wildcat vs tomcat

[westcoastlandy]

i was just wondering if anyone could say the pros and cons of each 4x4?

between the QT wildcat----tomcat

what would be the one you would go for?

just out of interest?

i recon the wildcat would be the one to go for, (ideally i suppose the nemisis)

cheers

cam

[Steve Hiatt]

Depends a bit what you want to do, personally neither.

[Henry Webster]

As Steve says, really depends on what sort of events you want to do and your budget. Both are very capable trucks and both can be built for a number of different purposes, using a large proportion of standard parts.

Steve's and my cars are opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of the vehicles that you could race - lots of choice and lots of room for original thinking and inginuity.

I suggest that if you haven't that you get down to an AWDC, British Cross Country Championship event or a Hillrally and chat to some of the competitors.

Cheers

H

[Young bobtail Rhys]

The tomcat has a landrover chassis as a base, and the wildcat has a tubular spaceframe chassis specifically build as a race machine and is also lighter.

HTH

[TOR4x4]

The tomcat has a landrover chassis as a base, and the wildcat has a tubular spaceframe chassis specifically build as a race machine and is also lighter.

HTH

I don't think the wildcat is lighter, but i may be wrong.

[gav-]

it light issue depends on who you talk to, tomcat say the rr chassis is lighter, others say the wildcat. The wildcat was designed for strength- comp safari-ing. it may be better designed and could well be heavier. I am yet to see any real evidence of the weight of each chassis. Personnally I prefer the wildcat, but i also want an independant.

[westcoastlandy]

hey, sorry not been able to get to a computer.

thanks for your views,

interesting about the weight.

cheers

cam

[FridgeFreezer]

It's very hard to beat a big box chassis with lengths of tube, the box is thinwall but its size & shape make it very rigid, to reproduce it you end up using more tube for bracing etc. and you'd have to try very hard to actually save weight unless you start using more sp£cialist flavours of tube.

But, if you're building something like the Wildcat, there are a lot of other issues around that mean it makes sense to build the whole thing out of tube.

[Astro_Al]

You're absolutely right John - the moments of area are much better for your average box chassis section than some tube, as is the in plane stiffness. However, tube chassis vehicles get (lots of) their stiffness from the overall tube geometry, rather than relying on it coming from any single member individually, so its not quite a fair comparison.

Al.

[Steve Hiatt]

With a box chassis it's alot easier to plate and strengthen the critical stress areas, steering box mount, axle locators etc. These were issue areas on the early Wildcats, as I remember.

I think Tomcats are more attractive than they were, now that you can buy a 10 year old Disco for next to nothing. Previously costs usually dictated they were based on 20 year old Rangies and most left alot to be desired, IMHO.

For the cost of a new Wildcat you could buy a new Defender and modify it and, again IMHO, have a better vehicle and still have change for a 3 year old Rangey/another new Defender.