Off road vehicle

Abstract

An off-road vehicle includes a frame, a front suspension, and a rear suspension. In some examples of the off-road vehicle, the rear suspension includes trailing arms with are pivotally attached to the frame rearward of an operator area. Further, the frame can include a front subframe assembly and a rear subframe assembly which are easily removable from the main frame of the vehicle to permit access to various components of the off-road vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a front subframe and a rear subframe, wherein the rear subframe is removable from the vehicle frame;   a rear bulkhead, the rear bulkhead forwardly of a rear of the rear subframe, wherein the rear bulkhead is connected to the vehicle frame and wherein removal of the rear subframe allows access to the rear bulkhead; and   an engine, the engine being transverse to a longitude of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a front differential. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , further comprising a rear differential. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear cradle, the rear cradle suspending the engine above lower frame members. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the rear cradle suspends the engine above a portion of the rear subframe. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a transmission. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the rear bulkhead is coupled to a rear of the transmission. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the engine, transmission, bulkhead are removable from the vehicle as a first assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising an oil tank that is remote from the engine. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the oil tank is removable as part of the first assembly without disconnecting oil lines. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , further comprising a radiator, wherein the radiator is removable as part of the first assembly without disconnecting coolant lines. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a wishbone trailing arm suspension attached to the frame at two locations. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the wishbone trailing arm suspension is coupled to the frame via an adjuster, the adjuster configured to dynamically adjust camber angle during operation of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the adjuster comprises an actuator. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a front subframe and a rear subframe;   a rear bulkhead, the rear bulkhead forwardly of a rear of the rear subframe;   a rear engine cradle connected to the vehicle frame and the rear subframe; and   an engine, the engine being transverse to a longitude of the vehicle and coupled to the rear engine cradle, wherein the rear engine cradle suspends the engine above a portion of the rear subframe.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the front subframe and the rear subframe are removable from the vehicle frame 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the rear cradle is U-shaped and attaches to both a front and rear of the engine. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , further including a transmission, wherein the rear cradle is further attached to a front of the transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the rear bulkhead is attached to a rear of the transmission. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the engine is attached to the rear cradle with vibration isolating mounts.