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Unimog

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Unimog 416 of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij in the Netherlands
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Unimog 416 of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij in the Netherlands

Unimog U1300L built 1987-1992 used by the Ennigerloh (Germany) Fire department [link] as a support vehicle
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Unimog U1300L built 1987-1992 used by the Ennigerloh (Germany) Fire department [link] as a support vehicle

The Unimog (from the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", meaning "universal motor machine/equipment") is a range of trucks produced to this day by Mercedes-Benz (now a division of DaimlerChrysler AG). It was designed shortly after WWII, originally to be used as slow-moving tractors for Germany's turnip harvest.

They feature very high ground clearance — greater than the Humvee — made possible by portal gears that allow the axles and transmission to be higher than the tires' centers. Unimogs also feature a flexible frame that allows the tires a wide range of vertical movement to allow the truck to comfortably drive over extremely uneven terrain, even meter-high boulders.

Unimogs can be equipped with front and rear tool mounting brackets and hydraulic connections to allow bucket loaders and hydraulic arms to be used. They have a power takeoff (PTO) connection to operate rotary equipment such as snow brooms, snow blowers, brush mowers, or stationary conveyor belts.

The Unimog model with the largest single design production run is the Unimog 404. The most common versions of this model was produced in troop carrier and radio box/signal truck variants for the German Army and other Western European armies. It was powered by a 2.2 liter waterproofed Mercedes-Benz petrol engine that produced as much as 80 horsepower (60 kW).

All other Unimog models have a diesel powerplant varying from 25 horsepower (19kW) to upwards of 280 horsepower (205 kW). New Unimogs can be purchased on all major continents. They are quite common in Western Europe.

Unimogs are uncommon in the US because of differing vehicle regulations and requirements from those in Germany. North American models are officially limited to the UGN series sold through Freightliner dealerships. Freightliner is a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary. The UGN series is specifically manufactured for the North American market and is significantly different mechanically from its European counterpart. The UGN faces stiff competition in North America by manufacturers whose truck or equipment lines perform the same duties as the Unimog. Some of them are Caterpillar, John Deere, AM General, Sterling Trucks (also a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary), and General Motors.

Contents

Unimog users

Unimogs have been used by many different militaries, including the German and Swiss armies. They are also used extensively by the South African National Defence Force and theNew Zealand Army, The Australian Army is also a wide user of the UNIMOG. The Unimogs are used as troop carriers, ambulances, and mobile command centers equipped with radios (radio boxes). The Mamba APC is an Armoured Personnel Carrier manufactured by BAE Systems in South Africa that is based upon the Unimog driveline.

Unimogs are used by Fire Departments and municipalities as utility vehicles. They can be used as material handlers, auxiliary power providers (generators), and equipment carriers. Their ability to operate off-road makes it easier to access remote areas in emergency situations. They are commonly used in snow removal where other vehicles might not be able to operate. Most European Alpine towns and districts are equipped with one or more Unimog snow blowers to clear narrow mountain roads that have drifted closed.

In construction, Unimogs are used as equipment carriers and material handlers. They can be equipped with a backhoe, front loader, or other contracting equipment.

On railroads, Unimogs are used as Rail car movers and Road-rail vehicles.

In agriculture, Unimogs are used to operate farm equipment. While most farm field implement operations are now performed by a tractor, unimogs are used to haul produce, machinery and animals. They are also used around the farmyard to run Chippers, grain augers, and conveyors.

History

This section contains information translated from the [German language Wikpedia page for Unimog].
1971 model Unimog 406, as an Eisenbahn Zweiwegefahrzeug (railroad two-way vehicle used for rail car shunting Rail car mover)
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1971 model Unimog 406, as an Eisenbahn Zweiwegefahrzeug (railroad two-way vehicle used for rail car shunting Rail car mover)
1940s

Unimogs were developed in post-war Germany to be used as agricultural equipment. Albert Friedrich designed the first model and entered a production agreement with Erhard and Soehne in Swabian Gmuend (Schwäbisch Gmünd). It was designed with a mounting bracket in front and a hitch in the rear, with loading space in the center. Development began on January 1st, 1946, the first prototype was ready in the end of 1946. the Prototype was equipped with a gasoline engine, because the development of the OM636 diesel engine had not been finished at this time. The Prototype looked almost like the Unimogs that were built later. The original track width of 1,270 millimeters was equivalent to two potato rows.


The 25 hp (19 kW) OM606 Daimler Benz diesel engine became standard equipment in the first regular built Unimogs in the end of 1947. The original symbol for the Unimog was a pair of ox's horns in the shape of a letter U. The first 600 Unimogs (typed '70200') were built by Boehringer. That was mainly for two reasons: Erhard und Soehne did not have the capacity to build the Unimogs, and Mercedes Benz was not allowed to build all wheel driven vehicles at that time.



1950s

After Daimler Benz took over manufacture of the Unimog in 1951 (now typed '401', the three pointed Mercedes star began to appear on the vehicle. Closed drivers cab and long wheel base chassis (2120mm instead of 1720mm, typed '402') were available as option from 1953 on.





1960s


Between the original Unimog and the middle series, Daimler Benz develops the light series 421/403, later supplemented by the 413 line. They differ by the wheel base and the engines, which on the one hand are passenger car line (421/U of 40 with 2.2 liter capacity), and on the other hand from the truck line (403/U of 54 with 3.8 liter capacity). 





1970s



The Unimog is quite successful, however marginally so as an agricultural platform. Daimler Benz produces a new vehicle in 1972, the MB-trac. The new tractor crosses the Unimog technology with all-wheel drive and a power transmission to four large equal-sized wheels with the appearance of a tractor: slim hood, behind it an angular, highly rising driver cab. In contrast to conventional tractors, the cab is situated between the axles, similar to large American four wheel drive tractors. However there is no articulation betweent the front and rear. From initial MB-trac 65 and MB-trac 70 (later 700) a broad platform develops to the heavy duty MT-trac 1800 within a few years. Nevertheless, it is not a huge success. Later Daimler Benz merges the MB-trac with the agricultural machinery activities of Deutz AG. The manufacturing of the MB-trac series ended in 1991.  



In 1974, The new U 120 of the series 425 Daimler Benz, extends the series by an additional heavy line. The new, angular cab is remarkable with a large, forward hood sloping to the nose. The hood flows down in a wide, black grille. The appearance of this driving cab remains unchanged in principle today more than one quarter century later. 


The series 425 have a 2810 millimeter wheel base and nine tons permissible total weight with 120 HP (shortly thereafter 125 HP as U 125). For the German Federal Armed Forces likewise, the manufacturing of the series 435 begins in 1975 as a successor of the Mercedes Benz Unimog S, characterized by a long wheel base of 3250, 3700 or 3850 millimeters. Later, the series 424 are produced starting from 1976.   


In the same period Daimler Benz re-orders the type designations again. The classical round form models of the Mercedes Benz Unimog are designated U 600/L, U 800/L, U 900 and U 1100/L. The new angular form models of the Unimog are U 1000, U 1300/L, U 1500 and the flagship U 1700/L with 124 KW (168 HP) engine performance. The letter L stands for a long wheel base, because most models are available in two wheel base variants. 


The Unimog with the rounded driving cab is known as the light series. The new series with angular cab divide by payload into a middle and heavy series. Some engines overlap - the Unimog nomenclature is not simple to understand. And finally still the long-proven Unimog supplements S, although with clearly decreasing number of items, invariably as single remaining "Benziner" in the lineup. With the exception of the entry-level model, all Mercedes Benz Unimog now have four wheel disc brakes - many years before this safety equipment becomes standard equipment with trucks. 





Pictures


Image:U401.jpg|Unimog 401 with closed cab, built  1953-1956
Image:Unimog mit Schneefräse um 1955.jpg|Unimog 401 with Snow blower (1955)
Image:Shunting_vehicle_01.JPG|Unimog 406, model year 1971 "Two way vehicle" railroad shunter (known in North America as a HiRail truck)
Image:Unimog_Sanitaeter.jpg|Unimog of the German Army as a military ambulance
Image:Two-way-vehicle unimog.jpg|Unimog U 400 built around 2000 as a road/rail "two-way vehicle" rail car shunter
Image:Unimog.png|Stripped down Unimog "sanding" in the Texas Hill Country
Image:Unimog u500 dakar 2006.jpg|Unimog U400L n.541 on second stage of the rally-raid Lisboa-Dakar 2006
Image:Armored-car-batey-haosef-9-1.jpg|Improvised armored car based on Unimog truck, in Batey ha-Osef museum, Tel Aviv, Israel. 2005. The car was used by arab militants.




Specifications


Unimog 404



Unimog U5000 BM436.430

(Short Wheel Base Single Cab)


See also






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