VW Kubelwagen

From: Arild Danielsen [2/'99]
Re: VW Kubelwagen

Re: the VW Kubelwagen on this page. As an owner of a Kubel, I can't agree on all that you write on the page so here is my little lesson on off-road driving/vehicles.

The Kubel is truly based on the VW Beetle, but the whole chassis is raised (jacked-up) to improve ground clearance (there is for instance a back gear at each rear wheel) and it also has an automatic differential locking unit (limited-slip differential) built into the rear transmission. The Kubel chassis is completely flat on the underside like on any VW Beetle, and when in addition it weights only 685kg (one man alone can lift it in the front), that's why it outperforms the Jeep under any circumstance. As for the the Jeep's 4WD layout I would say it's the simplest you can put into a vehicle.

Remember, the Jeep has no differential locking units, and therfore practically speaking also has no more than 2WD during off road driving. For instance if you're out driving offroad, you have engaged the 4WD and then you somehow get stuck in the mud or whatever. What will happen? Yes, 2 wheels will always start spinning, i.e., the spinning wheels get all the power and the other two get no power, so you're stuck. With the Kubelwagen on the other hand you have 2WD with power on two wheels which rarely will spin because of the differential locking unit. In fact, the rear chassis will have to rest on the bog before you're stuck. Another important property that considerably improves the offroad capability of the VW Kubelwagen is the independent suspension system. Today we know that, even on the flat road, independent suspension is a plus to improve the grip. That's why you for instance find it on all the Mercedes Benz or on many sports cars and of course on the Formula 1 cars. The VW Kubelwagen was and is also without 4WD, one of the most remarkable offroad vehicles built, but today of course it is outdated.

Some figures (in German):

Bohrung 70mm (75mm)
Hub 64mm
Hubraum 985cm3 (1130cm3)
Verdichtungsverh ltnis 1:5,8
Dauerleistung 23,5PS (25PS) bei 3000U/min
Hochstleistung 24,5 PS (27,5 PS) bei 3300U/min
Luftkuhlung durch Geblase
Obenliegenden Ventilen
Zahl der Gange 4 Vorwarts-, 1 Ruckwartsgang
Hinterachse Art geteilte Pendelachse
Ausgleichgetriebe ZF selbsthemmend
Hinterradvorgelege
Vorderachse parallell schwingende Doppelkurbelachse
Federung Drehfederst be vorn und hinten
Bremsen mechanisch
Bereifung 5,25-16 Gelande
Radstand 2400mm
Steigverm gen auf losem Sand 40%
Steigverm gem auf der Strasse 45%
Watverm gen 450mm
Kraftstoffverbrauch 8 (8,5)l auf 100 km
Fahrbereich 400-450 km
Olverbrauch 0,12 Liter f r 100 km
Lange 3740mm
Breite 1600mm
Hohe, Verdeck hoch 1650mm (unbelastet)
      herunter 1111mm (belastet)
Betriebsfertiges Eigengewicht 668 kg
Zulassiges Gesamtgewicht 1175kg
Leergewicht (Marschgewicht) 725kg
Achsdruck vorn bei zul. Gesamtgewicht 450kg
                hinten                725kg
Spurweite vorn 1356mm
        hinten 1360mm
Bodenfreiheit unbelastet 290mm
              belastet   275mm
Uberhang vorn 60*
       hinten 38*
Hochstgeschwindigkeit 80 km/h
Niedrigste Dauergeschwindigkeit 3 km/h
Kraftstoffbehalter 40 Liter (10 Liter Vorrat)

Source: D 662/6, Leichter Personenkraftwagen K1 Typ 82, Geratbeschreibung und Bedienungsanweisung zum Fahrgestell, Vom 8.4.1943

If you want more info or just photos of VW Kubelwagen and Schwimmwagen: Der VW Kubelwagen Typ 82 im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Von J. Piekalkiewicz, 190S, 200 Abbbildungen, Motorbuch Verlag

[...]

On the info written by Jeff Tickner, I will comment that only a prototype of a 4WD Kubelwagen was made. The Schwimmwagen is 4WD in all 4+1+1 gears. You have the ordinary gear-lever with 4 gears + reverse and you have a second gear-lever with three positions 1) front-WD out, 2) front-WD in and 3) frontWD in & the offroad gear in (Gelandegang). The Schwimmwagen has a differential locking unit (Limited-Slip differential) both in the rear axle and the front axle and it has a climbing capacity of 65% (could that be 58,5 deg?)!

Source: Volkswagenwerk G.m.b.H., Kundendienst: Leichter Personen-Kraftwagen Typ 166 (Schwimmf hig), Beschreibung, Bedienungsanweisung, Instandsetzungsanweisung, Marz 1943.

As for the Kommandorwagen; it has the same gear-layout as the Schwimmmwagen.

Regards, AD

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