What APC/IFV to chose?

[Actual]

Hello there. I am thinking about buying a used APC/IFV but i am not sure what i should chose? i am thinking having a amphibious vehicle that can run in water and on land for attending in some airsoft events, and for having fun offroad and maby display it at some events maby. But what to chose? BTR60, OT90, OT64 or is the FV432 any good? i am thinking about a demilitarized vehicle without the gun barrel and without a turret maby. But what to chose?

[robin33ba07]

decisions decisions ?

are you going for tracked or wheeled ?

can you drive it there or have the vehicle low loaded ?

[Actual]

What is best? for driving long distances.

I am not sure yet. since i live in norway it will be some problems with width if the vehicle is above 2.55m width

Edited December 1, 2014 by Actual

[Starfire]

Tracked vehicles are awesome, but they experience very high wear and tear on roads and need massive amounts of maintenance. Unless you have some experience with them, you will be surprised at how little driving you get to do and how much work is needed to keep them operational. Costs are phenomenal.

 

Wheeled armour is slightly better, but still needs a lot of maintenance.

 

For my money, I would (and did!) go for a Saracen. They are reasonably well behaved and are easy enough to drive on the road. Spare parts are both available and affordable and, as a bonus, you can seat 11-12 people in it.

 

Cheers,

Terry

[Actual]

Okay thanks But do you have any experience dealing with mortar investment when it comes to armour? or other parts?

is there good? or bad?

[Markheliops]

1st - Don't use Mortar Investments - Use STV Group (Same place, same stock, different people). Tell them Mark in the UK sent you.

2nd - Track vehicles are no more arduous to work on than wheeled vehicles. I know because I work on both.

3rd - FV432 APC is not amphibious.

 

If I had to pick a vehicle for your requirements I'd go for a BV206. Great fun, simple mechanics, loves the water, snow, mud and anything else you can throw at it. Road legal too.

 

 

If it has to be armoured, the Russian Czech kit is good but the width thing is an issue plus if it's tracked - driving on the road is a no no if it has metal tracks.

 

A FUG OT65 is a great piece of kit - not wide, simple mechanics, armoured and wheeled plus it loves water. Reasonably cheap too.

 

 

Markheliops

Edited December 2, 2014 by Markheliops

[andym]

What do you mean by "long distances"? I'd suggest that no AFV is suitable for really long distance driving, either tracked or wheeled.

 

Andy

[Markheliops]

What do you mean by "long distances"? I'd suggest that no AFV is suitable for really long distance driving, either tracked or wheeled.

 

Andy

 

Quite correct Andy - I once covered 80 miles return trip in an FV432 (but it wasn't ideal) lol

[Lauren Child]

3rd - FV432 APC is not amphibious.

 

 

I think it is, technically, though I'm not sure you'd want to try it. There's certainly fittings for a screen around some of them and I'm sure I've seen photo's of mark 1s with a splash board mounted on the front.

[Baz48]

I think it is, technically, though I'm not sure you'd want to try it. There's certainly fittings for a screen around some of them and I'm sure I've seen photo's of mark 1s with a splash board mounted on the front.

 

A late friend was involved in the amphibious trial of the 432, in his words it's not for the faint hearted a 432 afloat the drivers handbook on the Mk-1 covers the subject

[Actual]

What do you mean by "long distances"? I'd suggest that no AFV is suitable for really long distance driving, either tracked or wheeled.

 

Andy

 

I am thinking about distances like 100km. But transporting it on a trailer will get expensive when going to events i think.

Edited December 3, 2014 by Actual

[Starfire]

I drive my Saracen on trips of about 50km each way fairly often. Aside from the fairly bad leak in the gearbox, it doesn't seem to have any problems with it but tyre wear is starting to be a concern.

 

Cheers,

Terry

[andym]

I am thinking about distances like 100km. But transporting it on a trailer will get expensive when going to events i think.

 

I have a friend who drives a 432 on 60 mile round trips but it's taking its toll on the tracks. The issue with driving these vehicles for long distances is that they cost a fortune in fuel (typically 3 or 4 mpg) and will eventually break, leaving you with a recovery problem and associated bill. If you want to do a lot of long distance mileage you might find it makes economic sense to buy a trailer, and that may well dictate the sort of AFV you can put on it.

 

Andy

[Markheliops]

I think it is, technically, though I'm not sure you'd want to try it. There's certainly fittings for a screen around some of them and I'm sure I've seen photo's of mark 1s with a splash board mounted on the front.

 

Technically correct Lauren but I regard "proper" amphibious vehicles as those that plunge into the water and come out again without having to mess around with flotation screens and the associated messing about.

 

Mark

[andym]

Technically correct Lauren but I regard "proper" amphibious vehicles as those that plunge into the water and come out again without having to mess around with flotation screens and the associated messing about.

 

Mark

 

Indeed - you wouldn't want to get involved with this sort of thing .... :nut:

 

 

Andy

[Lauren Child]

Indeed - you wouldn't want to get involved with this sort of thing .... :nut:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]99046[/ATTACH]

 

Andy

 

I can't help but think it needs the tune to captain pugwash playing in the background.

 

~~Tiddlyump tiddlyump deedumpy-dump~~

[Starfire]

It looks like they forgot their fishing rods.