holes in the tracks at each end.
7. At the final stage, the assembly of the caterpillar is waiting for you.

Tracks from car tires

Having decided to use car tires for the manufacture of tracks, it is worth choosing them with the appropriate tread pattern, which will replace the lugs. Tires from tractors or trucks will do. Carefully remove the tire beads using a well-sharpened boot knife. Moisten the blade periodically in soapy water to make cutting easier.

If you are skilled at using an electric jigsaw, you can also use this tool in tandem with a fine-toothed saw.

To achieve the required level of elasticity, several layers of the inner ring can be removed. Compared with the first option (conveyor belt + sleeve-roller chain), car tires are more reliable, since the ring contour in this case is closed and the ends do not need to be connected.

Belt tracks

Crawler belt assemblies also fall into the category of easy-to-manufacture structures. Grousers are used to assemble the track from V-shaped rubber belts. The connection is made by means of small bolts and rivets. The spacing between the belts must match the dimensions of the drive sprocket. Use rivets to secure the ends of the resulting blade.

conclusions

Summing up, it is worth mentioning the ease of installation of the tracks, which takes less than an hour, unless, of course, we are talking about the Chelyabinsk invention.

Before installation, weld special triangle-shaped kerchiefs to the Niva bridges to strengthen them. As for homemade designs, they are unlikely to compete with the factory options in terms of reliability, but they will be an excellent solution for single raids for game or fish.