New Zealand's Army buys Pinzgauer

[Sea Toby]

Thanks for the information, I didn't know the range was so short with a C-130 carrying a LAV III. Yes, New Zealand would do well if it acquired one or two C-17s, but I'm not holding my breathe. And I agree, the best option to transport LAV IIIs and NH-90s is via the MPV or chartered merchant vessel.

From what Marines have informed me, it doesn't take that long to load an amphibious ship, an hour or so. No more than loading a ferry. Therefore, as long as the MPV is within a day or two of a New Zealand port, it will be able to move the company. Now, if its in the Ross Sea, it may take a week or more for the MPV to return. Even so, more than likely sailing to New Zealand from the south would be on its way northward.

 

[Super Nimrod]

Could the alleged drivetrain issues relate tothe new engine ? Diesel engines have come a long way in the last 20 years and the latest ones produce far more torque than the earlier ones often by as much as 1/3 more for an equivalent engine. Its high torque in low gears that does gearboxes no good. Many vehicle manufacturers are electronicaly reducing the torque in low gears in modern turbo diesels so as not to have these kind of problems and one would expect that Pinz would have done the same ?

 

[profpinz]

latest ones produce far more torque than the earlier ones often by as much as 1/3 more for an equivalent engine

The motor in the NZ Pinzgauers is a VW 2.5 litre 5 cylinder motor which has an output of 280Nm@1400-2800rpm whereas the previous version (found in many of the UK Military vehicles) was a 2.4 litre 6 cylinder unit producing around 222Nm@2800rpm.
The auto gearbox in the Pinzgauer is a derivative of the ZF 4HP22...the same box used in the Range Rover so one would think it could handle the torque adequately, but only if the unit is sufficiently cooled, and I suspect/believe this is where the problem lies.

716 / 718 TD Pinzgauers have always had engine overheating problems since their inception in 1985 (the earlier air-cooled petrol motors never had such problems) and the radiators have grown in size progressively throughout the various versions (P80/1985+, P90/1990+, P93/1993+ etc) but cooling the transmission is another issue especially if your already having trouble dissapating heat.

I'm led to understand, that the overheating problem is not a widespread problem and is a bit of a "beat up" by the press and disgruntled competitors, but I'm sure AT are monitoring the situation closely and are working to erradicate any problem ASAP.

 

[Cadredave]

Yes we did have problems with the drive train, yes they are fixed did it affect the sodliers NO, the media beat up was just that, all out Pinz are under full warrantly so all problems are being picked up buy AT, as for the vehical itself it is proving to be an outstanding truck able to go places in the Waiouru training area that our old M113A1 couldn't get too, hence the reason we brought the Pinz to keep up with the LAV. As for the SAS they used both the Humvee & Pinz and the boys prerfer the Pinz due to its greater load carrying, ground clearance and its ability to cross terrain like the animal its named after. I've driven the LR series 109, Def 110,130, the Aussie 6x6 LR, and a few others at this stage all I can honestly say is give me the keys to my Pinz.

 

[mattyem]

one thing I noticed was the lack of power on the 'up armored' pinnies. With all that extra weight the engine could use a few more ponies under the bonnet to better its hill climbing abilliy, though alround shes a good rugged unit