The Vehicles

ALE operates a fleet of vehicles including the 2 6x6 vans in the image above. These are as follows;


2 x Ice Challenger 6x6
1 x Ford Econoline 4x4 on wheels
1 x Ford Econoline 4x4 on Matracs
1 x Ford Truck with RPMTech Snowblower
2 x Prinoth BR350 Snow tractors
1 x Snowcat Tucker-Terra
1 x Trackless MT
1 x Iseki Tractor
1 x Cat 950H loader with Wausau Snowblower (NEW this season)
1 x Pisten Bulley Polar spec snow tractor (NEW this season - serious load hauling power)
20+ Skidoos, ranging from 300cc 2 stroke to 800cc 4 Stroke
1 x Bombardier Commander buggy (New this season)


I won't list all the various specs of each vehicle unless requested but there are a range of pictures below to give you an idea of the sorts of things we operate.

Tucker and Ford Snowblower

Skidoos with BAS Twin Otter on approach

6 Wheels - better than 4

Matrac Van gets a check over (this is very capable in soft snow but fuel economy is poor)

Prinoth with empty fuel drums and Chilean Science modules






I will give a bit more detail on the Blue van's since they will be my main focus over the next 4 months,


formerly Ford E350 vans, modified by Icecool.is of Iceland. The first of the 2 was built in 2005 and was based upon a previous vehicle modified by the same company. This was then used on a record breaking drive to the South Pole in the same year. For more info search 'Ice challenger 6x6'


Not quite sure when the second was built but they both came down to the Antarctic with ALE last season as part of  the Moon Regan Transantarctic expedition - see Moon Regan Expedition


Subsequently they were purchase by ALE and following on from a hard journey last year they now need some serious TLC before heading out to the pole again later on this season. That is where I come in...


so, some specs


Ford E350 '96
7.3l V8 Turbo Diesel Powerstroke engine (low emission)
215hp  (a bit feeble?)
550ftlb (that makes up for it!)


Automatic Transmission, selectable High/Low ratio. Aux. Transfer box gives extra low 'crawler gear'
(Can't remember transmission make/type but will add this when I can get back underneath them)


6 x 44" tyres (21" wide)
3 x Dana 60" Axles
4.88:1 Air locking Diffs
Air suspension at all 4 corners, individual operation, 40cm range


6.5 metres long
2.54 metres wide
2.52 metres tall
4.7 tonnes (fully laden)
420l fuel capacity
Full GPS system
5t Hydraulic Winch
Snow melting tank to provide constant source of hot drinking water
Impressive stereo
lots of other toys and gadgets that I will remember in due course