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Solid axles and high ground clearance for the win!
While solid front and rear axles are uncommon today (Jeep Wrangler is one exception), many early automobiles used the simple set up. In this video, a vintage 1916 Ford Model T shows off its capabilities on an RTI (ramp travel index) ramp.
An RTI ramp is used to measure axle articulation for off-road vehicles. In other words, a vehicle with good articulation has a better chance of keeping all four wheels planted as it traverses rough terrain. When the Model T first hit the scene, most U.S. roads were nothing more than old cattle and wagon trails. Ford designed the Model T for these rough conditions, addressing them with features like the car’s vanadium- and heat-treated steel frame and front axle.
Both axles are suspended by a transversely mounted semi-elliptical spring. With its suspension design and 30-inch diameter artillery wheels, the Model T has 10 inches of ground clearance needed to tackle the crude roads of its day.
In the video, the 1916 Ford Model T places one front tire on a 20-degree RTI ramp. Thanks to its solid axles, generous ground clearance, and 100-inch wheelbase, the Model T scores an RTI value of 1,040. Scores above 1,000 are ideal for off-road vehicles.
Check out this video below to see a vintage Ford Model T flex its muscles on an RTI ramp.
