SO UGLY BUT I WANT IT!

[randyscycle]

I'd say its meant to utilize railroad tracks. The railroad companies still use similar setups on their maintenance trucks today, although they now have steel wheels that contact the rails.

Maybe its designed for varying guage tracks? Just a thought.

Boy it sure is ugly though...Kinda looks like one truck swallowing another.....

 

[randyscycle]

Another link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffly_V15

And another:

http://skyfflably.com/main/french1940/laffly.html

And yet one more:

http://ww2armor.jexiste.fr/FrenchTa...icles/12-Trucks/FrenchTrucks/FrenchTrucks.htm

 

[EZFEED]

Did you see this in that last link you posted!
Typical French engineering.....mount the gun aft so you can fire while retreating!

 

[randyscycle]

Some things never change.......gotta love the French.

Still don't fully understand the extra wheels unless they just give it a boost when stuck.

 

[49willys]

strange truck....

Yep,
I'd bet those wheels are for crossing trenches or starting up steep terrain. Kinda like the rollers on the front of German half-tracks.

I am seriously thinking of adding a roller to the front of my Willys pickup for getting out of
dry washes easier here in the desert...

Tom-.-

 

[Elwenil]

RE: strange truck....

I wouldn't. Inevitably you will end up picking the front wheels off the ground and losing traction. These setups aren't used today since they didn't work real well in the first place. The best thing to do is improve the approach angle by either shortening the frame, moving the axle forward, or running larger tires.

As for the Laffly (an oddly appropriate name), can anyone find any info as to how the extra wheels work? I tried to see how they were lowered or propelled but couldn't make sense of anything that seemed logical. But it is French, so maybe I shouldn't think logically.

 

[EZFEED]

RE: strange truck....

I guess its supposed to serve the same purpose as the belly wheels on a BRDM but i'm with you Elwenil, that idea doesnt work anyway. Look at what happens with the roller equipped US Halftrack. At least the BRDM put the wheels in a practical place.

 

[EZFEED]

Re: strange truck....

Yep,
I'd bet those wheels are for crossing trenches or starting up steep terrain. Kinda like the rollers on the front of German half-tracks.

I am seriously thinking of adding a roller to the front of my Willys pickup for getting out of
dry washes easier here in the desert...

Tom-.-

Do you have a locking rear axle?

 

[saddamsnightmare]

RE: Re: strange truck....

September 20th, 2008.

JUST GET A UNIMOG...... Then you need never worry about getting stuck again!!! (OR if you do, It WILL be a doozy of a tale to tell!!!)

Sincerely,

Kyle F. McGrogan

 

[49willys]

rear axle...

Hey there,

No, my rear end doesn't lock.
I have the old Timken axel on my truck, its stock. I will be selling the truck later this year as i found a 56 willys in better shape with the flat head six and pto winch..So don't want to replace the rearend at this point.

Tom....

 

[Dominique]

fasttrence digger

Sorrie butt de video is gone
Dominique
ps my ava is a DAF YA 126 Dutch army 1957


http://www.inter-commerz.com/upload...df?PHPSESSID=f2e342c0d2f782e2fec8f3b097e8c327

 

[Barrman]

Now that is cool. A trenching tracked truck. I wonder if it would cut through rock? A person could make a fortune in West Texas with one of those things putting in water lines and making water canals/channels for irrigation.

 

["V"]

Hi all !

I'm french so I'm gonna tell you the right answer...

This particular vehicule was made just before WWII and was used as a gun tractor and a variant was used with a 47mm anti-tank gun. I'm not a specialist of that period but I got an interesting article in an old military miniature kits review.

I agree,this is not the best looking truck we've ever made.

I don't remember the two forward wheels were activated by the engine. I've learnt it had interesting off-road capabilities.

 

[tennmogger]

What is the possibility that the engine and transmission were built into a subsystem, on it's own wheels, that could be removed from the main chassis and replaced easily? A modular engine/tranny assembly.....

 

["V"]

That's a good question...

My knowledge of this beast is very limited...

The best thing to do is to consult the technical manual.

This is the link of our "french military tank museum" located in Saumur (excellent vine). I got some of my family up there & I visited the museum...

This is the biggest of the world = 880 machines.

The WWII german tank collection is unique (we've paid the price for 5 years).

They also have a very important library.

http://www.musee-des-blindes.asso.fr/