Max II a serious rival for defending champ

20 October 2000

Max II a serious rival for defending champ

By Andy Collings

DOES the Quadbike ATV now have a serious challenger to its dominance of the lightweight, go anywhere vehicle market?

Beckenham-based Westland Special Vehicles believes its six-wheel-drive Max II range of machines can not only match but exceed the performance of ATVs – with only a relatively small price premium.

The US-built Max II ATVs are available in the UK in three power ranges – 14hp, 16hp and 18hp – with a 19hp diesel version likely to make an appearance later next year. But it is the mid-range Max II 500-T model which Westland is majoring on for the agricultural sector.

Power is provided by a 16hp Briggs & Stratton 480cc Vanguard engine which is coupled to a torque converter and then by belt to a Borg-Warner skid steer transmission unit.

Considered by the manufacturer to be the heart of the vehicle, the transmission is basically two transmissions – one for each side of the vehicle.

Steering rods are activated by the two steering levers and, when one of them is pulled back, a plunger pulls the drive out and brake bands are tightened to stop transmission and wheels on the selected side.

This design is said not to absorb excessive power when turns are made.

Drive to the wheels is by chain and sprockets.

Back on the driving deck, the Max II seats two people side by side with the two steering levers positioned to the left of centre. One of the levers has the engine throttle attached to it. Behind the seat is a generously proportioned cargo area.

So, enough talk – lets give the vehicle a try-out.

With seat belt connected, the key is turned and the engine starts with just perhaps a higher noise volume than should be expected from a modern vehicle.

The two steering levers automatically default to drive, so it is just a matter of squeezing the throttle lever and off it goes. To steer left, the left lever is pulled back, and to steer right, the right lever is pulled back.

Thats the easy bit. Astute readers will recall that when a lever is pulled back, drive is interrupted and then brake bands are applied.

Pulling both levers hard back at the same time applies brakes to stop the vehicle, but pulling them only half way puts the machine into freefall – not a pleasant experience on a steep slope.

However, after a few minutes coming to terms with the control system, accurate handling over the most severe terrain becomes almost instinctive – and impressive.

Try as we might, there seemed little the Max II could not handle, its six-wheel drive, 1psi ground pressure, easing the vehicle through deep mud, up goat-challenging slopes, and down precipices where an abseil may have been more appropriate.

But the Max IIs ace trick, and one that does score irrefutably over the quad bike, is its ability to float and transverse areas of deep water – albeit with a certain reluctance in the forward speed department.

Overall, Westland Special Vehicles has an interesting machine on its books – one that farmers looking to change or enter the ATV market might well consider. &#42

It handles some pretty demanding terrain – and it floats.

Westland Special Vehicles

Max II 500-T ATV.

MAXII500-T

&#8226 Engine 16hp Briggs &

Stratton 480cc

Vanguard.

&#8226 Transmission Torque

converter/

skid steer.

&#8226 Wheel drive Chains.

&#8226 Tyres 22in Goodyear.

&#8226 Roll cage Standard.

&#8226 Price From £5999.