# Rough-Terrain Eighteen Wheeler? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2017, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635 "2017-09-30T09:26:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/1 "2017-09-30T09:26:00Z")
This mess in Puerto Rico has me thinking. Is there any sort of tracked or rough-terrain vehicle capable of carrying a (full) standard shipping container? Seems there must be, maybe in the oil business. On the other hand, I have not been able to find any such thing on Google. (Rough-terrain forklifts do not count.) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/2 "2017-09-30T09:33:41Z")
The military tend to stick to three or four axles and 20 foot containers like [this.](http://www.tatratrucks.com/cache/images/galleryPreviewBig/tatra_790r39_container.jpg) Articulated trucks get stuck on rough terrain more easily than rigids because they do not have any power on the trailer wheels. A rigid truck can have power to all of the axles. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/3 "2017-09-30T09:59:22Z")
Yeah, that is something. But as you said, it is a twenty-footer. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Terrific](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tom_terrific/32/342_2.png) [@Tom\_Terrific](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Terrific)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/4 "2017-09-30T12:02:27Z")
I can’t find a picture of one (of course) but my step son once sent me a pic of a truck he was working on. It was a cab over with tandem steering wheels, then tri-axle drive wheels. The tandem steers were, or could be, driven also. It had what looked like a standard 5th wheel setup that could be slid forward or back. It had 5 driven axles so I assume it was designed to haul a pretty heavy load across rough terrain. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/5 "2017-09-30T12:09:08Z")
There’s the Soviet MAZ-537. It was designed by the military but has also seen use in the oil and gas fields. It was designed to haul tanks around so it can handle a pretty heavy trailer load. They ceased production quite a few years ago (1990), but I believe many are still in use. > **[MAZ-537](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAZ-537)** > > The MAZ-537 is a 12-cylinder diesel engine-powered military truck artillery tractor, originally designed for loads up to 50 tons (using semitrailers such as the ChMZAP-9990 or ChMZAP-5247G, for example) with later versions providing a maximum load of 65 tons. It was manufactured by the Minsk Automobile Plant (from 1959 to 1965) and the Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant from 1963 until halt of production in 1990. > The metal cab of the MAZ-537 provides space for the driver and three passengers for a tota... ETA: Here’s a video of one hauling a tank around: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Y7BZO5aE3s/maxresdefault.jpg "MAZ 537 in Russia") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y7BZO5aE3s) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/6 "2017-09-30T12:47:13Z")
Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Terrific](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tom_terrific/32/342_2.png) [@Tom\_Terrific](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Terrific)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/7 "2017-09-30T12:57:28Z")
Here is a picture of what I was talking about. [https://oshkoshdefense.com/variants/mkr16-tractor/](https://oshkoshdefense.com/variants/mkr16-tractor/) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/8 "2017-09-30T13:05:08Z")
40’ containers are fine in developed countries with a good infrastructure and depots that can handle them. When you want versatility and ease of handling, you go for the smaller sibling. You could always put a hook on the back of the one I linked to and have another box on a trailer. If you want real versatility with go-anywhere capability, you use a demountable system, since this does not require any cranes or forklifts at the delivery end. [https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d5/66/1b/d5661b5bd40a25f70d21712a1d6d8d76.jpg](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d5/66/1b/d5661b5bd40a25f70d21712a1d6d8d76.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/9 "2017-09-30T14:33:23Z")
During harvest time here, I see 18 wheelers with special tires. They drive all over the fields and regular roads. Not exactly driving over downed trees terrain, but if the roads were cleared of large objects I’m sure the special tires would get the job done. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/10 "2017-09-30T14:47:38Z")
Part of the problem with driving over rough terrain is not the wheels, it’s the center of gravity of the load - you don’t want anything top heavy enough to fall over during a sway. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/11 "2017-09-30T15:46:10Z")
If you’re really interested in this, you might look into a game called Spintires, which is about driving large trucks (and other vehicles if you add mods) over extremely rough terrain. I’m not sure if there are any trucks in it that carry standard containers, but there are articulated logging trucks, tankers, trailers etc. [http://www.spintires.com/](http://www.spintires.com/) https://store.steampowered.com/widget/263280 Edit: Oh, wow there’s a new version coming soon: [MudRunner on Steam](http://store.steampowered.com/app/675010/Spintires_MudRunner/) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/12 "2017-09-30T20:24:41Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > The military tend to stick to three or four axles and 20 foot containers like [this.](http://www.tatratrucks.com/cache/images/galleryPreviewBig/tatra_790r39_container.jpg) The military (and the oil industry) tend to go with airlifting containers in really rough terrain. Both of them can afford the high cost of doing this, and often need the higher speed of air transport. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/13 "2017-09-30T23:06:20Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Yeah, that is something. But as you said, it is a twenty-footer. I was surprised by this, so I had a look at Wikipedia. Given that container volume is expressed in “twenty foot equivalent” units, I say that a ‘standard’ container is the 20’ unit — but I see to my surprise that most volume is now shipped in Tall 40’ units. If I go down to the docks here, I’m still seeing mostly 20’ standard-height units (we don’t do much “intermodal” here), so those Long Tall units must be going somewhere else. I’ll look more carefully next time. Last time I was in Hong Kong was 5 years ago, and fascinated to see huge numbers of non-containerized flat-bed trucks going out of the port - they seemed to be unpacking the containers at the port. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/14 "2017-10-01T02:44:24Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The military (and the oil industry) tend to go with airlifting containers in really rough terrain. Both of them can afford the high cost of doing this, and often need the higher speed of air transport. I was going to come in and say the same thing. In the 50’s to 60’s private ventures and the military where playing around with land trains and snow trains and such. Huge multi driven wheeled vehicles for moving heavy freight. Those projects all died off rapidly in 1962 when Sikorsky introduced a helicopter with a 20k pound payload at the same time Boing was going into production with the earlier Chinooks. It was clear to anyone the land trains were obsolete technology so no one was interested in further development. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/15 "2017-10-01T03:24:56Z")
Something like this, perhaps? [Dakkar rally trucks.](https://youtu.be/ZUgw2GcXQUM?t=27) ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/16 "2017-10-02T10:40:35Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Last time I was in Hong Kong was 5 years ago, and fascinated to see huge numbers of non-containerized flat-bed trucks going out of the port - they seemed to be unpacking the containers at the port. They don’t have far to drive, and warehouses are expensive. So there’s no huge expense in driving a light truck . Better to get rid of the extra packaging , the rubbish going straight onto ANOTHER BOAT, and then the truck drives around on a delivery run. Saves on carting the container around. Where there is a difference in the cost of warehouses, and the rubbish isn’t being sent to the docks, its better to get the container away from the docks. that said, importing less than a container load is still something done… ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/17 "2017-10-02T13:16:39Z")
Containers are ideal for overseas freight. The supplier can stuff as much as he can into it, seal the doors, and expect it to arrive at the destination intact. Many suppliers do not have enough freight to fill a container, so there are many “groupage” operators who will “stuff” many suppliers goods into a box and send it to a depot where it can be “destuffed”. Alternatively, a single supplier might send a box to a place like Hong Kong with good for many customers. A freight company on the docks will take care of destuffing and distribution. I am not sure what Isildur means by extra packaging. In my experience, there is very little in a container but the goods and the packaging they come in. You can buy a computer program that will help you make maximum use of the available space. I once helped unload some containers full of bicycles from Taiwan - there wasn’t a spare cubic inch inside. There are exceptions - the company I worked for used to ship machinery all over the world in 40’ boxes. These machines were expensive but weighed in at under two tonnes and took up around 10% of the available space. We used to tie them down to the floor with steel cables attached to eye bolts. I have seen steel coils loaded - three to a box, which were secured with heavy baulks of timber. ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rough-terrain-eighteen-wheeler/797635/18 "2017-10-03T00:05:20Z")
The US Army [HEMTT PLS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palletized_load_system) is all wheel drive, rough terrain capable, and can load and offload a 20ft ISO container with no additional equipment necessary.