Unbeatable Mercedes Benz Unimog

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Mercedes Unimog is an old and extremely famous brand in the world of heavy off-road vehicles. Interestingly, it is difficult to even convey in one word the essence of this wonderful technique.

Mercedes Benz Unimog is a cross between an off-road truck and a tractor. And this is not an exaggeration. Among the automotive characteristics of the machine are speed, load capacity and comfort. And it can be attributed to tractors by a gigantic traction force, for which the machine is equipped with a number of devices. In addition, the number of devices that can be attached to the Unimog is also quite befitting of a tractor, not a truck.

It is this uniqueness that made the Mercedes Benz Unimog so popular all over the world both among extreme off-road enthusiasts and various government agencies, including the army and police.

History of the Unimog

The first Unimog was designedshortly after the end of World War II. Destroyed Germany needed a reliable and utilitarian vehicle with flexible functionality. Such was the very then still small Mercedes Benz Unimog with an engine of only 25 hp. With. and a wheelbase of 1720 mm.

The machine favorably differed from existing tractors by its excellent maneuverability, while having excellent off-road qualities. Since 1951, the car has been on the assembly line in Gaggenau. In 1953, Mercedes switched to a larger version with a base of 2120 mm. In 1956, the first military Unimogs appeared, model S404 with a powerful 82 hp engine. With. with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm and a ground clearance of 40 cm.

Development of the model

By the 1960s, the Mercedes Unimog was universally acclaimed in Europe. Machines were actively used not only in the army and agriculture, but also in urban utilities. Therefore, Mercedes began to actively develop attachments for trucks. In the U406 series, it became possible to hang equipment from all four sides of the machine. It was a relatively large car with a base of 2380 mm, which became the universal workhorse from Mercedes. These machines even got the opportunity to be used as mini-locomotives, and they drove in and out of the railway tracks themselves and on the move, without re-equipment.

In the 1970s, a tractor appeared on the Unimog platform - MB Trac and heavy models of the 425 type with a load capacity of up to 9 tons. In the 80s, new unified series were introduced - 407, medium-heavy - 427 andheavy - 437. And the 90s brought only new models as part of the old series. The Mercedes Benz Unimog lineup took on its current form at the beginning of the 2000s, when the U300, U400 and U500 medium-heavy trucks, as well as the U3000, U4000 and U5000 extra-high cross-country vehicles close to them in size, went into production.

In Russia

In Germany, you can also see light U20 models that work in urban utilities.

But this car is not delivered to Russia. In our country, there are three models U400, U4000 and U5000, which have similar overall dimensions and description.

Mercedes Benz Unimog of the three presented types differ mainly in off-road capabilities and pre-installed equipment. The "four hundredth" is primarily focused on urban utilities and is equipped with a four-circuit hydraulic system and a power take-off shaft in the base. The thousandth series is designed for super-heavy off-road. The two models are close to each other, and the U5000 is only a more passable, load-bearing and expensive version of the "four thousandth".

Use cases

The manufacturer talks about the possibility of using cars in the rescue and fire services, thanks to the excellent reliability and all-weather vehicle. Carry loads over the roughest terrain thanks to tire pressure control, high ground clearance and a progressive torsion frame. Also Mercedes Benz Unimog perfectly copes with the role of an auxiliarya vehicle for industrial needs, whether it is a quarry tanker or a mobile workshop. And the U400 comes with a huge range of utility attachments.

The Unimog is equipped with various combinations of devices such as a crane, mower, grapple, lifting platform, snow plow or excavator. And much more.

Specifications

The U400 model has a 3080mm or 3600mm chassis with a turning radius of 11.5 meters. The permissible maximum weight of the machine ranges from 11.9 to 13 tons. The car is equipped with one of two engines with a capacity of 177 or 238 horsepower.

The technical characteristics of the Mercedes Benz Unimog U400 allow it to act as a trailer tractor weighing up to 28 tons. It is optionally possible to install a dual-circuit trailer brake system.

The U4000 and U5000 models have the same wheelbase of 3250mm or 3850mm. The turning radius is 14.3 meters for the short version. The gross weight of the U4000 ranges from 7.5 to 10 tons. For the “five thousandth” this figure is higher and reaches 14.5 tons. The U4000 is capable of pulling a trailer up to 14.2 tons, and the U5000 up to 18.7 tons. Mercedes Benz Unimogs of the thousandth series are equipped with 177 hp engines. With. and 218 l. With. These two machines have a smaller variety of attachments than the U400, but are even better suited to hauling loads in tough conditions.

Mercedes Benz Unimog reviews

Traditionally, this machine is considered the standard of German quality.

"Unimogs" of the thousandth series are a real dream of any hunter or tourist. In no way inferior, and sometimes even superior to domestic all-terrain vehicles in terms of cross-country ability, these vehicles have a qualitatively different level of comfort. There are many modifications of "Unimogs" of the "motorhome" type, which provide excellent opportunities not only in terms of sleep and hygiene, but also the connection of modern electronic devices, allowing you to stay in touch with the world in any wilderness.

But you have to pay for everything, and the main complaint about the car is quite a big price. This is especially true for Russian utilities, which can rarely afford the U400, despite all its functionality.