In Iceland, the leviathan you see in the picture above is called a "jeep." Here in the U.S., it would be called a massively tricked out F-350 Super Duty, or probably just "monster truck." The 6,000 members of Iceland's 4x4 club use them to explore the barely reachable sections of the island nation, trusting 4-foot-high studded tires and a bevy of custom modifications to get them back to civilization.
The problem is that Icelanders are having their own currency issues, with a free-fall even worse than the dollar's being just the start. When gas is almost $8 per gallon, that puts a fill-up somewhere around the $500 mark. And that puts a hurting on everything -- especially when you have to spend even more money getting your truck hauled out of the ice it just fell through. Not that any of this really stops them, because, well, there isn't much else to do in Iceland. So follow the link and check out the trucks in the slideshow. It's big-wheel badness.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael @ May 4th 2008 4:35PM
"Not that any of this really stops them, because, well, there isn't much else to do in Iceland."
So true. I'd love to go back to Iceland sometime. Icelandic is an awesome language, too. Já!
Andrew @ May 4th 2008 7:01PM
So not true! Iceland has some of the hottest clubs! And how about those hot springs? Wonderful to swim and relax in!
HotRodzNKustoms @ May 4th 2008 4:46PM
Icelandic trucks are so awesome. I love how they put maximum tire on these trucks with minimum lift and a whole lot of fender trimming
Paul P. @ May 4th 2008 5:04PM
The thing that amazes me most, is those vehicles are street legal in iceland, even with the massive studded tires.
Slav @ May 4th 2008 5:09PM
filling up my Opel Astra costs me more than one-fifth of the 500$ mentioned here. Since my car is six times smaller than a F-350 the five hundred bucks isn't shocking.
CarbonBlack @ May 4th 2008 5:51PM
Those are some amazing vehicles!
Most of the lifted trucks in america never leave the road. They never haul trailers, never carry wood (as the wood would hurt the bedliner).
They just want them to look tough, these guys actually use the trucks properly.
Paul P. @ May 4th 2008 7:36PM
Just because you don't see them go off-road doesn't mean they don't. My old blazer was clean as a whistle during the week when i used it to get around, but full of sand and mud on the weekends when i took it down to the Pine Barrons. I met plenty of people who were the same way.
CarbonBlack @ May 5th 2008 1:22PM
Good point, I don't know if the trucks are off roaded.
I guess my comment was mainly based on the people I know.
It would be fun to know how much off road time the average truck gets
Quattrofan @ May 4th 2008 6:18PM
Or you can just stay in/or hit the closest hot springs with some 6ft tall Icelandic blondies.
Dad @ May 4th 2008 6:47PM
"When gas is almost $8 per gallon,"
This is helpful to hear, because the press in the USA makes it sound like only the USA is having trouble with gas prices, sub prime, slowdown of the economy. The truth is (and this article points this out) that these problems are worldwide.
Andrew @ May 4th 2008 7:06PM
Not really. Iceland and the US have been hurt bad, but the rest of us are not that affected.
Iceland is hurting because they are doing *too* well. Their currency got hurt because of their overheated economy and heavy borrowing. Globally a few banks lost some money and that's about it. The Euro increased in value, the dollar keeps falling.
Personally I'm only noticing because shopping in the US and UK is cheaper for me now.
Keith Griffin @ May 4th 2008 6:57PM
Iceland's a beautiful country with plenty to do, including the aforementioned Icelandic beauties, a nightlife that just won't quit, culture, Icelandic beauties, good schools, and a network of public pools designed to be enjoyed when it's freezing out. You can even rent a Speedo if need be. Don't ask.
Mr. Oak @ May 5th 2008 10:35AM
90% of the US economic wounds are self inflicted. Fiddling with the sub-prime rate to appease Wall St. greed has its drawbacks. The govt. needs to step back and let the inevitable blood-bath happen. Funny though, we always seem to find money to aid the wealthy, and allow the poor and middle-class to suffer.
Dad @ May 4th 2008 7:42PM
Au Contraire, the sub prime debacle has hurt the banks in Germany. And fuel prices are up all over the world, not just in the USA (contrary to what are folks in the press would have use believe.)
Iceland is hurting because they are doing too well. That is a wild view, to be doing badly because one is doing well. Sounds a wee bit like double speak.
My point is that the entire world is hurting, not just the USA. Fuel prices, food prices are a problem in the entire world. And the sub prime debacle is not just in the USA.
bob cobb @ May 4th 2008 7:33PM
There is plenty to do in iceland, including this :)
http://uploader.ws/upload/200805/icelandgirlanitafinal.jpg
Azrael4h @ May 4th 2008 8:14PM
Suddenly I want to go to Iceland. And I couldn't care less about the trucks.
Will @ May 4th 2008 9:26PM
funny, me too
Cole Mitguard @ May 4th 2008 9:47PM
That truck... is bad ass... I don't want to hear any of the talk about fuel this, and global warming that... you cant deny that is awesome, and although I would not own one myself, I would love to drive one some time, perhaps over a 2 week wilderness course ;-)
Paul @ May 4th 2008 9:58PM
Wicked Trucks for sure. Driving on sand can be a challenge but Snow covered lakes ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Truly taking trucks where they are suppose to be (in the wild)
www.modifiedcarforums.com
Ohso Clutch @ May 4th 2008 10:31PM
Aside from the desert....Where could you take a truck like that in America without someone crying foul over it's carbon footprint?