South Pole Expedition -
Making new world record by overland travel to the South Pole is a huge and expensive task.
Getting stuff to the South Pole is difficult. Most things are brought in by air. Getting about on the snow and ice there is an even tougher challenge. A few years ago two Land Rovers on 33 inch tires where brought in to try and use instead of the big and heavy snow buses. After driving a couple of kilometers from base they got helplessly stuck and where immediately sent back!
Who do you call when you want to do some heavy snow driving? An ICELANDER of course!
Gunnar Egilsson's phone rings and he is asked if he can provide a fully modified off road truck. Naturally his curiosity grows and asks what it is needed for. "We are going to set a world record driving to the South Pole."
A couple of days later the English group is in Iceland and heading for the Langjokull ice cap. Gunnar has this 6x6 fully modified Econoline of the biggest type. It is hard not to be impressed with the way this truck works. "We want one just like this one". It will be perfect for the task of getting the team to the pole and back.
Having made a fully working 6x6 Econoline, Gunnar has a pretty good idea about the cost and time involved in making the vehicle. It will be about 2800 hours of garage work and cost a LOT of money. The truck has to be ready before September 1. 2005. This is late April so things have to happen fast.
Gunnar finds the perfect donation vehicle an extra long E-350 with the 7.3 liter diesel engine. Ordering parts and building it to the blue print of the old one using Dana 60 axles front and back and huge sheet metal cutting.
Trxus 44 inch tires arrive last and are brought in by DHL. Dick Cepec 44 inch tires are not good for such a heavy truck and Gunnar finds that the Trxus tires work good in most conditions.
Cost building up and time flying it is finally ready for testing on August 26. Testing it by taking a short trip to Myrdalsjokull ice cap. Then directly driving it on to Seydisfjordur to take the ferry to England where it is on a show tour until shipping to Buenos Aires.
Biggest Econoline they have seen! Hotel employees are proud to be on the photo with the upcoming world record holder.
Crowded streets in Buenos Aires won't provide much space for the huge truck. Smiling faces on the friendly but surprised people make it easier.
On the long stretch through South America. Believe it or not but this is the view for over 1500 km (1000 miles).
Having a few free days to spend before the flight is scheduled. Gunnar and the team use the time sightseeing. Whale watching...
...penguins by the sea...
...are not even afraid of Gunnar.
Landscape is magnificent. Just like postcards.
Weather is cool and the gravel roads and vegetation of the area is similar to many parts of Iceland.
This mountain is almost 3000 meters high!
Fresh and cool looking waterfall. Average weight of the salmon in the river is 26 kg!
Another postcard.
Looking South over Punta Arena in Chile.
Not all routes lead to Rome but at least there is a signpost for it!
London - 13.387 km
Tokyo - 16.960 km
Houston - 9.487 km
South Pole - 4.110 km
Beirut - 14.012 km
Santiago - 351 km
and Rome - MXIIICCXXXVI km according to the signpost.
Strict rules are in effect for everything that comes to the South Pole. The 6x6 has to be washed carefully in order to keep the area free of all pollution.
Before the flight the Econoline is put on the weight. 5.220 kg. with most of the luggage and the spare parts but no fuel. In the trip it is estimated to be about 7.200 kg. Every kg. brought to the Pole by air costs around 68 USD! So you better take along only what you really need.
A Russian Ilyushin IL-76 is used to transport the Econoline and the team.
Will the 6x6 prove too big for the opening?
No - it is just big enough to take on the van.
Truck is fastened by chaining the axles securely. You don't want to have an unfastened truck of this size in a plane!
All these windows in front of the Ilyushin provide the best view possible.
Landing on the ice at the Patriot Hill station seems to be as easy as if it was a small Cessna. Breaking is however extremely powerful and noisy. Shaking the plane and putting extreme strain on the chains holding the 6x6.
Patriot Hills mountains.
Ice Challenger is a real 6x6 truck fully modified and equipped by IceCool ehf. in Iceland. IceCool 6X6 Make: Ford Encoline '96, specially modified 1999 by Snaridjan in Selfoss Color: Pearl blue Tires: 6 x 44" Super Swamper. Max. number of passengers: 14 Engine: 7,3 l. power stroke turbo diesel. Horsepower: 215 Axles: 3 x Dana 60" Gear: 4,88 airlock Suspension: Air suspension. Range 40 cm Electric system: By Aukaraf Oil tanks: 420 liters Transfer case: 1356 and aux transfer case (extra low gear)
Extreme 4x4 are highly modified and custom built 4x4s. Some of them may look like other 4x4s but as you look closer you see interesting solutions. Others are obviously extreme 4x4s!
![4x4 Ford [Offroad]](https://www.4x4offroads.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/gumbo-monster-mudder-21277991.jpg "4x4 Ford [Offroad]")
