Hydratrek

The Hydratrek is an amphibious all-terrain utility vehicle built by Hydratrek, LLC of Covington, Tennessee, a spin-off of the engineering firm Rose Machine and Tool. After three years of development it went on the commercial market in January 2007, aimed at uses such as disaster response and rescue, law enforcement and border patrol, surveying, utility and pipeline maintenance, energy exploration, park services, farming and recreation.

Design

The vehicle is built entirely of aluminium, with a thicker bottom plate and foam-filled pontoon sections for full flotation. Drive is fully hydrostatic, with a hydraulic motor at each wheel and a separate motor for each of two 11-inch (28 cm) bronze propellers. A patent-pending valve arrangement gives three modes: wheels only, wheels and propellers, or propellers only. Because power reaches the wheels and propellers hydraulically, there are no shafts passing through the hull and no chains, sprockets or gears to wear in mud. The same controls steer on land and in water, and the vehicle can be driven one-handed from the left, right or centre position. Ground clearance is 16.5 inches (42 cm), and optional dual wheels add stability.

The 2009 XA66 model has a 44 hp turbocharged Kubota diesel, a military-specification Sauer Danfoss hydraulic system, six Parker wheel motors, an 8,000 lb winch and a marine instrument panel. It is rated for a payload of 1,200 lb (about 545 kg) and can tow 3,500 lb (about 1,590 kg) on dry ground.