Continuing the series, this post casts a wide net and examines a range of options, all available off the shelf.
They are split into two groups, those that fit within the double CDS footprint, and are about the same size as the in-service Yamaha Grizzly ATV’s, and those that are slightly larger.
As usual, an eclectic mix.
In Gauge
If we use the double CDS as a defining constraint, the limiting dimensions are 1.22 m wide and 2.54 m long. This is about the same as the in-service Yamaha Grizzly 450’s.
| Vehicle | Length (m) | Width (m) | Height (m) | Kerb Weight (kg) | Payload (kg) | Towing (kg) |
| Yamaha Grizzly 450 | 1.99 | 1.09 | 1.12 | 267 | 210 | 600 |
| Arctic Cat Alterra 450 | 2.13 | 1.12 | 1.19 | 278 | 200 | 476 |
| Can-Am Outlander Max | 2.39 | 1.21 | 1.37 | 364 | 263 | 830 |
| DTV Shredder | 1.19 | 0.69 | 0.58 | 114 | 120 | 230 |
| Fort IT Horizon | 1.99 | 0.71 | ||||
| Fresia F-18 | 1.99 | 1.04 | 0.85 | 540 | 400 | 500 |
| Geier Series 60 | 2.18 | 1.10 | 2.18 | 1,180 | 480 | |
| Honda Foreman TRX 520 | 2.10 | 1.20 | 1.21 | 288 | 119 | 384 |
| Kubota B1181 | 2.36 | 0.94 | 2.21 | 635 | 540 | 650 |
| Lennartsfors Flex 2 | 1.78 | 1.11 | 1.12 | 520 | 500 | 920 |
| Mattro Ziesel | 1.39 | 1.22 | 1.62 | 350 | 150 | 500 |
| Mira Cingolino | 1.80 | 0.91 | 0.90 | 590 | 150 | 470 |
| MTT-154 | 2.23 | 0.58 | 0.64 | 290 | 226 | 1,400 |
| Polaris MV850 | 2.44 | 1.20 | 1.52 | 524 | 180 | 680 |
| Rokon Ranger | 2.01 | 0.84 | 1.04 | 98 | 272 | 907 |
| Rokon Range + Sidecar | 2.01 | 1.70 | 1.04 | 126 | 542 | 907 |
| Suzuki King Quad 500 | 2.15 | 1.22 | 1.20 | 315 | 360 | 600 |
| Vaellan | 1.70 | 1.18 | 1.10 | 128 | 130 | 150 |
| Yamaha Kodiak 700 | 2.10 | 1.18 | 1.24 | 311 | 140 | 600 |
The vehicles described above all fit within that gauge.
Arctic Cat Alterra 450
The Alterra 450 from Arctic Cat in the USA is a representative mid-range ATV that uses a 443cc single-cylinder, liquid cooled, EFI engine.
The Alterra 450 has a kerb weight of 278 kg, with a payload of 199.5 kg, and a towing capacity of 476 kg.
Length is 2.13 m and width, 1.12 m.
Can-Am Outlander Max DPS 700
Another work/utility ATV, this one from Canada, the Can-Am Outlander Max DPS 700.
Length is 2.39 m and width, 1.21 m, with a kerb weight of 364 kg.
Payload on the front and front rack is 54 kg and 109 kg on the rear.
Towing capacity with a braked trailer is 830 kg, and unbraked, 394 kg.
DTV Shredder
The DTV Shredder, from Canada, is a leisure and utility-tracked skateboard, now available in an electric version.
As can be seen, it is quite compact and easy to transport, less than 600 mm high with the handlebars folded.
With air despatch in mind, three could be carried on a double CDS.
Although it can only carry 120 kg, it can tow approximately 250 kg.
DTV started with a petrol engined version but has now moved to an all-electric drivetrain. This provides 2 hours of run time with a maximum speed of just under 50 kph.
One might be forgiven for thinking it is a toy, and it is certainly mostly aimed at the sports utility market, but its low noise, small size, and reasonable towing capacity means it should not be written off.
The two-hour battery duration is an obvious limiting factor, although they are hot swappable.
Chinese knock-off versions are available, including a sit-down petrol engined configuration.
Fort IT Horizon Tractor
At the other end of the speed spectrum that the DTV Shredder, a tracked sub-compact tractor option is the Fort-IT Horizon
Top speed is slightly more than a snail, but if towing capacity and if good terrain accessibility is a priority, it would be worth considering
Fresia F-18
This vehicle has quite a long heritage, used in mountainous terrain, but the two-seat F-18 is still made in Italy by Fresia.
It can carry 400 kg and tow 500 kg, so in return for lower speed, there is a potential for more capacity in any given combination.
Dimensions are 1.1 m width and 2.1 m length.
With four-wheel steering, the F-18 is quite nimble.
Whilst they are never going to win any speed races, they are faster than a compact tractor.
The F-18 also been fitted with a roll bar
Geier Series 60
The Geier Series 60 is a specialist tracked vehicle for use in the viticulture industry, steep slops and narrow gaps.
It is 1.1 m wide, 2.18 m high, and weighs 1.18 tonnes empty. With a maximum speed of 10 kph, you would be faster walking, but they have an impressive towing and carrying capacity.
A rear mounted tipping load bed can be fitted, but this would exceed the gauge length.
Among the numerous agricultural implements that can be fitted, the forklift would be the most useful in a military context, shown below on the slightly larger 80 series (although the Series 60 can use it as well)
It could be used for unloading pallets or pallet boxes from trucks, and simply drop them at the destination.
With a pallet, the overall length would take it out of gauge, but by using folding forks (unloaded), it is within.
The Camisa TP580 is a similar vehicle.
Honda TRX 520 Foreman
One of the most popular ATVs in the UK, the Honda TRX 520 is 2.1 m long, 1.2 m wide, and weighs 288 kg.
Payload on the front rack is 39 kg, and the rear rack, 80 kg.
The towing capacity is 384 kg.
Kubota B1181
The Kubota B1181 is an example of a wheeled sub-compact tractor, at 635 kg, its midpoint PTO betrays its heritage as a ride-on mower.
At 2.36 m long, it is quite close to the gauge length, but at 0.94m wide, is well within the limit. A road legal version is also available.
The towing capacity is 650 kg.
Sub-compact tractors like the Kubota B1 offer a wide range of front and rear attachments including forestry winches, post drivers, loading shovels, clearance blades, backhoes, pallet forks, demolition grapples, root grapples, plate compactors, and grader blades.
A backhoe could be a useful attachment for digging in.
When fitted, the backhoe and tipper bucket would take it out of gauge, but for transport, they can be moved separately.
These would all need to be carried on a separate CDS pallet for air despatch, and attached once on the ground after de-rigging.
Lennartsfors Flex 2
From the forestry industry, the Flex 2 is a stand or walk in front multipurpose vehicle that is mostly used for skidding felled logs through difficult terrain.
It can be fitted with a remote control kit and different attachments, including a load bed and forklift.
Various trailers can also be used.
Including a hydraulic traction assist logging trailer with loader crane.
Like many of these industrial vehicles, it is relatively slow, 7kph.
Length is 1.78m, width 1.11m, and it weights 520 kg, with a towing capacity of 920 kg.
Mattro Ziesel
The Mattro Ziesel was originally developed as an off-road wheelchair, but it has been developed by some partner organisations for usage in agriculture
One such example is the Aebi EC-170, which has a front-mounted PTO.
With a 60-degree side slope, low ground pressure, and a top speed of 35kph, they are mobile over extreme terrain. With a low centre of gravity, integral folding roll bar and four-point harness, they are potentially safer than a quad bike ATV, and there is even a road-legal version.
Their towing ability is equally impressive, over 500 kg.
The vehicle is 1.32m long (plus 77 mm for the towing coupling) and 1.22m wide, height to the top of the ROPS is 1.62m.
Like all electric designs, battery life is a key limiting factor to employment, 3 hours for this one.
Hawe Mattro has developed a more compact version as a base platform for UGV developers, including Dhiel, as part of the Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (IMUGS) demonstration.
It is too wide for CDS, but use a folding chair. Because it is battery-powered, it should be OK to rig vertically so it would fit within the constraints of a double CDS, thus, included in the ‘in gauge’ category.
Mira Cingolino
The Mira Cingolino is a tracked sub compact tractor from Italy.
At 910 mm over tracks wide, 1,800 mm long and weighing less than 600 kg, it would be a comfortable load for a double CDS. Unlike a quad bike ATV, this has a three-point rear lift and a PTO for attachments and tools.
A Rollover Protection System can also be fitted, but it is an excruciatingly slow and noisy ride!
MTT-154
I wrote about this a while ago, and think it is quite an interesting and well-designed concept that sits somewhere between a tracked utility vehicle and a tractor unit.
The MTT-154 is an electric all-terrain tracked ‘tug unit’ that can be used singly or connected, and operated as a ride-on or via remote controls, used to push, pull or carry loads and trailers.
One of the unique aspects of the design is the ability to connect multiple units for a greater payload. They can be connected inline (like a snake), side by side, or in a quad configuration.
The side-by-side configuration can also have a load bed platform between them, similar to the Milrem Themis. The difference between this and the Milrem unit is that the centre is not fixed.
Because they are just under 600 mm wide, they are very transportable.
For example, three could easily be carried abreast in either Merlin or Chinook and because they are only 650 mm high, three can also be stacked. With stacking, a Merlin could carry eighteen, a Chinook, 27, with a couple of tonnes of payload margin, or combinations that include trailers.
When arranged down the centre of the cargo area as a stack of three, on either helicopter, it would leave enough room for seated personnel on the seats, 6 in a Merlin and 9 in a Chinook.
The unit is a single-track device, powered by lithium-ion battery packs. 1 battery provides up to 4 hours (35 km) of runtime, with three allowing up to 12 hours of runtime or a 105 km range.
With three batteries fitted, a single unit weighs 290 kg.
The system can also be used to supply export power for power tools or other battery charging.
Batteries can be quickly swapped, and unlike the two-wheel tractor, cannot be heard from 3 weeks away, top speed is also a more respectable 24kph.
A single unit can carry up to 250 kg on the load bed and tow 1.4 tonnes on a flat surface, reduced to 450 kg in extreme terrain.
The video below shows a double unit towing a ski trailer, the trailer could be used for seating or stores. This configuration would be comfortable for a Merlin.
Polaris Sportsman MV850
The Sportsman MV850 is a powerful ATV with a designed optimised for defence use.
Towing capacity is 680 kg, with a maximum load of 180 kg on the rear bed, and 90 kg on the front. The kerb weight is 524 kg.
The overall length is 2.44 m, and the width is 1.2 m
Rokon Ranger Two-Wheel Drive Motorcycle
The Rokon sidecar can be easily attached using a single quick tun bolt
What makes it attractive, apart from the additional 270 kg payload, is the ability to carry it on top of the motorcycle for transport and then attach it later, great for helicopter internal carriage.
In the same footprint as a quad ATV, it can carry two people and close to 400 kg of stores, it can also tow 900 kg.
Suzuki King Quad 500
Another popular model in UK markets, the Suzuki King Quad 500 is 2.15 m long and 1.22 m wide, with a kerb weight of 315 kg.
Towing capacity is 600 kg and total payload is 300 kg on the front rack, and 60 kg on the rear.
Vaellan
The Vaellan is an unusual vehicle from Finland that uses a common frame with three driveline options, tracks and skis, tracks and wheels, all wheels.
The tracked only and combination variants would be slightly too wide, but the wheeled variant is 1.7 m long and 1.18 m wide.
Kerb weight is only 128 kg, but the payload is a modest 130 kg.
Towing capacity is also low, at 150 kg.
Yamaha Kodiak 700
Last in this section, the Yamaha Kodiak 700 is another popular UK choice.
Designed for industrial and agricultural use, it is 2.1 m long and 1.18 m wide.
The Kerb weight is 311 kg, and it has a payload of 50 kg on the front rack, and 90 kg on the rear.
The towing capacity is 600 kg.
Out of Gauge
Out of gauge vehicles are, basically, those that are slightly larger than the in-service Yamaha 450 and too large for a double CDS pallet.
| Vehicle | Length (m) | Width (m) | Height (m) | Kerb Weight (kg) | Payload (kg) | Towing (kg) |
| Yamaha Grizzly 450 | 1.99 | 1.09 | 1.12 | 267 | 210 | 600 |
| Argo Explorer Pro XRT | 2.55 | 1.29 | 1.25 | 554 | 245 | 557 |
| Can Am Outlander 6×6 | 3.17 | 1.23 | 1.65 | 597 | 363 | 907 |
| Christini Hybrid ATV | 1.90 | 1.32 | 1.21 | 287 | 102 | 227 |
| Defenture Skorpion | 2.53 | 1.27 | 1.49 | 700 | 500 | 380 |
| Prinoth SW50 | 3.23 | 1.29 | 2.24 | 3,061 | 964 | c3,600 |
| Reek ATV (Ermine) | 2.55 | 1.55 | 1.5 | 875 | 525 | 750 |
| Yanmar AC21 | 2.33 | 1.25 | 1.82 | 830 | 250 | c800 |
Argo Xplorer Pro XRT
From Argo in Canada, the Xplorer Pro XRT 600 XTX is a conventional ATV with the addition of a tipping load bed.
The load bed has much more usable space than most other similar ATVs.
Length is 2.55m, width, 1.29 m, and it has a kerb weight of 454 kg.
Load capacity on the front rack is 45 kg, and the rear rack, 200 kg.
Towing capacity is 557 kg.
Can Am Outlander Max 6×6 XU+ 1000T
The Outlander Max 6×6 XU+ is the latest in the range.
Length is 3.17 m, and width, 1.23 m.
Kerb weight is 597 kg, payload on the front rack is 45 kg, and the rear, 318 kg.
Like many similar models, they can be fitted with after market track kits
The towing capacity is 907 kg.
Christini Hybrid ATV
The Christini Hybrid Electric ATV uses four independent hub motors to eliminate the complexity of a traditional drivetrain, and this, coupled with an onboard range extending generator, provides approximately 250 miles (ca. 402 km) of range.
The battery only range is 50 miles (ca. 80 km), and there is enough fuel onboard to recharge four times, whilst in motion.
It also has a power export feature.
Length is 1.9m, but taking it out of gauge is the width, at 1.32m
Kerb weight is 287 kg, with 34 kg payload on the front rack, and 68 kg on the rear.
The towing capacity is 227 kg.
Defenture Skorpion
Based on a Suzuki design, the Skorpion is quite heavy, at 700 kg, but has an impressive 500 kg payload.
Length is 2.53 m and width, 1.49 m.
Unlike most other ATVs, it uses a diesel engine and has 4 wheel steering.
Prinoth SW50
The Prinoth SW50 is a specialist vehicle used for pavement snow clearing.
At 1.285 m wide, it is only slightly out of gauge, although the 3.225 m length would make it far too long for CDS air despatch.
The maximum speed, at 30kph, is lower than most of the more conventional ATVs, but its tracked driveline will provide excellent mobility in poor conditions.
A 3,061 kg, it is also much heavier than other vehicles in this post, but that, and the tracks, mean it would be able to tow a considerably larger and heavier trailer than 4×4 wheeled ATV’s.
The enclosed cab would also be a useful feature in many environments.
Although the ploughs, gritting, and blower equipment would not be fitted in a defence context, the hydraulics, and mounting point could be used for a dozer blade, PTO trailer, or other more useful tools.
Reek ATV
Reek was purchased by Rheinmetall, who now market it as the Ermine.
Yanmar AC21
I am not 100% sure if Yanmar makes these any longer, but the diesel AC21 (and similar models) was a capable and compact machine, and only slightly out of gauge.
Weighing 830 kg, it was 2.33m long, 1.25m wide, and 1.82m high to ROPS.
It has a rear-mounted PTO, so it could potentially be used with a PTO powered driven axle trailer.
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