The Mighty Musk Ox

[RangerBob]

Info and pictures of a rare 'little' tracked vehicle for your perusal,

From the govt auction:

MODEL: Musk Ox
VIN: UNKN
MILEAGE: 999999

ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE, MUSK OX

BUILT FOR ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND BY WILSON, NUTTALL AND RAIMOND

MOBILE TRACKED VEHICLE, 35 TON DYNAMONTER WITH AN ONBOARD WELDER/GENERATOR, 115 VOLT POWER, 4CYL, WAUKESHA DIESEL ENGINE

THE REAR SECTION OF THE MUSK OX HOUSES THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, THE FRONT UNIT HAS THE CONTROLS AND HAS HEAT AND A/C

ENGINE FOR THE MUSK OX IS A CUMMINS 8CYL DIESEL

THE CAB HOLDS 3 PEOPLE AND CAN HOLD MORE IF NEEDED

ESTIMATED WEIGHT FOR EACH PIECE IS 35,000LBS

NOTE:"CUSTODIAN WILL NOT LIFT LOAD AND THERE IS NO DOCK AVAIABLE. THE CUSTODIAN WILL ASSIST IN PUSHING THE UNIT ONTO A RGN TRAILER. THOUGH SOME CHARGES MAY APPLY IF LOADING TIME IS EXCESSIVE." ABSENCE OF ANY INDICATED DEFICIENCY DOES NOT MEAN NONE EXIST. (47881F70030001) (05-2507M) THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY IS NOT WARRANTED.

Special Inspection Information:
"MUST CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT
OR REMOVE PROPERTY"
Please contact the custodian for inspection dates and times and for removal arrangements.
Successful bidders are cautioned that they will be responsible for loading and removal of any and all property awarded to them from the exact place where the property is located, as indicated below
http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucbystate/
Click on link then search South Dakota

From the guy that bought it:

O.K. so we made it back.........

The history on this machine as we know it;

They were built for the US Army as a testing unit that was pulled behind the tested vehicle (ie Tanks) with load cells attached between the Musk Ox and the tested vehicle. As they varied the terrain (hills, sand, mud, etc) in the proving grounds of Aberdeen, MD, they would apply resistance in the four brakes on the Musk Ox and take the readings of what the tested rig could pull.

The machine has a weight of 62,000 pounds, but it has a track area of 32,000 square inchs, so under 2psi. That is extremley low for a machine of this
size. No not a deep powder machine but still good for soft mud and sand and tundra and our Midwest snows, which seem not to happen anymore.

It is powered by a Cummins Turbo 903CI. V-8 and a Allison automatic and we are told it will do 50mph ....... to match the tanks speed....wow.

The front cab will hold about 24 people and it has it own self contained heat and air conditioner, which is run by a on board 3-phase generator. It has high and low range which powers two Rockwell diffs. and it connects and articulates in the middle. Rated at 70,000 pound of pull it has has 6 speeds forward.

Despite what was said above, I think this was really built for the USAF. Sure looks faded strata blue to me! If you find yourself near Brainerd, MN, you can make arrangements to see her for yourself at www.mn-outdoors.com.