I like it! What was it originally built for? It would make a great hunting and fishing unit for back in eastern Oregon or Idaho during the winter months. A few things I would do, one is to put a good muffler on the thing and Satellite TV and Internet for the hunting shows and email and some solar panels to keep the batteries charged up just to make sure we could start it in case of emergency beer, soda and food run. It is pretty cool!
@ganymedeIV4 , sorry I don't watch King of the Hill but I know of it. As for the canoe part, the water dynamics are all off and the resistance would prove to be a bitch I think. 'sides, where in hell are you gonna stick you paddle out?? Does look like fun all kidding aside. You might even get heat?
@ganymedeIV4 Now that is a definite possibility and more likely than my idea. I am staggered by what you can build with some mechanical background, no money and lots of time.
@ganymedeIV4 A friend and myself are in the initial stages of building a tracked "toy" Just a one man thing on tracks to be mobile through all four seasons up here in Northern Ontario. We hit our first snag right outa the gate. Where in hell do we beg, borrow, or steal a set of tracks capable of the task. Snow machine tracks, we don't think won't handle the job. Not long enough for what we have in mind.
@anapeg100 You think caterpillar tracks would work? I know the rubber ones might be to heavy/bulky, but those older cats had those "shingle tracks" made out of steel like the "D7F" model had.
lil' Bob cat tracks would work to if you had two sets of cogs per track, and used trailer wheel rims for the guides. but if it was a large vehicle you might need to set it up like a old' nhatze half track with 33" wheels up front and bob catters in the rear for traction/movement.
@ganymedeIV4 I did a little research and the weight would kill us. Our needs for power and an under carriage capable of handling the weight would make it bulky and hard to manage in the bush, thanks anywho.
@Jesus45U These may just work as they are pliable and not as heavy as some combinations. My problem is no bloody farmers in my neck of the woods. I'm lookin' though, I'm lookin'.
It's hard coming up with ideas for you, because I have no idea how big and/or what sort of design you're going for. Obviously, getting a second hand Snowcat is probably the cheapest option, but if you want to build it yourself (which may be half the fun) that's out of the window.
You could make a design based on 4 tracks, like mattraks on a car or ATV :
Mini excevators also run on rubber tracks that are quite durable and not so expensive.
Heck, a quick google shopping search revealed some for about 500 bucks for a pair. Sure, you'd still have to build the undercariage and all, and they are not that long .. but still very nice if you go for a 4 track solution, like the CASE IH tracked tractor. :)
I browsed around a little, and it looked like Radmeister rubber tracks are generally priced low.
@Jesus45U Now there is a thought, traxcavator tracks! Could even use their boogies to boot! And ya, building it ourselves is the best part. My son and I waste hours together and haven't killed each other,............yet.
Well, how big is this thing of yours going to be ?
If it's just for one person, snowscooter tracks and ATV tracks (like these : /watch?v=CwnVmEUpYVE ) would be useful in that weight class.
Building something the size of a car over a set of mattraks, even if you don't use a car as base, could be fairly competent in the terrain, they do come fairly wide (as seen on this jeep : /watch?v=Pcig4g93-AE ).
Combine harvester tracks are pretty tough and can take more weight.
@Jesus45U To be honest, all we have is ideas and some really crude drawings. What will determine size will be what we end up with for parts. Originally I had thought of something the size of a standard four wheeler but now am leaning strongly to something much larger and heavier. The size of a car? Not what I envisioned but not ruling it out,..........yet. Mike
Right ... *calculates* ... so about 1.2m x 2.4m, ... 'bout the size of a door.
Well, at such small sizes, the powerplant will probably be the bigger limiter. Tracks take a fair bit of power to run.
If the powerplant is kinda small and it doesn't have to be tracked, you could use a bunch of narrow tires and overlap them like on the german Tiger tank, for increased footprint, and then skid steer it like a Tank.
@Jesus45U The part where I am lost is steering clutches for a "real" tracked pivot turn as opposed to just a spinning turn. Could be expensive, heavy, and not sure of the size limitations. Mike
@Jesus45U Barry, my friend mentioned the hydraulic drive and my son is 42. No kids in this group. Mind we all act childish. We have a three cylinder John Deer turbo diesel and a rather large snow machine motor and some assorted valves and hoses in our box of "goodies" so far. We have started manufacturing our own rendition of tracks out of used conveyor and metal "C" channel. Seems promising so far. I will keep you posted. Both Barry and myself are retired so we have a million other things to do
Heck, if you get some old belts and undercarriage off of a mini excevator, you might be able to scavenge some old hydraulic motors as well.
I recommend putting the engine in the front, so it'll take the brunt instead of your face if you crash. Plus it'll make it better at climbing hills if it's front heavy.
Though I do recommend putting the driving cogs in the back, so that the tension from pulling goes along the underside of the wheels and the slack on top.
@Jesus45U Final drives in the rear are a given. God and Caterpillar have deemed it so. Barry, the more optimistic of the pair of us thinks we will have a tunnel and traction by spring. I will wait and see. We start assembly in the near future and it is more or less design on the run. What we end up with will be determined by what is laying about. Mike
Allright, it seems God and Caterpillar are with me on this one then. :)
Making the chassis as a tub, will probably be the most efficient, just remember to have a way to collect, and bail water from it. Don't want it to gather in a spot where you can't get a hold of it.
With hydraulics you also get a fairly compact package, so you should have fairly good room in it. The motors might not have a high RPM as max though, but you can "gear up" by using bigger drive gears.
that is nigger-rigged as crap, I love it!!! when did you decide to build this, were ya sittin at home, in front of the fire, and one day ya said hey, i think i'me gonna nigger-rig a redneck snow cat and i'me gonna call it gonkulator. then i'll drive it through the woods to the old deer huntin spot. this time i don't feel like gettin stuck, so i'me gonna put tracks on it. then ya said hey i might as well make a house, lets put a wood stove in the back, bring some food, and i'll just live there!!
Looks like a Spryte chassis with a Jeep body on it.
woodchuck2222 3 months ago
The engine has all the blue box? ))
KiteStyles 3 months ago
I like it! What was it originally built for? It would make a great hunting and fishing unit for back in eastern Oregon or Idaho during the winter months. A few things I would do, one is to put a good muffler on the thing and Satellite TV and Internet for the hunting shows and email and some solar panels to keep the batteries charged up just to make sure we could start it in case of emergency beer, soda and food run. It is pretty cool!
badmoonryzn 3 months ago
Grind er till she fits!
hohosr 4 months ago
man that body looks like a old 1940's Volkswagen
ganymedeIV4 6 months ago
@ganymedeIV4 , It's an old Jeep I believe.
anapeg100 6 months ago
@anapeg100 Sure its not hitler's canoe?
(king of the hill joke)
ganymedeIV4 6 months ago
@ganymedeIV4 , sorry I don't watch King of the Hill but I know of it. As for the canoe part, the water dynamics are all off and the resistance would prove to be a bitch I think. 'sides, where in hell are you gonna stick you paddle out?? Does look like fun all kidding aside. You might even get heat?
anapeg100 6 months ago
@anapeg100 i'd think exhaust leaks are the primary source of heat in that cabin.
: P
ganymedeIV4 6 months ago
@ganymedeIV4 Now that is a definite possibility and more likely than my idea. I am staggered by what you can build with some mechanical background, no money and lots of time.
anapeg100 6 months ago
@anapeg100 the tracked hunting/fishing shack is my favorite part, that looks like it took some hours of tinkering to get together.
ganymedeIV4 6 months ago
@ganymedeIV4 A friend and myself are in the initial stages of building a tracked "toy" Just a one man thing on tracks to be mobile through all four seasons up here in Northern Ontario. We hit our first snag right outa the gate. Where in hell do we beg, borrow, or steal a set of tracks capable of the task. Snow machine tracks, we don't think won't handle the job. Not long enough for what we have in mind.
anapeg100 6 months ago
@anapeg100 You think caterpillar tracks would work? I know the rubber ones might be to heavy/bulky, but those older cats had those "shingle tracks" made out of steel like the "D7F" model had.
lil' Bob cat tracks would work to if you had two sets of cogs per track, and used trailer wheel rims for the guides. but if it was a large vehicle you might need to set it up like a old' nhatze half track with 33" wheels up front and bob catters in the rear for traction/movement.
ganymedeIV4 6 months ago
@ganymedeIV4 I did a little research and the weight would kill us. Our needs for power and an under carriage capable of handling the weight would make it bulky and hard to manage in the bush, thanks anywho.
anapeg100 4 weeks ago
@anapeg100
They make tracks for combine harvesters ... might be able to get some old used second hand ones, somehow.
Jesus45U 3 months ago
@Jesus45U These may just work as they are pliable and not as heavy as some combinations. My problem is no bloody farmers in my neck of the woods. I'm lookin' though, I'm lookin'.
anapeg100 4 weeks ago
@anapeg100
It's hard coming up with ideas for you, because I have no idea how big and/or what sort of design you're going for. Obviously, getting a second hand Snowcat is probably the cheapest option, but if you want to build it yourself (which may be half the fun) that's out of the window.
You could make a design based on 4 tracks, like mattraks on a car or ATV :
/watch?v=mkleAMR3IyI
You could also try and make your own belts :
/watch?v=zrWx8yxtsWo
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
Oh, I almost forgot ...
Mini excevators also run on rubber tracks that are quite durable and not so expensive.
Heck, a quick google shopping search revealed some for about 500 bucks for a pair. Sure, you'd still have to build the undercariage and all, and they are not that long .. but still very nice if you go for a 4 track solution, like the CASE IH tracked tractor. :)
I browsed around a little, and it looked like Radmeister rubber tracks are generally priced low.
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@Jesus45U Now there is a thought, traxcavator tracks! Could even use their boogies to boot! And ya, building it ourselves is the best part. My son and I waste hours together and haven't killed each other,............yet.
anapeg100 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
Well, how big is this thing of yours going to be ?
If it's just for one person, snowscooter tracks and ATV tracks (like these : /watch?v=CwnVmEUpYVE ) would be useful in that weight class.
Building something the size of a car over a set of mattraks, even if you don't use a car as base, could be fairly competent in the terrain, they do come fairly wide (as seen on this jeep : /watch?v=Pcig4g93-AE ).
Combine harvester tracks are pretty tough and can take more weight.
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@Jesus45U To be honest, all we have is ideas and some really crude drawings. What will determine size will be what we end up with for parts. Originally I had thought of something the size of a standard four wheeler but now am leaning strongly to something much larger and heavier. The size of a car? Not what I envisioned but not ruling it out,..........yet. Mike
anapeg100 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
by "a standard four wheeler" do you mean a 4 wheel motorcycle, or a 4x4 truck/car ?
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@Jesus45U Motor cycle type say 4 feet wide by 8 long and a fairly low centre of gravity.
anapeg100 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
Right ... *calculates* ... so about 1.2m x 2.4m, ... 'bout the size of a door.
Well, at such small sizes, the powerplant will probably be the bigger limiter. Tracks take a fair bit of power to run.
If the powerplant is kinda small and it doesn't have to be tracked, you could use a bunch of narrow tires and overlap them like on the german Tiger tank, for increased footprint, and then skid steer it like a Tank.
Takes less power than tracks.
Should be good fun. :)
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@Jesus45U The part where I am lost is steering clutches for a "real" tracked pivot turn as opposed to just a spinning turn. Could be expensive, heavy, and not sure of the size limitations. Mike
anapeg100 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
How about hydrostatic drive ?
Then all you need is engine -> geabox -> pump -> hoses -> valves - hoses -> hydrostatic engine -> hoses -> back to pump
That way, you would also be able to go from full forward, to full backward in no time.
Offcourse, hydraulics steal power too, but that's just how it goes.
I have no idea how fast you want it to go, the son could be young and all that.
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@Jesus45U Barry, my friend mentioned the hydraulic drive and my son is 42. No kids in this group. Mind we all act childish. We have a three cylinder John Deer turbo diesel and a rather large snow machine motor and some assorted valves and hoses in our box of "goodies" so far. We have started manufacturing our own rendition of tracks out of used conveyor and metal "C" channel. Seems promising so far. I will keep you posted. Both Barry and myself are retired so we have a million other things to do
anapeg100 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
Awesome. :)
Heck, if you get some old belts and undercarriage off of a mini excevator, you might be able to scavenge some old hydraulic motors as well.
I recommend putting the engine in the front, so it'll take the brunt instead of your face if you crash. Plus it'll make it better at climbing hills if it's front heavy.
Though I do recommend putting the driving cogs in the back, so that the tension from pulling goes along the underside of the wheels and the slack on top.
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
@Jesus45U Final drives in the rear are a given. God and Caterpillar have deemed it so. Barry, the more optimistic of the pair of us thinks we will have a tunnel and traction by spring. I will wait and see. We start assembly in the near future and it is more or less design on the run. What we end up with will be determined by what is laying about. Mike
anapeg100 3 weeks ago
@anapeg100
Allright, it seems God and Caterpillar are with me on this one then. :)
Making the chassis as a tub, will probably be the most efficient, just remember to have a way to collect, and bail water from it. Don't want it to gather in a spot where you can't get a hold of it.
With hydraulics you also get a fairly compact package, so you should have fairly good room in it. The motors might not have a high RPM as max though, but you can "gear up" by using bigger drive gears.
Jesus45U 3 weeks ago
Some fine Redneck Engeneering there...
CEOkiller 8 months ago
I love this thing.
It just have that certain something about it.
And then there's the name .. The Gonkulator !
Gotta love that. :)
Jesus45U 1 year ago
Put a tiller behind the house and you got yourself a deal.
alansmithee95608 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Didn't I see this on "Junkyard Wars"?
MediaWatchDawg 1 year ago
he kinda reminds me of rocky balboa, but without a oblique face, lol.
plazzax 1 year ago
that is nigger-rigged as crap, I love it!!! when did you decide to build this, were ya sittin at home, in front of the fire, and one day ya said hey, i think i'me gonna nigger-rig a redneck snow cat and i'me gonna call it gonkulator. then i'll drive it through the woods to the old deer huntin spot. this time i don't feel like gettin stuck, so i'me gonna put tracks on it. then ya said hey i might as well make a house, lets put a wood stove in the back, bring some food, and i'll just live there!!
dwdrums40385 1 year ago
100% redneck, i love it!!! haha
jaymieandrew855 1 year ago 2
WHERES JETHRO?
decoysk 1 year ago 2
hauglands from hel!
DevinL16 1 year ago
The jalopy of the arctic haha
Mtharp2500 2 years ago
I've seen this machine in both my most horrible nightmares and my wildest dreams.
If god drives a Thunderbird, the devil must have one these.
jrkepler 2 years ago 3
that thing needs some wd-40 !!!
patton223 2 years ago 37
were did he get a transmission with 44 gears
supercobar 2 years ago 4
GOD
balongaboy 2 years ago 2
tractor
tomboehmpdot 2 years ago
The ultimate back roading rig!
Guyll21 2 years ago
I want it
dieselp0w3r 2 years ago
класс 5+
rafikpont 2 years ago
cool beans
is that only a one way blade
nolatoolguy 2 years ago
this shall survive the apocalypse or zombies
balongaboy 3 years ago 38
cool!!
carlube79 3 years ago
I don't think you could have come up with a better name for this machine.
44 gears? How many gear shifts?
tezskanza 3 years ago
Wow;
All Hail Gonkulator.....
This is serious 20th century steampunkery!
Vintabilly 3 years ago 4
make more videos of it! It rocks!
dirtastegood 3 years ago
redneck's dream mobile home
kalin1210 3 years ago
love it sweet thanks for sharing
mog5858 3 years ago 2
Got to love the gonkculator!
robzprettygirl 3 years ago