You could probably do worse than the MaxiMog - which the maker claims is not actually just a vehicle, but rather the MaxiMog™ Expedition System!

"Dear, can you deploy the MaxiMog™ BMW 1150 Off-Road Motorcycle, while I land the MaxiMog™ U.A.V. (Unmanned Air Vehicle)"

(Be sure to check out the 28-page list of specifications... )

Yes, but... why?

If I need that kind of mobility, I probably need to be quiet. So I'm going to go on foot.

Hehehe cool. I wonder if I can get a street legal version. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Two of T.E. Lawrence's Rolls Royce armoured cars are still running in Jordan. Thats what I want <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Is it just the photo, or does it look like it's wheelbase is a tad narrow for it's height?

Also, it doesn't mention anything about dealing with heavy dust or ash. Does that mean that you would still have to stop and clean the air filter every two minutes while you're trying to leave the vicinity of a volcano eruption?

But it DOES look like it would be a nice RC toy! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I cannot see if I need that thing for everyday moving around, BUT

I can recall a 4x4 thing made by Mercedes called "Unimog", with some 5 gears forward and reverse, huge diesel engine, very lightweight and high over the ground body.....
There was no task it coudn't handle or a too steep sand dunel it couldn't climb or too deep mud to get stuck.

yum yum

www.majorsurplusnsurvival.com periodically sells a few Unimogs and a similar Volvo.

It is a rebuilt Unimog- they look funny, but all the weight is within a foot of the tops of the wheels. On this thing, might even be lower. As a result, you really, really have to work at flipping one unless you do something silly like take a turn over 40 miles an hour. :P They aren't really for the interstate/autobahn, but there used to a lot of footage of them doing things like climbing 40 degree inclines on the web.

Okay I changed my mind. I'll take a Rolls... certainly you don't need both of them. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

At the bottom of the home page,

"built by Thomas Ritter / Unicat"

could this be Doug's brother?

Despite that thing being much nicer than my apartment. And the fact that it seems really well thought out. AND looks like every boy's dream (both big and small). I am surprised to see it is a gasoline engine rather than a diesel. I believe that the GM LS-1 engine is the engine from the last generation firebird/camaro, and the C-5 Corvettes (and possibly the new C-6s, not sure). I would think a diesel engine would be more appropriate. It is my understanding that diesel is more efficient for large massive vehicles and also easier to come by in more "rural" areas. If anyone has any experience with such things please comment.

Probably a cold weather issue, diesel starts to get funny below freezing. So long as you don't shred your alternator and your battery has the omph, you can start unleaded down to 40 below. At that point, even Russain and Swedish gear gives up.

Route the exhaust around the fuel tanks to keep them warm and don't shut the diesel off!!