Back on track as they say.
A while back Saab mentioned a Ford Everst that had been "worked on" to make it an LTV. I know this work was not done by Ford but it got me thinking about who may be doing the work. Stoof International did all the work on our Land Cruisers in the Stan. Their site is worth a look as it contains a lot of information about what can be done to a base vehicle. More armour orientated but still worth a look if your interested in that sort of thing.
Back to the Ford converter,,,,,Went searching, found them. RMA Group. Link below to their download page. Scroll down to "Conversions" and look at the Ford's in particular. I say Ford as they seem to be the vehicle supplier the DF are looking at just now.
Lots of interesting pdf's about what can be done to a singular platform in various roles. The Everest and the Ranger share same engine and drive train as well as multiple components. All part of the commonality plan. Armour, LTV, Ambo, GS, Workshop etc etc.
Having discussed grizzly kit like the Aus and Canadian G's I went full circle and suggested the Transit as a common platform. Both ideas shot down
There is defiantly a steer towards civilian SUV's so lets go with it. Everest and Ranger as a replacement for not just the Pajero but all light platforms in the DF fulfilling many roles at home and overseas. Thing to remember is Ford don't make them that way, third part companies do, at a cost. Going back to Stoof, they turned our $80,000 Land Cruisers into something that saved many lives (including my own) for a fee in excess of $100,000 (on top of the 80k).
The other thing to remember is that a civilian SUV marketed as being a 7 seater is in fact a 4 seater. The missing 3 are children. Simple, you will not get more than 4 blokes in full kit (BA, BV, Bin Lid & Weapon) in these things and have them be in anyway effective. Its one thing piling 7 lads into one in their glad rags to take them down the train station on a Friday evening. Its another to have them kitted up and operational. Maybe a look at your Orbat is also required (5 man CSW teams, too big).
But a civilian SUV is what the DF want. So I'm saying go for it but for god's sake go for it right. Buy the one platform (Everest & Ranger are basically the same) enter a long contract for parts and service support, buy in bulk (spend your vehicle budget for the next 15 years in a oner, your going to spend it anyway). Employ your third party conversion specialist to do the work (their liable for the work, base workshop's are not) on the vic's you require converting. Make it do at least a dozen different jobs (mentioned). Then sit back in the knowledge that that,s it for the next 15 years. 10 years before you start looking for the next one plus 5 years to find it and test it to death.
Will post some pdf's.
Aint going to happen, but its good to chat about it .
Link to RMA:
Link to Stoof:
A while back Saab mentioned a Ford Everst that had been "worked on" to make it an LTV. I know this work was not done by Ford but it got me thinking about who may be doing the work. Stoof International did all the work on our Land Cruisers in the Stan. Their site is worth a look as it contains a lot of information about what can be done to a base vehicle. More armour orientated but still worth a look if your interested in that sort of thing.
Back to the Ford converter,,,,,Went searching, found them. RMA Group. Link below to their download page. Scroll down to "Conversions" and look at the Ford's in particular. I say Ford as they seem to be the vehicle supplier the DF are looking at just now.
Lots of interesting pdf's about what can be done to a singular platform in various roles. The Everest and the Ranger share same engine and drive train as well as multiple components. All part of the commonality plan. Armour, LTV, Ambo, GS, Workshop etc etc.
Having discussed grizzly kit like the Aus and Canadian G's I went full circle and suggested the Transit as a common platform. Both ideas shot down
There is defiantly a steer towards civilian SUV's so lets go with it. Everest and Ranger as a replacement for not just the Pajero but all light platforms in the DF fulfilling many roles at home and overseas. Thing to remember is Ford don't make them that way, third part companies do, at a cost. Going back to Stoof, they turned our $80,000 Land Cruisers into something that saved many lives (including my own) for a fee in excess of $100,000 (on top of the 80k).
The other thing to remember is that a civilian SUV marketed as being a 7 seater is in fact a 4 seater. The missing 3 are children. Simple, you will not get more than 4 blokes in full kit (BA, BV, Bin Lid & Weapon) in these things and have them be in anyway effective. Its one thing piling 7 lads into one in their glad rags to take them down the train station on a Friday evening. Its another to have them kitted up and operational. Maybe a look at your Orbat is also required (5 man CSW teams, too big).
But a civilian SUV is what the DF want. So I'm saying go for it but for god's sake go for it right. Buy the one platform (Everest & Ranger are basically the same) enter a long contract for parts and service support, buy in bulk (spend your vehicle budget for the next 15 years in a oner, your going to spend it anyway). Employ your third party conversion specialist to do the work (their liable for the work, base workshop's are not) on the vic's you require converting. Make it do at least a dozen different jobs (mentioned). Then sit back in the knowledge that that,s it for the next 15 years. 10 years before you start looking for the next one plus 5 years to find it and test it to death.
Will post some pdf's.
Aint going to happen, but its good to chat about it .
Link to RMA:
Link to Stoof:
Comment