Iguana Technology Iguana

United States · Truck · built by Iguana Technology Inc (David Hansen)

A high-speed amphibious half-track developed over many years by Iguana Technology of Ilwaco, Washington, using a patented light band track with rubber cone grousers that can run at highway speeds and 'spin surf' across water.

Propulsion
Also known as	Iguana Express Truck, Iguana
Manufacturer	Iguana Technology Inc (David Hansen)
Country	United States
Built	1996–
Type	Truck
Status	Prototype
Use	Both
Land drive	Half-track
In water	Tracks
Hull	Aluminium
Engine	V8 diesel 'Optimizer 6500', computer controlled; 4-speed automatic with high/low transfer
Dimensions & performance
Length	5.5 m
Width	2.1 m
Weight	2,270 kg
Speed on land	97 km/h

Specifications need checking. Some figures here were taken from the archive and have not been confirmed against a source.

The Iguana is an experimental all-terrain amphibious vehicle developed by David Hansen's company Iguana Technology Inc of Ilwaco, Washington. Its aim was a vehicle that could drive at highway speeds yet cross mud, snow, sand, turf and water, make abrupt manoeuvres and climb obstacles while leaving little trace of its passage.

Development

Hansen's work built on more than twenty years of testing vehicles on soft ground: a 'Tracker' design in 1986, a tractor with a T-bar track system in 1991, the first Iguana prototype in 1996 and modified versions in 1999 and 2001; patents were granted in 1994 and 1996. A new prototype first ran on 15 April 2004 as a test bed for further ideas, including a layout with the cab forward on tracks and a rear engine pod on wheels, a high-speed band track, improved suspension, three types of steering (articulation, rear wheels and left/right track brakes), vertical articulation for levering over obstacles, track propulsion in deep water and high-speed 'spin surfing' over water.

Design

The track uses cone-shaped rubber fingers (grousers) that dig into soft material for support and propulsion, with hard rubber centre blocks to run on pavement and roller guides riding on ordinary car tyres. On the road only about 48 square inches of rubber touch the ground, rising to about 4,000 square inches in soft material. The 2004 vehicle was about 18 ft (5.5 m) long, 7 ft (2.1 m) wide and 5.5 ft high, weighed about 5,000 lb (2,270 kg), and used a computer-controlled V8 diesel with a four-speed automatic, transfer box and Chevrolet and Dana 44 differentials. It was claimed to exceed 60 mph (97 km/h) on the highway, and to float when empty.

A 2005 proposal, the Iguana Express Truck, placed the engine between the tracks with the cab forward on large unpowered steering wheels, and an aluminium one-piece hull suitable for salt water; a petrol version with a 300 hp V6 and composite body was also envisaged. Suggested markets ranged from military and search-and-rescue to utilities, farming and winter recreation.