Carmichaels developed a 6x4 fire tender on the Range Rover chassis by adding a lazy third axle, particularly for use around airports where its performance and cross-country ability meant that it could get to the scene of an accident quickly and hopefully keep any fire in check until the heavy brigade came up.
These were 2-door Range Rovers and a water pump was mounted in the
front bumper and driven from the front of the V8's
crankshaft.
The MOD ordered a number of 6x4 Ranger Rovers for the RAF but required Land Rover to be the sole supplier (Mackie) so they subcontracted to Carmichael for the chassis conversion and to Gloster Saro for the fire fighting body and equipment. These are 4-doors and use an internal water pump driven from a gearbox power take-off (PTO).
This one was doing duty at Duxford museum, 1998 --> providing fire cover on flying days for the lighter aircraft. It has been converted to six wheel drive (6x6) by making the differential in the second axle a "drive-through" unit.
- 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html
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