A drive assembly for a high ground clearance vehicle

A high ground clearance drive assembly includes a drop box (26) and an articulation drop box (28). The drop box (26) is fixed to the vehicle frame (14) and the articulation drop box (28) pivots relative thereto as a suspension system (12) is exercised. The articulation drop box (28) is pivotable about a pivot pin (30) which extends through both the articulation drop box (28) and the drop box (26) to provide an axial preload therebetween. A first chain (46) interconnects an input sprocket (40) on the input shaft (32) and an intermediate sprocket (42) assembly. A second chain (47) interconnects a second intermediate sprocket (60) and the output sprocket (61) to drive an output shaft connected thereto. A hollow shaft (44) supports the first and, second intermediate sprockets (58,60) about the pivot pin (30) such that rotation of the articulation drop box (28) relative the drop box (26) is accommodated without additional complex structure.