Describes cars, trucks, and other vehicles that are designed to be driven on all sorts of surfaces from dirt to mud or snow and ice.

A dirt bike rider flies off a ramp and soars the length of a football field. He lands safely with a thud. In wild stunts like this, the technology of an off-road vehicle can mean the difference between life and death. Off-road vehicles need super-tough suspension systems. Some ATVs have tires without air to battle rugged terrain without going flat. The SkyRunner dune buggy even has a parachute that can lift it into the air! Take young readers on a journey through the technology that makes off-road vehicles so amazing.

A concise reference that provides an overview of the design of high speed off-road vehicles High Speed Off-Road Vehicles is an excellent, in-depth review of vehicle performance in off-road conditions with a focus on key elements of the running gear systems of vehicles. In particular, elements such as suspension systems, wheels, tyres, and tracks are addressed in-depth. It is a well-written text that provides a pragmatic discussion of off-road vehicles from both a historical and analytical perspective. Some of the unique topics addressed in this book include link and flexible tracks, ride performance of tracked vehicles, and active and semi-active suspension systems for both armoured and unarmoured vehicles. The book provides spreadsheet-based analytic approaches to model these topic areas giving insight into steering, handling, and overall performance of both tracked and wheeled systems. The author further extends these analyses to soft soil scenarios and thoroughly addresses rollover situations. The text also provides some insight into more advanced articulated systems. High Speed Off-Road Vehicles: Suspensions, Tracks, Wheels and Dynamics provides valuable coverage of: Tracked and wheeled vehicles Suspension component design and characteristics, vehicle ride performance, link track component design and characteristics, flexible track, and testing of active suspension test vehicles General vehicle configurations for combat and logistic vehicles, suspension performance modelling and measurement, steering performance, and the effects of limited slip differentials on the soft soil traction and steering behavior of vehicles Written from a very practical perspective, and based on the author’s extensive experience, High Speed Off-Road Vehicles provides an excellent introduction to off-road vehicles and will be a helpful reference text for those practicing design and analysis of such systems.

If you have a hankering for the sand and mud, this thoroughly updated edition of The Four-Wheeler's Bible is your ultimate resource for overland adventures, both close to home and farther afield. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a four-wheeling novice, you will find the information you need to maximize your enjoyment of your next off-road excursion. Author and four-wheeling experts Jim Allen and James Weber begin with a primer on emergency preparedness before combing through all considerations you should take aboard, from trail etiquette to the latest technologies. Allen and Weber explain the concepts of four-wheel-drive systems in easy-to-understand terms and go on to suggest modifications to make off-road rigs more capable, comfortable, and dependable for intended application. This third edition is completely redesigned and updated to offer explanations of the latest electronic GPS and communications gadgetry, advice and techniques for planning and negotiating overland routes, and updates for new off-road vehicles that will help you get the most from your four-wheeling experience. With you machine up to snuff, you will be ready to hit the trails. Allen and Weber demonstrate the correct way to handle countless common off-road situations. And because everyone makes a mistake eventually, they also show how to get out of a variety of sticky situations. There’s more to the four-wheeling experience than modifying and driving a vehicle, and the authors leave no rock unturned, ensuring that you are equipped to handle nearly any trip, no matter how far into the wilderness you choose to venture. The Four Wheeler’s Bible is an indispensable piece of gear if you're planning to hit the trails!

A concise reference that provides an overview of the design of high speed off-road vehicles High Speed Off-Road Vehicles is an excellent, in-depth review of vehicle performance in off-road conditions with a focus on key elements of the running gear systems of vehicles. In particular, elements such as suspension systems, wheels, tyres, and tracks are addressed in-depth. It is a well-written text that provides a pragmatic discussion of off-road vehicles from both a historical and analytical perspective. Some of the unique topics addressed in this book include link and flexible tracks, ride performance of tracked vehicles, and active and semi-active suspension systems for both armoured and unarmoured vehicles. The book provides spreadsheet-based analytic approaches to model these topic areas giving insight into steering, handling, and overall performance of both tracked and wheeled systems. The author further extends these analyses to soft soil scenarios and thoroughly addresses rollover situations. The text also provides some insight into more advanced articulated systems. High Speed Off-Road Vehicles: Suspensions, Tracks, Wheels and Dynamics provides valuable coverage of: Tracked and wheeled vehicles Suspension component design and characteristics, vehicle ride performance, link track component design and characteristics, flexible track, and testing of active suspension test vehicles General vehicle configurations for combat and logistic vehicles, suspension performance modelling and measurement, steering performance, and the effects of limited slip differentials on the soft soil traction and steering behavior of vehicles Written from a very practical perspective, and based on the author’s extensive experience, High Speed Off-Road Vehicles provides an excellent introduction to off-road vehicles and will be a helpful reference text for those practicing design and analysis of such systems.

Off-road vehicles add an extreme element to driving, and readers will see why through this text’s in-depth look at the technology and engineering behind some very extreme machines. Readers will learn about haul trucks, logging trucks, swamp vehicles, tractors, sandrails, military super machines, tanks, and bulldozers. The text covers each vehicle’s purpose and the history of their usage. The text also tells readers how to pursue careers that involve off-road vehicles and where they can go to see the latest developments in extreme off-roading vehicle technology. Colorful photographs, sidebars, and fact boxes complete the reading experience.