Hypothetical vehicle design, need help

Hey, everybody!
Maybe you can help. For a college class, I recieved an assignment to design a vehicle for a specific niche market-not necessarily a whole vehicle design, but rather the specifications and a general description of the vehicle. I chose to design a utilitarian truck much like the Defender, only designed with ultra-modern technology. It would serve as a military/utility vehicle, and have incredible off-road capability. There are three versions- a short-wheelbase, long-wheelbase, and pickup. The question I have for this forum is whether a body-on-frame or unit-body construction is best for this vehicle. A pickup could be made with a unitized body, so that is not a factor. If you were designing this type of vehicle, what sort of construction would best serve this vehicle? The way I see it, unitized is stiffer but body-on-frame is more flexible in terms of modification of the body for special uses. Please help, I can't decide! Thanks a lot!!

[wanderer4x4]

fill out your profile - and maybe tell us some more about the class: input, and suggestions are great...but dont expect us to do your homework for you.

It's a marketing class, basically- automotive marketing. The assignment is to dream up a vehicle for a specific niche market- that is, a certain group that would use a certain type of vehicle. My niche is forestry specialists, farmers, builders, militaries, scientists, search-and-rescue teams, etc. I'm not asking you to do the assignment- I already have the vehicle planned out in excrutiating detail, down to the available colors and standard/optional equipment. However, there are strong arguments for both unitized construction and body on frame. That's why I asked this question- to resolve that final point. Hope this clears up your questions.

[wanderer4x4]

umm - forgive me - but you CANT have a vehicel planned out if you havent decided on frame, unitized, or monocoque construction - the design, the equipment/design of the latter 2 have to be done together.

to point you in the right direction
a) Autovas (Niva), uses monocoque construction, with an internal ( full) frame, AND a stressed steel skin.

b)Foers ( IBEX) uses a space frame, and totally non structural skin

c) land rover (defender), Mercedes ( Unimog, G-wagen)) - ladder frame, adn non -structural skin

d) Unitbody Mercedes (ML), Toyota ( Rav4)< Honda ( CRV) Unibodywith structural skin, and partial load spreading sub-frames.


if you go look these up via the dealer/factory websites, you'll start to seea patten emerge as to weight vs intended use vs capcities. the first 2 are the 'exceptions' to the norm...and are notable because of their numbers: the niva is perhaps one of the biggest runs of a single production vehicle, while the Ibex is one of the most exclusive ( hand built in a small facility)

You'll have to base your final design on the intended uses.....and whats good for one use wont necessarilly be good for all.

C

Thanks for your input. For my stated purposes, how would you construct the vehicle? Bear in mind that it will be used in inhospitable environs- jungles, deserts, arctic- and doing hard work.

[wanderer4x4]

uh unn - we can show you all the options, and weigh pros/cons, but YOU have to be the one to decide, and argue the point to your instructors.

opinion - WHAT uses? assuming it s'utility', not 'sport' you're interested in, my 'pet' setup would be an exoskeletal system, w/ alloy/composite skin, and an articulated 6x6 format. the closest I've seen is the Gama Goat, used by the US military ( hint hint - go look)


c.

I appreciate it. I think I'm actually going with a monocoque construction like the Niva. That seems to be the best approach.

Additionally, FYI...due to your attitude in some of my other threads, I'm leaving... You've been unwelcoming, antagonistic, and consistently in my face. I know when I'm not wanted, so....

[The_Sandman_454]

<font face="Comic Sans MS">Didn't seem to me like the man was being inhospitable, etc... He did provide lots of facts and information for you. The only thing he didn't do is argue the pros and cons of the various setups (which are there for you to research, since it's your assignment not his)... [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

Although I think perhaps a link guiding the people to *one* of these threads and only one of the threads might work best, then the people could see all replies to it and comment on those as well...</font>

He got rather on my case in the Toyota forum... went off on how "something stank" because I was asking all these questions. I appreciate his info, but he dished it up with a heavy helping of attitude, which I didn't appreciate.