Ladder frames are special vehicle frames used in automotive engineering. They accommodate the axles, engine, transmission and body of the vehicle and thus represent an alternative to the self-supporting body that is generally used for conventional passenger cars. For several decades now, ladder frames have been dispensed with in conventional passenger cars or their use has been reduced in the interests of more efficient solutions. Instead, ladder frames are used for trucks, buses and trailers. Ladder frames are also used in the construction of off-road vehicles. Among the well-known brands that continue to use ladder frames are Jeep, Land Rover, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen, although generally only a few models or series are equipped with them.
As the ladder frames are mostly used for trucks and large transport vehicles, it is obvious that the ladder frame was also used in special vehicle construction for the military. The G-Class from Mercedes Benz in particular, with models such as the Wolf, the Serval or the ACS LAPV Enok - which complies with the NATO standardization convention STANAG 4569 - is repeatedly used in the German Armed Forces and beyond. Thanks to the ballistic protection, the off-road vehicles on ladder frames offer good off-road capability with a high level of safety for occupants and transported goods. The vehicles also offer sufficient space for various vehicle technology and equipment sets. Thus, despite a supposed decline, ladder frames remain important for various industries and the military in particular.
