John Deere Gator

The John Deere Gator is a family of small all-terrain utility vehicles produced by the John Deere Corporation. They typically feature a box bed, similar in function to a pickup truck, and have been made in a variety of configurations, ranging from 4 to 6 wheels. [http://www.rc-trucks.org/john-deere-gator.htm Information on the John Deere Gator ] ] The Gator line of vehicles are designed to serve on farms, worksites, and ranches, rather than as a pure off-road vehicle. In 1992, the vehicle replaced the three or five wheel John Deere AMT, introduced in 1987. [http://www.iuvmag.com/articles/may07-1.htm Industrial Utility Vehicles & Mobile Equipment Online ] ]

Design

The Gator vehicles use small 4 stroke engines found in lawn mowers, or an optional diesel engine that is also found in some Deere Mowers and Utility tractors. They use a continuously variable transmission employing a belt and a conical pulley system. Thus they require no clutch or gear shifts to operate. Many third party attachments are available for the Gator, including snow plows and gun racks.

Variants

Within the Gator family of vehicles, John Deere produces several lines. They are the Traditional Series, the High Performance (HPX) Series, the Compact Series and the XUV Series. It also offers several specialty vehicles including the more off-road oriented Trail Gator, which is olive in color to better serve recreational and sporting uses. The Turf Gator is specially designed to serve golf courses. The M-Gator is a militarized variant used by the U.S. Army.

Traditional Series

The Traditional Series is the second generation of the original Gator, designed for medium duty work.

HPX Series

The High Performance or HPX Series Gators, introduced in 2004, are larger than the original Gator, and designed for heavier duty use.

Compact Series

The Compact Series Gators, also introduced in 2004, are smaller and more like a golf cart in size and operation. They are targeted at homeowners rather than commercial customers.

Gator XUV

The Gator XUV 4x4 was introduced in 2007 as a more extreme use Gator, for both commercial and recreational use.

M-Gator & R-Gator

In 1997 to 1998 the 261st Area Support Medical Battalion of the 44th Medical Brigade (ABN) brought a Gator to Bosnia for Operation SFOR2. It was a off the shelf commercial version Gator that was painted in Camoflauge and equipped with a carrying tray on its hood as well as brackets to hold rifles. Its main purpose was for casualty evacuation and could hold two litters on the rear deck. It came in handy for utility work as well and was used mostly by the medical supply section for transporting supplies and equipment.

In 1997, the U.S. Army adopted a version of the Gator known as the M-Gator. [ [http://www.businessweek.com/1997/22/b352927.htm#Related%20Items 06/02/97 JOHN DEERE'S GATOR: OFF-ROAD, ON-TARGET ] ] [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m-gator.htm M-Gator ] ] The M-Gator is now also in use with the U.S. Marine Corps. Following the upgrades of the original Gator, it is known in its current version as the M-Gator A1, and features upgrades such as rollover protection. [http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m-gator.php M-GATOR 6X4 UTILITY VEHICLE ] ] It is the 6x4 variant, and utilizes the three cylinder Yanmar diesel engine found in other Gator vehicles, and is also capable of using JP-8 fuel.http://www.deere.com/en_US/contractsales/fedmilitarysales/media/pdf/MGator_SAR_SpecSheet.pdf] The vehicle is capable of being air-dropped. The Gator has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan for supply deliveries and casualty evacuation, as it is more nimble off-road than an HMMWV.

The M-Gator has also been developed into an Unmanned Ground Vehicle, known as the R-Gator.http://www.deere.com/en_US/contractsales/fedmilitarysales/media/pdf/R-Gator_Brochure.pdf] It was developed by John Deere and iRobot. It is capable of autonomous operations such as waypoint following with obstacle avoidance, and following dismounted infantry soldiers, as well as other vehicles. Vehicles are currently in production. [ [http://www.gizmag.com/go/3382/ R-Gator unmanned military ground vehicle unveiled ] ]

ee also

*John Deere
*Deere & Company
*John Deere Buck

External links

* [http://www.mammothskins.com Mammoth Designs Custom John Deere Gator Cab Enclosures & Accessories]

References