Four-axle off-road truck (12 photos)

Test of the best (well, almost) crossover for Russia

The second generation Nissan Qashqai was shown in 2013, but it is still selling well. And this is not an accident.

Nissan > Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai is not only in demand, but is among the top 25 Russian sales (25,158 units were sold in 2020 - two thousand more than in 2018). Not bad for a “veteran”!

Several factors contribute to the success of the Qashqai: a reasonable price due to the localization of the model, the variety of modifications offered, and serious adaptation to our operating conditions. Perhaps we'll start with this.

Special off-road accessories

The means at hand are good. But there are special devices for overcoming difficult sections of the path. Such items are sold in automotive stores. Varying in ease of use and efficiency, they help you get to your goal with minimal effort.

• Wheel-mounting devices are effective, but require skill.
• Pulling devices will help you get out of a mud trap, but you need skill to use.
• A small shovel will allow you to quickly dig out a stuck tire.

To feel more confident, we carry a wide-necked plastic bottle filled with coarse sand or fine gravel in the trunk. This will help you navigate difficult areas on ice or slippery clay.

Read a detailed story about chains, tracks and winches in the next issue.

No nail, no rod! Good luck on the roads.

What exactly was adapted for Russia?

About 15 years ago, some automakers, when introducing cars to our market, were proud of installing a high-capacity battery. Over time, some brands began to additionally increase the capacity of the windshield washer fluid reservoir and increase ground clearance. In principle, this is already quite good.

But Nissan went further - the St. Petersburg-assembled Qashqai received much more improvements. In particular, a separate button for turning on the headlight washers - so as not to waste anti-freeze. For better protection of the body from dirt and sandblasting flying from under the wheels, the edging of the wheel arches has been expanded. The electrical equipment was also changed - instead of a 150-amp generator, a 180-amp one was used.

Installation of oversized tires

The easiest and fastest way, which does not require special knowledge and skills, is to install larger diameter tires. But it’s better to do this after completing the previous steps. This way you can accurately select the ideal type and size of wheels that fully meet your requirements. It is worth taking into account that the larger the wheels, the greater the fuel consumption, and the rougher the tread, the less comfortable it is when driving on regular asphalt. The optimal wheel size is 31-33 inches.

It is necessary to determine what this car will be used for - heavy off-road conditions and trophy-raid competitions, or infrequent outings into nature, which cannot be reached by a regular car. But, as in any other matter, to achieve the best result, you need an integrated approach.

Did you also improve the suspension?

The chassis of the Russian Kashkai has undergone a major revision. We used subframes (front and rear) from X-Trail. They are attached to the body using silent blocks, which reduce the level of vibrations. Basic versions of the Qashqai, which are produced in the UK, are equipped with a rear torsion beam. Russian Qashqais in all modifications are equipped with a rear multi-link suspension. In addition, our crossover has different axle shafts: the track has grown by 20 mm in the front and by 30 mm in the rear.

As part of last year's modernization, the St. Petersburg Qashqais acquired new shock absorbers, into which rebound springs were introduced. This decision significantly improved the smoothness of the ride. The Qashqai rolls along broken asphalt without a hint of discomfort. Along with the shaking, the rumbles also disappeared - the suspension seems to work more intelligently. For our buyer this is a serious argument.

Review of existing designs to improve the cross-country ability of a vehicle of the M1 category

 Article is dedicated to cross-country vehicles off-road tracked using a specially designed propellers. The comparison of the efficiency of the use of wheeled and tracked propulsion when driving on soils with low bearing capacity. Options considered terrain vehicle when driving on snow cover.

Keywords: caterpillar tracks, crawler, all-terrain device Track car

All-wheel drive vehicles occupy a significant part of the vehicle fleet in our country and are widely used in various fields of human activity. They are more often called multi-purpose vehicles. Such machines are necessary when carrying out transport operations in industrial and road construction, emergency response, geological exploration, oil and gas production, geological exploration, agriculture, and servicing energy enterprises. The operating conditions of such vehicles include driving in various road conditions, while most of the way the vehicles are in off-road conditions. In this connection, the issue of increasing cross-country ability remains relevant.

The difficulty in creating an off-road vehicle is that surfaces with low load-bearing capacity such as snow, sand, marshy soil, in their physical properties, perceive vertical load and resist the applied traction force in a very diverse way. It is difficult to create a universal all-terrain vehicle that can move equally successfully under different road conditions.

The cross-country ability of wheeled vehicles can be increased through various devices, such as: snow chains, bracelets and brackets, anti-slip pads, wideners of various designs, low-pressure tires or other devices that are mounted on standard pneumatic wheel propulsors.

Snow chains of various designs are widely used, including fine-link, track and face chains (see Figure 1). Significantly increase wheel traction on unpaved, snowy or icy roads. The traction force realized by the wheels increases to 60% [1].

Rice. 1. Snow chains: a) small-link; b) plate structures of NSTU

When operating vehicles on virgin snow, the characteristics of snow chains change. Experimental studies have shown that when the snow height is more than 0.6, the wheel radius, along with an increase in traction of 30–40%, tends to intensively increase the rut depth, and the movement resistance also increases up to 60% [3]. A noticeable effect in increasing cross-country ability is observed only when the snow height is less than half the radius of the wheel. The traction force in this case can increase up to 30%, and the force of resistance to movement increases insignificantly to 10% [2]. Snow chains are convenient to use, as installation does not take much time. Economic efficiency is justified, since the design has a low price.

Another way to increase the vehicle's maneuverability is the use of discrete extenders (see Figure 1.1). But experimental testing of the effectiveness of these devices has shown that the use of these devices gives a noticeable effect only for vehicles with an 8x8 wheel arrangement, while the traction force increases by 25–30% [4].

Rice. 1.1. Discrete extenders

The use of a tape extender, which consists of two rubber-fabric belts connected to each other by metal lugs, increases the traction properties of the machine on virgin snow by up to 25%, while the movement resistance is reduced by 30%. However, the use of extenders significantly increases the overall width of the machine, and when turning, the extenders tend to fall off.

Attempts have been made to use tracks to increase the vehicle's cross-country ability. The first such attempts were made in the first half of the 20th century. However, despite the fact that tracked propulsion significantly increases the vehicle’s maneuverability in snow, this direction has not received further development. This is due to the fact that vehicles with wheeled-tracked propulsion have a 50–70% greater mass, low reliability and are more complex and expensive.

Rice. 1.2. Half-track vehicle based on the GAZ-51 car

The next direction in matters of increasing the cross-country ability of wheeled vehicles was the use of highly elastic, ultra-low pressure pneumatic wheel propulsors based on existing wide-profile tires. Ultra-low pressure tires have a thin-walled rubber-cord casing with a frame consisting, as a rule, of two or four layers of cord, which ensures high elasticity. To achieve maximum cross-country ability of an all-terrain vehicle on ultra-low pressure tires in conditions of weak-bearing, plastically deformable soils, it is necessary to ensure such pressure in the tire that the excess pressure in the tire is equal to the soil pressure on the tire at the bottom of the track, and a flat contact patch equal to 1/3– 1/4 wheel diameter. The boundary separating low-pressure tires and ultra-low-pressure tires is considered to be an internal pressure in the tire equal to 0.3 MPa. When interacting with the ground, such a tire, like a pneumatic roller, does not destroy its surface and acquires the ability to “flow around” uneven paths, and the protrusions and depressions of the treadmill, which follows the profile of the path surface, act as unique lugs, increasing traction with the supporting surface.

Rice. 1.3. All-terrain vehicle produced by Trekol

Another effective way to increase the maneuverability of wheeled vehicles in snow and mud is the use of all-terrain tracked propulsion systems (half-tracks and caterpillar tracks). The main idea and development of the design belongs to the American Glen Brazier.

The design of the caterpillar mover is shown in Figure 2. Due to the angle created between the road plane and the front tension roller, position 1, cross-country ability is improved due to easier entry into obstacles. A similar angle will also be arranged at the rear support roller. In total, the design will have five support positions 2 and one tension roller position 1 [2]. The smoothness of the ride will be based on the standard vehicle suspension and due to the rotation of the balancing trolley pos. 4 around the axis of the wheels. The rotation of the trolley will be controlled by a rollover limiter, without which the operation of the vehicle on these propulsors is impossible. The tension of the propulsion can be carried out by moving the front tension roller pos.1.

Rice. 2. caterpillar track for a vehicle of category M1, where: 1 - driven tension roller; 2 - support rollers; 3 - drive wheel; 4 - triangular balancing trolley; 5 - movers

One of the main advantages of a tracked vehicle compared to a wheeled vehicle is its significantly lower specific pressure [3]. The supporting surface of the car wheels is smaller than the supporting surface of the tracked propulsion units. Due to the high specific pressure, the car's wheels sink too deeply into the ground when driving on soft soil. Because of this, the vehicle's rolling resistance may be so significant that the vehicle cannot move.

All-terrain tracked propulsors are universal and are installed on an off-road vehicle of category M1 without changing its design to a hub unit instead of pneumatic wheel propulsors.

Tracked systems are an alternative to tracked vehicles for moving in difficult conditions. Technical and economic calculations have shown that tracked propulsion systems are much cheaper than purchasing new tracked vehicles. Their use can provide irreplaceable assistance for emergency services and emergency medical services in remote areas where wheeled vehicles cannot reach. Car tracks can be used for a variety of purposes, be it work or leisure, entertainment, such as hunting, fishing, tourism, agriculture, construction, search and rescue in impassable areas, scientific research situations, and much more. Vehicles equipped with tracked propulsion systems perform excellently on various surfaces.

Literature:

1. Mikhalin P. A., Tires and chains of wheeled forest tractors. Proceedings of the International Symposium “Reliability and Quality”, 2 / 2007.
2. Belyakov. V.V. Interaction with snow cover of elastic propulsors of special transport vehicles: dis. Dr. Tech. Sciences: 05.05.03. NSTU, Nizhny Novgorod, 1999–485 p.
3. The use of small-link snow chains to improve vehicle cross-country ability. Collection No. 2 Abstracts of scientific research works on the problems of increasing the cross-country ability of wheeled vehicles, Moscow, 1958. Institute of Computer Science and Technology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, pp. 18–23.
4. Belyakov. V.V. Interaction with snow cover of elastic propulsors of special transport vehicles: dis. Dr. Tech. Sciences: 05.05.03. NSTU, Nizhny Novgorod, 1999–485 p.
5. Nosov N. A., Galyshev V. D., Volkov Yu. P., Kharchenko A. P. L., Calculation and design of tracked vehicles. "Mechanical Engineering", 1972–560s.
6. Strelkov A.G. Design of high-speed tracked vehicles: textbook - Moscow. MAMI 2005 − 664 p.
7. Naumov E. S., Platonov V. F., Chassis system of a caterpillar tractor. Textbook for students of the specialty “Automobile and tractor engineering” / Ed. V. M. Sharipova. - M.: MSTU "MAMI", 2011. - 64 p.

Is the interior good or outdated?

There are several important options inside: a steering wheel with a plump rim, making it comfortable to hold, and even with a heating function. For Russia this is an important option. The windshield is also electrically heated, and the entire area is “heated”, not just the resting areas of the wipers. All four power windows are equipped with an automatic mode - press and you're done. The interior design is still not perceived as outdated. There are also no questions about the quality of finishing (there is no shortage of soft plastic) and the level of ergonomics - the fit is comfortable, the controls are well located. The only thing I don’t like is the cramped and crooked platform for resting my left leg - I have to slightly turn my foot out.

How is it on the second row? Is it sad?

The Qashqai has small dimensions, but the cabin does not feel cramped. Tall people feel at ease not only in the first, but also in the second row. Compared to its competitors (Mitsubishi ASX, Suzuki SX4, Renault Arkana), Nissan’s “gallery” is more hospitable. Not only the space deserves praise, but also the options. Thus, rear passengers have at their disposal a pair of USB connectors for recharging gadgets, personal ventilation deflectors and heated seats. But the power button for the latter is located on the tunnel between the front seats—passengers cannot reach it. Strange decision.

What can you fit in the trunk?

In this segment, it often happens that for the sake of a spacious second row, the manufacturer sacrifices trunk volume. Nissan did not take this step - thanks to the clever layout, a fairly spacious compartment is hidden behind the fifth door. According to factory data, its volume is 430 liters. We, however, measured only 324 hp. For comparison, the Renault Arkana, according to our measurements, has 304 liters (409 liters are declared). An important point: under the trunk floor in the Qashqai there is a full-fledged spare tire. This is an advantage for Russia.

Are there any nice options?

In terms of equipment, the Qashqai is by no means a simpleton. In addition to heated rear seats, it pleasantly surprises with the presence of advanced equipment: a panoramic roof, LED headlights with automatic switching from high to low, a parking assistant, as well as all-round visibility systems, blind spot monitoring, lane control and automatic braking before an obstacle. Of course, almost everything listed comes at an additional cost.

In addition, as an alternative to the factory multimedia with a 7-inch screen, you can get a combine with Yandex.Auto, which allows you to use the services Yandex.Navigator, Yandex.Weather, Yandex.Music, and the voice assistant Alice. Another thing is that the additional payment for such happiness is 50,000 rubles - a lot. If I bought a Qashqai for myself, I wouldn’t pay extra - after all, I always carry a smartphone with me, which has all these functions.

What kind of engine actually drives?

After restyling, diesel was removed from the engine line - from now on, Qashqai is offered only with gasoline engines. The base engine is turbocharged. With a modest working volume of 1.2 liters, 115 hp, worthy for such a cubic capacity, were “removed” from it. An alternative is a 2-liter 144-horsepower naturally aspirated engine. With both engines, both a 6-speed manual and a CVT are available. But all-wheel drive can only be obtained with the most powerful engine. We have this one on test. And this is the option I would recommend for purchase. Primarily due to the reliability of the naturally aspirated engine.

What is cross-country ability

Almost every textbook on the theory of movement of wheeled or tracked vehicles (cars, tractors, special equipment), not to mention the driving textbooks of pre-Saaf times, gives its own definition of cross-country ability. However, they are all very similar and differ only in details. And in almost any of these definitions the concepts of “deteriorated road conditions”, “off-road” or something else similar appear.

But, you see, these concepts themselves are very relative: the driver of a combat reconnaissance patrol vehicle and the owner of a passenger car can put completely different meanings into them. As well as a resident of Germany and a resident of the Russian outback. Or, let's say, this example. Is it “deteriorated road conditions” that we consider a “speed bump” - an asphalt hump 20 cm high, plopped (contrary to all standards!) on the smooth asphalt of a city street? After all, overcoming it for many imported cars ends in very specific damage!

Based on common sense, we decided to settle on the most general definition, drawn from an explanatory dictionary and suitable for all cases: “Passability is the ability of a vehicle to overcome obstacles on the road.” Naturally, obstacles mean not only all kinds of unevenness, but also snow, mud, various “water barriers,” and everything else that impedes free movement across the terrain.

Cars

Security Lightning: The Most Exotic Road Car

Of course, the concept of cross-country ability is applicable to absolutely any car. I just want to add: it’s just better for some, worse for others. But we won’t do just that, because in fact, cross-country ability is such a multifaceted concept that it’s simply impossible to put everything in its place just like that, in two words. For example, if you find yourself in rough terrain, your car may get stuck in liquid mud. Or, say, having all-wheel drive and a powerful engine, it will get up on a steep climb due to the fact that the fuel in the tank has leaked from the intake pipe. And one can imagine a lot of such very real situations. As well as all kinds of terms and indicators characterizing the vehicle’s cross-country ability.

We will look at the main ones, and in the comments we will try to explain their meaning. We hope that the photos we took with the help of our friends from the Zubr 4x4 Off-Road Adventure Club and the Jeep Cherokee Renegade will help you understand how these indicators relate to real life. And how, by reading the technical specifications, you can roughly assess whether the chosen car is capable of taking you to your favorite vacation spot (fishing, hunting).

Does it accelerate so-so?

The engine's performance on paper is not impressive: 2-liter competitors will be more powerful. Nevertheless, the Qashqai is not perceived as quiet - when accelerating, it is unlikely to lag behind its rivals. According to our measurements, Nissan takes 10.5 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. The process itself is unique. When starting flat, the Qashqai first jumps forward, then for a split second there is a “plug” with a dive, and finally – a vigorous acceleration.

I really liked the Jatco variator, which simulates gear shifting and allows you to actively brake the engine when switching to manual mode. Such responsiveness and sincerity of reactions are hard to come by.

Is it possible off-road?

In terms of cross-country ability, the Qashqai is in the middle range. The approach angle is 20.5°, the departure angle is 29.5°. Under the steel crankcase protection, we measured a clearance of 175 mm. Moreover, in the middle and rear the ground clearance is even higher - 210 and 205 mm, respectively. Thanks to this “geometry”, the Qashqai does not succumb to average off-road conditions - even the multi-plate clutch does not have to be blocked.

You can switch to the Lock transmission mode at speeds of up to 40 km/h - in this case, the traction between the axles is distributed in a ratio of 50:50, and the car begins to more confidently make its way through viscous soil and force difficult terrain. Thanks to proper ESP tuning, the Qashqai overcomes diagonal hanging without problems. It’s just that the body literally “breathes” - a large gap appears between the trunk door and the rear fender. So it is better to choose a more even area for a picnic in nature.

Russian manufacturers of off-road vehicles and chassis components

A good example of a full-cycle manufacturer is the TRECOL SUV brand, which positions the tires used as ultra-low pressure, thereby increasing traction and improving cross-country ability. The cars are equipped with Avtoros brand wheels.

Avtoros brand wheels

The company produces adapted versions for the UAZ brand and the Petrovich all-terrain vehicle; there are low-pressure tires for the Niva. The cost depends on the design features and the number of tire cord layers, which, accordingly, improves the cross-country ability of an SUV and allows you to choose products at a cost that corresponds to the conditions of use.

Avtoros has also complied with all the requirements of 54 UNECE rules for its models; now the products belong to the “professional off-road” class and comply with E22. These products can now be used to freely travel on roads in the EU and Russia.

SUV

Among the excellent high-passage versions of Russian production, of course, is the development of Arctictrans. From the name it is clear that the product was developed for the needs of the Far North, but Russian farmers also actively use it to improve the cross-country ability of their own transport and solve economic issues with the heavy delivery of goods in the autumn-winter period.

UAZ vehicles with low-pressure tires are also available for sale, and many owners note this. If you need to get a powerful car, it is better to install Arctictrans products on imported SUVs with mileage, but with sufficient power reserves for driving in off-road conditions.

What about the prices?

The starting price of 1,250,000 rubles is very tempting these days. It can be reduced by another thirty thousand by exchanging a Nissan car for a trade-in. Still, I wouldn’t look at the basic version: 16-inch steel wheels, six airbags, ESP, climate control, audio system with Bluetooth and heated front seats, windows (wind and rear) and side mirrors. Not enough for a modern crossover.

However, the LE Top version for 1,880,000 rubles is too much. Leather trim, electric front seats, 19-inch wheels, an engine start button and a driver fatigue monitoring system - you can do without it.

I would opt for the 2-liter all-wheel drive modification SE+ for 1,720,000 rubles. There will be no aching emptiness or excesses here. Fog lights, 17-inch "casting", cruise control, heated steering wheel and rear seats, a multimedia system with a touch screen and navigator, a rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors - this is the golden mean.

TOP 6 ways to increase the off-road capability of a car

Owners of both cars and SUVs may be faced with the need to increase the vehicle's off-road capability. For hunting enthusiasts, this problem is most relevant, because they are more likely than other drivers to face the most extreme driving conditions.

Avto.pro experts tell you how to improve the off-road properties of your car.

Today, an SUV can have completely different characteristics. For example, some cars can overcome almost all the most difficult areas, such as swamps, sand, or drive through the most difficult forest thickets. At the same time, among hunting enthusiasts, these are the types of SUVs that are common, which can only be driven without problems on roads in relatively poor condition; they cannot cope with more difficult driving conditions.

Is the sound insulation ok?

During last year's modernization, Nissan focused on improving acoustic comfort. The Qashqai now has a new windshield (it has a sound-absorbing layer), additional insulation on the wheel arches and engine shield, and the bottom is now covered with plastic shields. The result is felt - the cabin is really quiet. When the car is parked with the engine idling, the sound meter shows 47 dB. At a speed of 50 km/h the level rises to 56 dB, at 100 km/h - to 65 dB. Very, very good performance.

All about all-wheel drive Nissan Qashqai

I have a couple of questions about using all-wheel drive. Who uses it and how? For example, I constantly drive in 2WD, and when I feel like I might get stuck somewhere, I turn the knob to Auto mode. How do you drive?

Well, then I’ll tell you about the types of all-wheel drive in cars of the Nissan family: A feature of Nissan’s proprietary strategy is a cool attitude towards permanent 4WD - such models can be literally counted on one’s fingers. What's bad about it? On the one hand, nothing can be said about the uselessness of an automatically connected drive - it can be very, very useful, especially in versions with electronic torque distribution along the axes. But nevertheless, it was initially intended not to improve cross-country ability in our understanding, but mainly to increase the stability of the car on slippery surfaces. Therefore, automatically engaged 4WD is much less effective in mud or on loose ground/snow. The second unpleasant feature is its unpredictability during active driving and in critical situations. Third, it is completely dependent on the ABS system (in ATC and TOD versions), so if there are problems with it, the car may lose all-wheel drive.

At the same time, Nissan loved to work on the design - for example, they always respected self-locking cross-axle differentials and often used viscous couplings even in the gearbox of front-wheel drive models, not to mention Torsen, etc. on rear wheel drive.

The only widespread scheme of honest 4WD is implemented on just a few original front-wheel drive models (Rasheen, Liberty, Rnessa, some Avenirs). There are all three differentials (the center one is blocked by a viscous coupling), and the torque is evenly distributed between the axles. This principle is similar to Toyota's second generation standard design (STD II).

The main advantages are maneuverability, relative predictability, and structural reliability. The main disadvantage is the insufficient blocking coefficient of the viscous coupling.

On most original front-wheel drive models, a plug-in rear-wheel drive scheme was traditionally installed (sometimes the term Full Auto Full Time is used, but by analogy with Toyota, it is easier to call it V-Flex). There is no center differential; torque is taken directly from the front center differential housing and sent to the transfer case output, where a viscous coupling is installed (examples: Bassara, Presage U30, Bluebird Sylphy). The clutch connects the transfer case output shaft and the driveshaft only when there is significant slipping of the front wheels. The rest of the time the car remains front-wheel drive. Pros: simplicity and low cost. Disadvantages: ambiguous behavior, insufficient blocking coefficient and low response speed. Subsequently, V-Flex was almost completely replaced by the ATC circuit.

The most common ATC system (Active Torque Control) for original front-wheel drive models (Serena, Presage U31, Primera P12, another part of Avenirs, the new Wingroad, the new Sunny,) is similar to Toyota’s. In normal condition, drive is carried out only to the front wheels, the rear axle is connected by an electromechanical clutch mounted on the gearbox housing. The connection is automatically carried out by an electronic control unit depending on driving conditions (mainly focusing on the slipping of the front wheels), while the clutch allows you to more or less smoothly change the torque supplied back.

The same scheme is used on the main Nissan SUV (X-Trail), and here the connection control is made more transparent for the driver - the 2WD mode disables the rear drive altogether, in the Auto mode the connection and torque distribution are controlled automatically, in the Lock mode the torque is stably distributed between the front ones and rear wheels in a ratio of 57:43.

The advantages compared to V-Flex are the ability to more intelligently connect the rear drive and arbitrarily change the force transmitted back. Cons: not very high survivability; adequacy is still not perfect.

The proprietary all-wheel drive control system (both original front-wheel drive and original rear-wheel drive cars) is often called ATTESA (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All), but Nissan uses this name too arbitrarily, so it is useless to characterize a specific type of drive. That's why we stick to the more well-known names.

The ATTESA E-TS (Electronic Torque Split) scheme (in fact, Torque-on-Demand - in this case, an automatically connected front axle) is the main one for initially rear-wheel drive models. There is no center differential, permanent rear-wheel drive. The torque to the front wheels is selected when the rear wheels slip through an electronically controlled hydromechanical clutch. Moreover, its value can smoothly vary from zero to almost 50% of the total effort. On some models, it is possible to press the button to force the 4WD mode (maximum clutch locking mode) - of course, until the car reaches a certain speed. Pros - having such a system is undoubtedly better than just permanent 2WD; no additional operations are required to connect the front axle. Disadvantages - permanent rear-wheel drive with all its features is only partly, in some situations, compensated by connected front-wheel drive.

A similar scheme, which differs from TOD in the presence of a reduction gear, is also used on some medium-sized jeeps (for example, Terrano/Regulus R50).

Sometimes considered something exceptional, the all-wheel drive Nissan GT-R is the same TOD, supplemented in one version of this model with an Active LSD rear differential locked by similar hydromechanical couplings. Although such a system is not installed to achieve high cross-country ability, the GT-R is one of those cars that can actually drive on one pair of wheels. Pros - the blocking has a decent coefficient, it works quickly and when needed.

A very sophisticated all-wheel drive system is used on the latest models of the especially small class (March K12). Here, in 4WD mode, the control unit is allowed to automatically turn on the electric motor, which, through the clutch and reduction gearbox, begins to rotate the rear wheels.

Changing the oil in the transfer case of a Nissan Qashqai yourself

Task: replace a small part in the transfer case of a Nissan Qashqai. In the transfer case, the oil is changed by analogy with the gearbox - that’s all

All-terrain wheels - a little theory

It’s best to imagine and see what low-pressure tires are like in a video. The first impression from such all-terrain vehicles is that the vehicle moves on large cushions that confidently bypass all obstacles and off-road conditions. You can see what this element looks like when running at rest in the photo.

Low pressure wheels

Low-pressure wheels are a specialized element of the chassis of a vehicle designed for off-road driving. Now more widely used, they can often be seen in action on tricycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or trailers designed for high off-road use.

The basic design is no different from conventional ones; they also have a tubeless tire into which air is pumped, as well as a wheel rim. We have tested such devices many times on UAZ and Niva vehicles. Products can also be found without problems on free sale, for example, low prices are offered on Avito.

SUV tire

The basic principle of improving cross-country ability is based on increasing volume, which results in improved buoyancy and shock-absorbing properties of the tread. The reduced pressure allows snow or mud soils to pass freely. Tread, unlike in passenger cars, where each manufacturer strives to improve and offer its own pattern that solves certain problems when driving, in this case only two types are practiced:

• mud herringbone;
• sports "checkers".

The production of such wheels began at different times in the USA, Canada and Japan; these countries “established” a dimensional standard, which is reflected in the wheel formula. For example, the size 26″×12″-10″ indicates the following characteristics:

• diameter;
• width;
• landing diameter.

The “bolt pattern” or bolt-to-bolt distance in the disk socket is also indicated – PCD. This parameter is set by the main manufacturers that produce their original tires, including BRP, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, Kawasaki and others. In turn, many automobile companies produce their vehicles using low-pressure tires by default to increase the vehicle's cross-country ability.