4 vehicles custom built for Antarctica

So I was hired as a large vehicle operator at McMurdo Station, and due to the extreme conditions of the Antarctica. Their are very specific vehicles, machines, custom built, and strange. Built for polar and remote regions.
Thumbnail Photo By: / cullen_welch
‪@aidanalfonso‬

[@Rosy_87]

Sounds like you guys could use a mechanic. Lol. That override switch can be easily re-wired, so you don't have to rely on duct tape. In my opinion the older equipment is far superior to modern equipment anyways. Better built, more mechanical control and less electronics which is probably better for your climate anyways. Budget aside there's probably a good reason most of the equipment is older. Keep on top of the maintenance and those vehicles will last a long time. Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

[@aidanalfonso]

Yeah, I think fixing ivan is on the list of things to do. I think the mechanics are just overloaded. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@nullc0ntext]

You had me at Ivan the Terribus man, bravo.

[@brianb-p6586]

But it's *Ivan the TerraBus* It's a pun on _Ivan the Terrible_ of course, but the name is really TerraBus. Those are Terra tires on it.

[@_autoverse]

Thanks for providing this insight, it’s neat to see these specialised vehicles.

[@thesybarite1]

Don't pay attention tion to all the stalking keyboard critics. You did a fine job and 99% of us enjoyed it. Those cretins just like to stroke their own egos because they know they are incapable of producing anything at all. Thanks for sharing your experiences and giving us a glimpse of life at MacMurdo.

[@aidanalfonso]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video 🙏

[@arapahoetactical7749]

I worked for the USAP from 98 through 2012. Good to see the Delta and Ivan still on the iceroads. The Nodwell was another fun one we used often for Snow School. The Crest must have come along after I left the program and I have to say, it's pretty cool. Thanks for posting.

[@aidanalfonso]

Ahhhh nice! Yeah, they are still holding on. New vehicles is definitely a rarity down in McMurdo.

[@ceedaddy]

Great Video...!!! Seems like you've got the coolest job in the World. Would love to drive those unique vehicles !!!

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

I've been obsessed with vehicles my whole life, but have never heard of Kress until just yesterday (coal haulers), and now I'm hearing the name again. Weird.

[@BillyBigRiggah]

Really cool machinery and equipment!

[@brettensmith7305]

Those are some badass vehicles

[@bellofbelmont]

Thanks for taking the time to share with us. Jim Bell (Australia)

[@aidanalfonso]

For sure, glad you enjoyed it.

[@FerreneMachine]

Sweet video dude! Good to see you're getting after it!!

[@aidanalfonso]

Thank you!!

[@Chris_at_Home]

Many of these vehicles have been used in the Alaska oil field for over 45 years. I drove Delta 2s &3s back in 1980.

[@aidanalfonso]

Makes sense, seems like it could be good use for all sorts of industrial fields.

[@a-fl-man640]

sounds like a unique work environment. well, as long as "the thing" doesn't get you.

[@aidanalfonso]

I swear everyone watches that once down here haha

[@zyeborm]

I appreciate that you have the subtitles done properly not just automatic, but having them baked into the video is a negative for me. Put them in as captions for youtube then I can turn them on and off as needed. It'll also translate for people in other languages better too. Either way thanks for the video, some cool vehicles there.

[@mfrsr]

yep, me too. even by the end of the vid I couldn't help but get irked by the mistakes in them. you don't realise how much you appreciate the default till you don't have the option to turn them off 👍 neat video otherwise, Its rare to see anything indepth on the these vehicles.

[@aidanalfonso]

Definitely get it.

[@brianb-p6586]

But they're not done properly. They're full of errors, and presumably auto-generated.

[@maxygloob]

This is soo cool! thanks for making this

[@aidanalfonso]

For sure, glad you like it!

[@UASteamFitter]

Very informative and interesting video!

[@aidanalfonso]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@orest395]

The delta truck looks like one of those land trains

[@ErukanuSenpai]

Excellent Video Quality ! You deserve more subs :D

[@aidanalfonso]

Much appreciated! I'm slowly making my way haha

[@freqonnaleash5288]

Was down there with the Navy in the 90s, got qualified on the Deltas and several loaders. My favorite was the Delta-3 named Flipper that used to be a fire rig (might be the box now?). It had a double cab that could seat 7 if you were friendly, and a *much* beefier drive train. I took an aircrew out to a lane that had to divert to Pegasus from Willy after a 3 day Herbie dumped about 2 feet of loose snow on the road. It was tearing along at top speed like it was nothing with snow flying around us making our own blizzard. Those Econoliner PAX vans were old when I was there, the Deltas were older, I think Ivan was on it's 3rd season and the DV8 (Deviate) Cat was the newest rig there my last trip down. Want to go back as a Heavy Op, even a shuttle driver would be nice. I miss it, along with the stopovers in Christchurch, still get restless in October like I should by flying South for the winter.

[@aidanalfonso]

I never drove flipper. But if its a fuel delta, I would never have drove it. Could still be here. Pegasus is no longer used. Still have Willy and now we have phoenix. I'm sure you could get in if you wanted to. Most of the hiring is done for this year, but probably could next year!

[@nicknellany2336]

With all your equipment, yet you have no Unimogs !??? Unstoppable, go anywhere!

[@aidanalfonso]

Haha not that I have seen.

[@Junkboy888]

Kool video. I got to ride on that Van and take a tour around while on a supply run to McMurdo Station. Hard to believe C-5 air craft can land out on the ice.

[@aidanalfonso]

I heard that C5's sometimes landed there, but never got to see it. Crazy cool.

[@biffteutsch3402]

Great Info👍😎

[@ml9867]

I just discovered your channel. Can you do an entire video about the Antarctic Fire Department? Id love you to interview them and show their station & vehicles. Thanks

[@aidanalfonso]

Thanks for watching!Definitely an interesting idea, I will look into the idea.

[@CheetoCannon]

That was cool. Thank you.

[@aidanalfonso]

Glad you liked it!

[@othoapproto9603]

I saw "Machines of McMurdo" back in 1971 at Madison Square Gardens. I think "Witches Tit" Opened. it was a great show, I did molly?

[@aidanalfonso]

Had no idea it was a band hahaha

[@Matt-re3or]

Ok, I NEED a set of Delta tires for my square body. Those gotta be cheaper than the 44" swampers

[@aidanalfonso]

Possibly haha

[@stevemaher7863]

Turn off the subtitles!

[@glencsiro]

I’ve been in the delta with one of the worse hangovers of my life when we were evacuated from Davis in 2016.

[@aidanalfonso]

Deltas only make hangovers worse hahahah

[@glencsiro]

@@aidanalfonsois the signed Aussie flag still in the darts area in one of the bars there?

[@brianb-p6586]

Thanks... but the auto-generated captions are so bad (with at least dozens of errors) that they're useless; it would be better to leave them out, and let people turn on KZbin's auto-generated captions if they want them.

[@dfgndfghdfghdfgh]

Hugely interesting video, must be pricey getting such big vehicles all the way down there

[@aidanalfonso]

Absolutely. Their are not a lot of new vehicles there haha

[@janshaw2132]

Great vid, great quality. I think you should have at least mentioned those two generators that provide heat and electricity. My father in law flew there many times. Several stories with supply runs and plane recovery misions. 👍👍

[@aidanalfonso]

For sure. Yeah, flying down here just seems to be hazardous no matter what 😆

[@s.porter8646]

Awesome vid

[@aidanalfonso]

Thank you 🙏

[@s.porter8646]

@@aidanalfonso I was deployed down there, great tour

[@zapfanzapfan]

Fun to see Hägglunds down there.

[@spencerjhog4429]

Outstanding presentation, technically pretty solid (but then you drive them), specs and performance are most interesting. I'm surprised the Kress is overloaded. Those folks now how to build REALLY big rigs. A Cat articulated dump with a trailer and those get converted to scrapers quite often. Really enjoy the weird ad unusual hardware. Just for grins and giggles take photos of every vehicle and have folks "guess" what it started life as. Is the Ford bus a gasser or a diesel? Nerdy car nuts love those sort of details. A bet Heavy "D" would do a frame up rebuild of Ivan for free. New engine, new trans, big turbo and it would be a riot> I spent 30 plus year in Minnesota so block heaters, radiator blankets etc are no surprise but you could several episodes on the trials and tribulations of operating vehicles in an extreme environment. BTW: You cover airfare and I'll wrench on ANYTHING for a hot meal and place to lay my head.

[@aidanalfonso]

www.amentumcareers.com/jobs/search?page=1&country_codes%5B%5D=AQ&query=Antarctica

[@aidanalfonso]

That is the link to Antarctica jobs with the company amentum, which is who I work for. I'm not sure if their are mechanic positions available currently, but that is where it would be. The Ford van is gas, but everything else is diesel. And yeah, it's definitely strange that it is overloaded, but I assume that it wasn't originally built for the large passenger cabin 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@aidanalfonso]

I think know much more than I haha

[@ryansheppard21]

Why the subtitles?? Knock it off please.

[@BigDipper79]

You can’t have air brakes there because moisture will build up and then it will freeze. Just fyi

[@Ulfhednar-o9t]

Is there moisture? I would argue everything water in the enviroment would freeze

[@jesseayers7933]

those big tire on the delta will float . 1977 crash crew leader in crash truck coming back from runway duty we busted through the ice just before land ramp . front bumper was what kept us from busting all of the way through the ice .

[@aidanalfonso]

That would have a crazy experience. Instills more trust in Deltas haha

[@OLH3rd]

Thanks for sharing!! Is there a website that showcases what you all do down-under-down-under?

[@aidanalfonso]

For sure! The only site that may tell a bit of info about the research is this. www.usap.gov/

[@orest395]

Also I didn’t think cat would color their vehicles in anything but yellow

[@aidanalfonso]

Yeah, maybe just different time periods.

[@teamidris]

“The Boss” is reasonably common by comparison, they move oil rigs. Basically they move the last bits when the site is four foot deep in mud. Further north are the rollagons ( I think I have that right) They are a different breed altogether :D

[@aidanalfonso]

Very cool. Yeah, I know very little about "the boss" but I believe you 😆 rollagons look pretty sweet 👌

[@teamidris]

@@aidanalfonso Marcep Intruder :) Marcep being the special vehicles manufacturer. They have a big winch to load and offload. Short distances the half-load empty sludge tanks li’e a tipper with it’s bed up :D

[@Ltblitzful]

worth pointing out that for those 4x4 vans the 4x4 is something that was added because you can only get those in 2wd

[@Jodah175]

older E-series Ford Vans could be ordered as 4x4.

[@bdhaliwal24]

Do you keep the engines of the vehicles on engine block holders all the time or just warm them up ahead of time when needed? Just wondering how you keep the machinery from completely seizing up and getting damaged.

[@aidanalfonso]

Yeah, all of the vehicles are pretty consistently plugged in between running times.

[@gnd4767]

Great video, but i think it can be longer...... I think?

[@aidanalfonso]

I'm sure it could be way longer haha but this is what I got for now.

[@billyhighfill]

Cool video. Thanks for sharing!! Also. Jesus loves you 💪💪

[@devinholland2189]

Could you do a video on the weird cat tractor TT195 with the giant cab. You show it at 7:25 pulling some sort of sled.

[@aidanalfonso]

We will see what I can do, but here is what I know. It is used as the "fire truck" on the airfields by the fire fighters. I think the sled is to smooth out its tracks on the runway, so it doesn't disrupt the air strip.

[@lifeinthefishbowl]

When you started Ivan at 4:56 it had 300psi of oil pressure 😮 Might be something going on there as to why the override button needs to be held down.

[@aidanalfonso]

Their 100% has to be something wrong haha

[@Shcaso]

did you see the photo of one of the kress tires sunk into a hole in the transition from a couple years ago?

[@aidanalfonso]

I did 😆 crazy that thing can get stuck

[@joshandicoechea6770]

Love the video but why the big 60 person the last one you showed does not have air brakes is because air brakes freeze and you would have no air brakes unless you put alcohol and sometimes that’s not even enough so that’s why they have no air brakes

[@leejohnson6173]

No it's because it's a cat machine and has wet brakes just like rock trucks and loaders and everything else..they don't have overheating issues and last way longer that's why they are used on heavy equipment.

[@kamel6915]

Do you have bikes or trikes, quads HPVs too? Do you want any. I've once seen a trike a cyclist used to ride to the south pole. I think I would have fun designing that stuff. For now I make suspension forks for normal and some very special bikes.

[@aidanalfonso]

I'm probably not the one who has any control on new machines coming in. But I haven't seen much of that sort. Mostly a lot of snow mobiles.

[@jeffmech600]

All those science people and engineers and no one can jump out the override switch or put a toggle? Duct tape? Huh

[@aidanalfonso]

Your not wrong.

[@brianpayne8721]

Sick!

[@aidanalfonso]

Thanks dude!

[@Cancun771]

There should be something like a Sand Crawler. You know? With living quarters and a galley.

[@aidanalfonso]

They do have all these little container buildings with a kitchen, sleeping quarters, and bathroom on the SPOT Traverse. Which is a heavy equipment traverse from McMurdo Station to the South Pole to bring necessary supplies. But that is the closest thing hahaha

[@Cancun771]

@@aidanalfonso The Russians used to have a tracked thing called "Kharkovchanka", basically on a tank chassis. Although it turned out not overly practical, apparently.

[@adamfrbs9259]

I have a picture of me standing next to a working Rolligon.........in Alaska though.

[@aidanalfonso]

Very nice 👌

[@DIGGER19860]

What kinda balloonsyou talking about? sateloons???

[@aidanalfonso]

The NASA facility down here launches these huge Long Duration Air Balloons that carry a telescope that looks into space. It can sometimes be in the air for 2 months straight, circling around Antarctica.

[@danielson101]

only 2 wires going to button just join wires?

[@aidanalfonso]

You could be right, I just think making the fix is low priority.

[@Visionery1]

6:59, those tyres are pretty close together, how do they deal with mud build-up?

[@aidanalfonso]

So crazy enough, we never have had an issue while I was there. But I think it helps that we mostly are just driving across the sea ice. The only other surface we drove on, was volcanic rock.

[@angieandretti]

So what do I need to do to get a job down there? 🙂

[@aidanalfonso]

This is the site with the companies that hire down there :) www.usap.gov/jobsandopportunities/?m=1 I also put a video together on the general steps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqbUk42oaax1obs

[@COMANCHE3]

Air brakes will freeze

[@aidanalfonso]

Good to know 👌

[@carlthor91]

Hmmm then I shouldn't be able to move.🤦‍♂ Ever heard of an air dryer, Bendix or the much more expensive WABCO, in the old days we used alcohol sniffers on the air compressor intakes. Best wishes from 55.75° North.

[@BrokeWrench]

They can freeze, but if you keep them dry they dont

[@ppswond7839]

How do you get a job like this?

[@aidanalfonso]

www.usap.gov/jobsandopportunities/?m=1 That's the site with the contractors that hire down there. Most of the hiring for the upcoming season might be done, but you can always check!

[@Will-lo8fu]

is the van a 7.3L?

[@aidanalfonso]

I'm not sure, I will have to get back to you.

[@Will-lo8fu]

@aidanalfonso would be very interested to have you redo this video with the mechanics to chime in. Super fascinated with the performance of the vehicles in such a cold unforgiving place. Must be a mechanical nightmare!

[@BrokeWrench]

He said gas so either the 5.4 V8 or possibly the V10

[@62davelee]

Are they hiring?

[@aidanalfonso]

www.usap.gov/jobsandopportunities/?m=1 that link shows all the companies that operate down there. It is a bit late to apply, but you never know. Could be some random positions left to fill!

[@fredericauerbach2227]

Not your fault, but you have classic Vocal Fry- look it up if you're unfamiliar. It makes(for many) more difficult to listen to your spoken voice.

[@aidanalfonso]

I just looked this up 😆

[@jhoncho4x4]

Try again with actual specs; reuse footage, narrate, and only show footage. "Beefy tires" and "Terra Tires" are not specs and useless. Give info not easily available from a simple google search. Tire and wheel sizes? Printed on sidewalls. Axle models? If you don't know, then film them so they can be identified. Engine specs? Emissions equipment required? There is no need to stand in front of the camera and talk; NOBODY is that interesting.

[@aidanalfonso]

Thanks for watching. And I will take the critiques 👌

[@simonburnby1997]

It’s scary how little you know about machinery to be operating these machines

[@aidanalfonso]

Thanks for watching bro

[@yougear100]

Vocal Fry. Cringe.

[@secpac58chichi]

Is everyone trained on it ? LOL Get over yourself

[@dadygee]

30 year old car here in Sweden´s west coast is more would be a record i think :) cars in the northen parts (Norrland - north land.=) will go on forever.. but if you live near the coast or the south, salt will eat that car before it is 15 years. Salt salt and more salt in the air :) I think that a car from 2024 will not see 2034 before it is recycled. And dont get me started on them fancy pants teslas. Awesome vid bruh! I would really like to see this place you are working on one day. And the Hägglund´s band wagon 206 is pretty sweet.. I would like to have one of those.. And a snow trac would be pretty sweet. :)

[@aidanalfonso]

Thanks for watching! And damn. I bet Sweden has some pretty crazy vehicles up in those remote spaces. And yes Hagglund's are soooooooo sweet!

[@Captainkirk88410]

Just out of curiosity. Does the van actually reach normal operating temperature engine wise , in subarctic conditions?

[@aidanalfonso]

Everything temperature wise seemed in the normal range. It would be similar to using vehicles in northern states or Canada, really.