Torsus, a manufacturer of heavy-duty off-road vehicles, has unveiled its latest creation for the commercial sector with Terrastorm Chassis, a 4×4 all-terrain flat-frame chassis that can carry cargo or be converted into a flatbed, dropside, crane or tipper configuration – or even a rugged RV. The chassis will be available to order from 1 January 2022 with prices starting at €51,716, with deliveries due to commence in 2022 from the company’s facility in Slovakia, in both left-hand and right-hand drive.
The chassis is based on a Volkswagen Crafter/MAN TGE 4Motion chassis, fitted with a 130kW / 177hp EURO 6 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, mated to a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The platform is available with single or double cab options on each version, namely: Gross Vehicle Weight of 3.5t, 5t or 5.5t; and variable lengths L3 (wheelbase 3,640mm, length 5,996mm) or L4 (wheelbase 4,490mm, length 6,846mm).
The all-wheel drive chassis has a locking rear differential to give improved traction over rough terrain and unmade roads, with protection of the major components provided by Duraluminium skid plates. The off-road suspension at the front has been upgraded with MacPherson struts and Bilstein B6 shock absorbers. With the increased ride height, Ironman 4×4 adjustable camber bolts are fitted to offer ± 1.75° camber adjustment.
At the rear, the suspension is a combination of leaf springs equipped with Ironman 4×4 Load Plus and Profender Dakar shock absorbers with remote auxiliary reservoirs for extended axle stroke. The combination of uprated off-road suspension and heavy-duty 17in BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 tyres gives the Terrastorm Chassis a ground clearance of 250mm, approach and departure angles of 26° and 20°.
The standard equipment also ensures the Terrastorm Chassis is good in the wet. The snorkel with protective coating ensures clean, dust-free air and eliminates the risk of water ingress into the engine, while differential breathers boost the flow of cool fresh air to the differentials, transfer case and transmission, preventing water damage when wading through rivers and boggy terrain.
Torsus applied its experience in developing the Praetorian and Terrastorm off-road buses, to design the ultra-tough 4×4 Terrastorm Chassis flat-frame truck. The vehicle is configurable with either a single or double cab, to transport people and cargo to some of the world’s most inhospitable places such as unreachable forests or pathless sands.
Applications include transporting repair and service teams to outlying mining sites where heavy machinery may need to be maintained or repaired; rapid reaction all-terrain emergency services vehicles; recovery trucks for rescuing vehicles from sand dunes or swampy areas; carrying farming feed stock, fertiliser and specialist equipment into fields; or even the ultimate all-terrain recreational vehicle for tourism.
The chassis has undergone a rigorous test programme at multiple test facilities in and around Czech Republic and Slovakia, including the Tatra testing ground. This ensures the vehicle can withstand and handle beyond normal off-road usage while remaining usable and comfortable on road.
Vakhtang Dzhukashvili,founder and CEO of Torsus, said, “Terrastorm Chassis is a vehicle that will be at home in remote settings carrying vital medical supplies to rural communities in a refrigerated cargo box, or hauling mining equipment to remote parts of the Chilian remote extraction sites. The bare chassis platform offers customers unlimited configurations, it offers complete versatility and the ability to serve multiple markets and industries.”
