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General Discussion / Slider Tracks
« on: October 23, 2018, 03:26:10 pm »
Slider Suspensions have become alternate systems for Coaches. It is time to go over some of the Pros and Cons of these systems. First: lets discuss what they are. This system is much like some of the Snowmobile systems and works with the track sliding along a a single rail guide to the rear of the machine to a single axle with Wheel and Tire. Second: The advantage for this system is a smooth ride on flat Surface areas. This system works best on Flat areas without hills and forested terrain. It also works better in Powder snow on these flat areas. It does away with Multiple Wheels and tires and is not susceptible to flat tires.
It's major disadvantage is in hilly and mogul type terrain. Forested areas are also a problem. Going over logs or hill tops is definitely not for sliders. The slider is basically a bridge between the front sprocket and the rear Axle with no flexibility in between. This is why it is harder to traverse hilly or forested areas. When you drive to the top of moguls and hills, the machine wants to center on the top of hill, log or mogul, lifting the front skies off the surface losing ability to turn the machine. These are frustrating. I have observed that the operator sometimes has to reverse of the top and take hills and moguls and approach at different angles in order to gain directional control. With boggy wheels suspension you are actually crawling over these areas with the track conforming to the hill top. Going over logs and rough terrain with the skies continually on the g round. The Boggy system is a far better all around system for traversing all types of terrains and is the main reason for the system first used in 1935 and continued to the last coaches built in the late 1970s. Aesthetically, the sliders do not look as good as well.
Fuel economy is also affected by the system. Sliders create more drag or friction sliding on the rail. So fuel consumption will increase with sliders which require more power all the time.
It's major disadvantage is in hilly and mogul type terrain. Forested areas are also a problem. Going over logs or hill tops is definitely not for sliders. The slider is basically a bridge between the front sprocket and the rear Axle with no flexibility in between. This is why it is harder to traverse hilly or forested areas. When you drive to the top of moguls and hills, the machine wants to center on the top of hill, log or mogul, lifting the front skies off the surface losing ability to turn the machine. These are frustrating. I have observed that the operator sometimes has to reverse of the top and take hills and moguls and approach at different angles in order to gain directional control. With boggy wheels suspension you are actually crawling over these areas with the track conforming to the hill top. Going over logs and rough terrain with the skies continually on the g round. The Boggy system is a far better all around system for traversing all types of terrains and is the main reason for the system first used in 1935 and continued to the last coaches built in the late 1970s. Aesthetically, the sliders do not look as good as well.
Fuel economy is also affected by the system. Sliders create more drag or friction sliding on the rail. So fuel consumption will increase with sliders which require more power all the time.