Tank chair

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:09 am

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9847456-1.html

Someone bolted an SUV captain's chair on a chassis with tank treads. Looks like a very comfortable way to ride the playa, but I'm not seeing any cupholders. Sheesh!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:20 am

Tank treads are never Playa friendly.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:08 pm

oneeyeddick wrote:Tank treads are never Playa friendly.

How do you mean? Do you mean that they clog up and are more trouble than they are worth or are you referring to the damage they do to the playa? Because they couldn't do as much damage as some of the art cars I've seen.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:43 pm

my 2006 project, BioTrak, barely left an impression - the surface pressure was less than a human in boots. Of course, it had a top speed of ~2mph....and broke after 20 feet or so....

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:58 pm

I have neither knowledge nor personal experience, but I'd think that treads would leave less of a trace than tires on a car. shrug - but what do I know?

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:30 pm

I'd guess that treads would tear up the playa more than a wheeled vehicle when doing sharp turns, but would fare quite well in a straight line.
Be that as it may... damn, I'd love to have a Tank Chair!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:50 pm

That is what I was referring to also. The sharp turning amplified by the weight of riders would make for some loose Playa.
If no one else rides then it would be OK.
under a Bus with 100+people on top would leave some big marks on most turns.
like we don't make enoughh dust already

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:30 pm

thats a mattracks kit with light modifications for mounting. people have used those for atv's, wheelchairs, standing platforms... etc.

kicking up dust maybe, but a tracked vehicle doesnt really tear into the playa that much. definately less than most heavy equiptment used by dpw, water trucks, and sewage pumpers.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:14 am

and i want to add i took a test drive of an atv once at this outdoor goods show that had mattracks and it was horrible, no benefit over tires. i couldnt accelerate or slowdown well because they build up a lot of momentum in the gearing and tracks, couldnt go fast because they are really unstable at higher speeds. and you would think they would be so much better over obstacles but there was only a slight improvement over tires when i ran across the logs they set up on the course. all other objects tires did just as well, even better in the sand and up a small grass incline.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:31 am

...but it handles better than what I was expecting- The kind of Tank Chair that drops the clown in the water when you hit the target with a baseball.

...Hey Jafe! Still tinkering with BioTrak?

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:55 am

No footrest. The treads would tear up your shoes, think about that.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:33 am

On the playa, I'm not going to be running over tires, sleeping drunks, or anything else, so climbing is irrelevant. I'm not going to go speeding around, either - we all have a leave no wake policy on the playa.

- I just want my cupholders! Sheesh! Why can't they put cup holders on a captain's chair?

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:05 pm

Cmon phil, we're burners. We improvise.

Besides, ONE cup holder is not enough anyway. We need room for a whole cooler full of Tecate.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:09 pm

BitterDan, you may be uniquely qualified to customize my wheelchair.