Arctic Trucks
Encyclopedia
Arctic Trucks originated in Iceland, its roots lay in the need for dealing with the difficult terrain in Iceland, summer and winter. In the 1970s the Icelandic people started experimenting with larger tires and low tire pressures on the snow with interesting results. But it was not until in the mid 1980s, when practical solutions began emerging, that demand quickly rose. Small garages emerged where people and companies had their vehicles modified. With more and more brand new Toyota vehicles being modified and limited or no standardization, Toyota in Iceland (P. Samúelsson hf.) became concerned over warranty, serviceability, safety and customer satisfaction.
In 1990 Toyota in Iceland established its own modification division calling it “Toyota Aukahlutir” (Toyota Accessories). This division grew very quickly and 20% to 70% of all new Toyota Hilux, Land Cruiser and 4Runners got modified before delivery to customers. In 1996 the name of this division was changed to Arctic Trucks and in 1999 Arctic Trucks Norway was established. In 2005 Arctic Trucks was bought out of Toyota Iceland and seriously started working more with other brands as well as Toyota. As of mid-2011, Arctic Trucks has daughter companies in Iceland, Norway and UAE. Franchise agreements have been signed, or are in the final stages, with companies in Russia, Brazil, South Africa and Finland, as well as with CFAO Automotive which represents Toyota in 14 African countries. Arctic Trucks has offered self-drive tours in Iceland since 2008 under the name "Arctic Trucks Experience".
Examples of Arctic Trucks rebuilds and modifications:
The range of customers is very wide; individuals, various utility companies, NGO’s, police, militaries, rescue teams, scientific organization, adventure operators and more.
International expeditions:
In 1990 Toyota in Iceland established its own modification division calling it “Toyota Aukahlutir” (Toyota Accessories). This division grew very quickly and 20% to 70% of all new Toyota Hilux, Land Cruiser and 4Runners got modified before delivery to customers. In 1996 the name of this division was changed to Arctic Trucks and in 1999 Arctic Trucks Norway was established. In 2005 Arctic Trucks was bought out of Toyota Iceland and seriously started working more with other brands as well as Toyota. As of mid-2011, Arctic Trucks has daughter companies in Iceland, Norway and UAE. Franchise agreements have been signed, or are in the final stages, with companies in Russia, Brazil, South Africa and Finland, as well as with CFAO Automotive which represents Toyota in 14 African countries. Arctic Trucks has offered self-drive tours in Iceland since 2008 under the name "Arctic Trucks Experience".
Arctic Trucks modifications
Arctic Trucks modifications range from small modification to a total rebuilding of the vehicles. All modifications are aimed to enhance the off-road capabilities of the vehicle, to varying degrees. Reliability and serviceability are of high importance and no compromises are made in requirements for appearance and driving properties.Examples of Arctic Trucks rebuilds and modifications:
- AT44 6X6 – Arctic Trucks largest rebuilds, 6 wheel drive with high weight capacity, equipped to take on long distance travelling i.e. in Antarctica.
- AT44 rebuild (44 inch tires) - A very capable off-road vehicle, used by search and rescue teams in Iceland and have driven over 60 thousand km on the high plateau in Antarctica.
- AT38 rebuild (38 inch tires) - can tackle most snow and off-road conditions. The Arctic Trucks Hilux AT38 was used in the expedition to the Magnetic North Pole with Top Gear.
- AT35 modification (35 inch tires) - gives greater ground clearance, better traction and softer ride. This modification is ideal for hunters, farmers and all those who want to go the extra distance.
- AT33 modification (33 inch tires) - gives increases ground clearance, softer ride on rough roads and added flotation i.e. sand.
The range of customers is very wide; individuals, various utility companies, NGO’s, police, militaries, rescue teams, scientific organization, adventure operators and more.
Expeditions
Arctic Trucks has supplied vehicles, organized or taken part in various expeditions in Iceland and outside of Iceland. These vehicles are very capable in various conditions and their increasing popularity in difficult terrains and severe climate is driven by their relatively very low fuel consumption, reliability, comfort and speed.International expeditions:
- December 1997 to January 1998 – Antarctica Expedition organized by the Swedish Polar institute. Two rebuilt Toyota Land Cruiser 80 on 44 inch tires supported scientific research, driving over 3000km.
- May 1999 – GreenlandGreenlandGreenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. Three rebuilt Toyota Land Cruiser 80 in 44 inch drove over 800 kilometers across the Greenland icecap back and forth. - April 2007 - Magnetic North Pole with BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Top Gear. Two rebuilt Toyota Hilux AT38 along with one Toyota Land Cruiser AT38 drove from Resolute to the 1996 Magnetic North Pole. A first and only time a car has driven this way. - November 2008 to February 2009 – Antarctica. Supporting a ski race and a crew from BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
filming the TV show “On Thin IceOn Thin Ice (TV Series)On Thin Ice is a documentary following a team of three consisting of Ben Fogle, James Cracknell, and Ed Coats in their epic race across Antarctica to the South Pole. The series covers the whole experience, beginning with training efforts in Switzerland and vigorous exercises elsewhere. The team...
”. With unexplored crevasse area and a route never driven before, four Arctic Trucks Hilux AT44 drove from NovoNovolazarevskaya StationNovolazarevskaya Station is a Russian, formerly Soviet, Antarctic research station. The station is located at Schirmacher Oasis, Queen Maud Land, 75 km from the Antarctic coast, from which it is separated by Lazarev Ice Shelf. It was opened on January 18, 1961 by the 6th Soviet Antarctic...
to South PoleSouth PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
and back with film crew, doctors other service crew. Combined the vehicles drove nearly 30 thousand kilometers on the high plateau of Antarctica. - November 2009 - Antarctica. From NovoNovolazarevskaya StationNovolazarevskaya Station is a Russian, formerly Soviet, Antarctic research station. The station is located at Schirmacher Oasis, Queen Maud Land, 75 km from the Antarctic coast, from which it is separated by Lazarev Ice Shelf. It was opened on January 18, 1961 by the 6th Soviet Antarctic...
to 83:20 degrees in Antarctica, preparing a fuel drop. Two Arctic Trucks Hilux AT44 drove over 3000km each to service a fuel post setup on the Antarctic plateau with temperature falling well below – 50 C. When traveling the vehicles were averaging over 500km per day. - April 2010 - IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. Taking BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Top Gear filming crew to the erupting volcano EyjafjallajökullEyjafjallajökullEyjafjallajökull is one of the smaller ice caps of Iceland, situated to the north of Skógar and to the west of Mýrdalsjökull. The ice cap covers the caldera of a volcano with a summit elevation of . The volcano has erupted relatively frequently since the last glacial period, most recently in...
. - November 2010 – Antarctica. From the Indian scientific base MAITRIMaitriMaitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica. It was built and finished in 1989, shortly before the first station Dakshin Gangotri was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990-91...
to the South PoleSouth PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
and back, nearly 4700km. Four Arctic Trucks Hilux AT44 carried scientists and equipment up to 3400 meter altitude with temperature measured at -56C. - December 2010 – Antarctica. Two Arctic Trucks Hilux AT44 drove a team from KazakhstanKazakhstanKazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
from NovoNovolazarevskaya StationNovolazarevskaya Station is a Russian, formerly Soviet, Antarctic research station. The station is located at Schirmacher Oasis, Queen Maud Land, 75 km from the Antarctic coast, from which it is separated by Lazarev Ice Shelf. It was opened on January 18, 1961 by the 6th Soviet Antarctic...
to the South PoleSouth PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
and back. The expedition to South Pole, 2308km took only 4.5 days. - December 2010 to January 2011 - Antarctica. Four Arctic Trucks Hilux AT44 and two Arctic Trucks Hilux AT44 6X6 supported an ZDFZDFZweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
and ORFORF (broadcaster)Österreichischer Rundfunk, ORF, is the Austrian national public service broadcaster.Funded from a combination of a television licence fees and revenue from limited on-air advertising, ORF is the dominant player in the Austrian broadcast media...
TV production team filming the TV show “Der Wettlauf zum Südpol” where an Austrian skiing team competed with a German team for the last 300km to the South Pole.