this isn't the same guy?

 

5800 lb weight. To be correct about this you aren't going to float. You are going to have to displace 5800 lbs of water or 698 gallons.

- Using 40" tires with 18" width.
- Volume of a cylinder = pi * Radius2 * Height.
- pi * 400 * 18 = 22,619 cubic inches of water.
- One gallon of water is 231 cubic inches so...
- 22,619 / 231 (cubic inches per gallon) = 97 gallons per tire.
- Grand total 4 tires will displace 400 (rounded up) gallons.
- 400 gallons * 8.3 lbs per gallon = 3,320 lbs.

You are a little over half way there.

This assumes perfect cylinders. The area of the rim will detract from the above values.

Your JK is front heavy with the engine, transmission and transfer case. The fronts would have to be larger than the rears. This could cause on road 4 wheel drive issues unless you use the same diameter but narrower tires in the rear.

If you try to proceed you WILL post in the Write-Up section. The first float test will be video taped.

Good Luck!

It's a slow day in the office today.

 

Start with a used Pontoon boat, strip the deck, build ramps and drive it on.
You could have some rollers setup for the front and rear wheels so that you could use
your jeeps drive and steering.
Plus, you could stash a lot of pot in the pontoons

 

Actually, I think this is really interesting. What is with all you haters on here? I have thought about this before from an expeditionary standpoint and would love to see someone try it. If I had unlimited funds, I would have tried it. I think that ingenuity in engineering vehicles to overcome obstacles, whether it is rocks, mud, water or even things that seem impossible is what makes America so great. What happened to the dreamers who wanted to push the envelope?

Back on subject...

I think pontoons may be the best solution. I think one of the biggest concerns would be water proofing your Jeep's drive train. I would also be concerned for keeping things greased up and lubricated as I am sure this vehicle was not designed to be submersed in water for long periods of time. Definitely get a snorkel (I have the AEV one myself).

Now, to floating. Rigid pontoons would probably be the "easiest" way to go from an engineering standpoint. You could do two long pontoons along the sides that would attach at hard points along the side (possibly using square tubing like your receiver hitch on the back). You could also add a sideways pontoon on the front to offset the weight of the engine. You might would also want to add a small outboard on the back or even just a trolling motor. I think some of your biggest challenges are going to be stability. Finding the center of gravity once you have this thing floating is going to be interesting. The pontoons could have a custom trailer so you can easily transport it to the waterside. Another idea I have would be inflatable pontoons. I think that a high output air compressor, with possibly a back-up compressor for redundancy would make this system more portable. I would also have the pontoons compartmentalized so that if you tear or rip your pontoon maybe it would not be so catastrophic.

I look forward to seeing your ideas and if you do decide to try this... do a write-up and take lots of pictures!!!


I did a search after writing this and found a patent online: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4781143.pdf

Here is a link to a website that has alot of information on amphibious vehicles of all kinds: http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/

 

I'm not a hater. I fully support this craziness.....as long as it's not my Jeep!

 

^^That is exactly what I was picturing^^

Although the high center of gravity that our JK's have would make it an interesting ride. It'll be the slowest thing on the lake though, kids with water noodles will be passing you. But then again I think ny nephew on his big wheel can take my JK in a 1/4 mile so...........good luck and definately roll camera's for the first "test"

 

Not that I would do this but I still think it is an interesting idea. I just want to mention that other people have had the idea of making something heavy float, do a search on DD tanks or Donald Duck tanks. Yes you can read about it on wiki.

Good Luck and I want to see the video.
Steve

 

There was a euro Jeep JK expedition that they had pontoons for. I saw it awhile back...


edit, okay so they were bigger than i thought and use an outboard lol


That does show you what serious amount of flotation is required on a loaded 4dr though!

 

not a hater of the idea but you may be better off with a true amphibous vehicle like a M 561 6x6 all indepent susension and goes anywhere ... seriously ive driven them

 

so it looks like those pontoons raise to drive in and out of the water and lower to give you good clearance in the water.

I looks like it is carrying SCUDS