Unimog

Design

Unimogs have very high ground clearance 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 boulders of one metre in height. They are equipped with high visibility driving cabs to enable the operator to see the terrain and more easily manipulate mounted tools. The newest Unimog models can be changed from left-hand drive to right-hand drive in the field to permit operators to work on the more convenient side of the truck. The ability to operate on highways enables the Unimog to be returned to a home garage or yard to thwart vandalism.

Equipment

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

Variants

All Unimog models except for the 404S have a diesel power plant varying from 25 metric horsepower (18 kW) to upwards of 299 metric horsepower (220 kW). Unimogs are available with short wheelbases for tool carrier operations or long wheelbases for all-terrain cargo carrying operations.

The Unimog model with the largest single-design production run is the Unimog 404.1. The most common versions of this model were produced in troop carrier and radio box/signal truck variants for the Bundeswehr and other Western European armies. It is powered by a 2.2-litre M180 water cooled Mercedes-Benz petrol engine that produced 80 horsepower (60 kW) as standard. This engine was based on that offered in Mercedes-Benz 220 cars and more power was available, up to 145 horsepower (108 kW), with high compression heads. The 404.0 was available with the 2.8-litre M130 petrol engine that produced 110 horsepower (82 kW) as standard with up to 185 horsepower (138 kW) available with high compression heads and fuel injection.

Military

Apart from the Bundeswehr, Unimogs have been used by many different military forces, including the Argentinian, British, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Irish, Indonesian, Portuguese, Finnish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Greek, Swiss, Chilean, Bolivian, Mexican, Mongolian, Pakistan, Paraguay, Rhodesian and Singaporean armed forces. They are also used extensively by the Brazilian Marine Corps, the South African National Defence Force, the New Zealand Army, the Turkish Land Forces, the Australian Army, the Luxembourgish Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The Unimogs are used as troop transportation vehicles, ambulances, and mobile command centers equipped with military communications equipment. The United States Marine Corps and United States Army uses an engineer version, while the United States Army also uses Unimog vehicles to access remote installations. The Small Emplacement Excavator (SEE) is based on the Unimog FLU-419 (also called FLU10144), modified by Freightliner for US military specs (FLU = Freight Liner Unimog). With the SEE specific equipment it is known as the Model 419-101. Procurement by the USMC and US Army began in FY 1985, following success with the Unimog 406 based J.I. Case MB4/94 in an evaluation program. Freightliner got an initial order for 922 vehicles. Fielding to the US Army began in 3Q 1988. Freightliner received the last SEE contract in January 1989 for 491 vehicles. Approximately 2,500 vehicles were brought into the US military by the mid-1990s. The Small Emplacement Excavator (SEE) life cycle officially ended in FY 2005, but vehicles remained in inventory until about 2010.

Civilian

Unimogs are used by the German emergency management agency Technisches Hilfswerk (THW),(literally Technical Relief Organization), 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, in deep water and mud 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 carriers of equipment and, with the optional extended cabin, also of workers. 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. They have also been used in mining areas, like seen in Gold Bridge, BC, Canada.

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.

Unimogs are also used as a prime mover, to pull heavy trailers, large wheeled conveyances and jet airliners. Often, only the "Triebkopf" ("Engine Head") front half is combined with a tailor-made rear.

Unimogs are used as tourist transport for jungle ecotourism or safaris.

In the 1980s, Australian coach tour operator AAT Kings purchased Unimogs for use in the Northern Territory. They have also been used on Fraser Island.

Arnold Schwarzenegger had a 2012 U1300 Diesel Unimog registered in August 2012 for driving in California.

North America

Unimogs have been uncommon in North America because of differing vehicle regulations and requirements from those in Germany and Europe, and due to the lack of a North American sales and support network. Most Unimog models found in North America have been imported by individual dealers or independent enthusiasts.

Between 1975 and 1980 the Case Corporation (now merged into CNH Global) imported the U-900 model into the United States and sold it through Case tractor dealerships as the MB4/94.

In 2002 DaimlerChrysler tried to re-enter the North American market and engaged in 4 years of aggressive marketing, such as truck and trade shows, exposure on the television show Modern Marvels, numerous magazine articles and extensive demonstrations (both touring and on an individual basis). North American retail models were officially limited to the U500 series (the North-America-specific member of the UGN series) sold through heavy-truck dealerships, generally Freightliner dealerships. Freightliner is a Daimler AG subsidiary. The UGN series was specifically manufactured for the North American market and was significantly different mechanically from its European counterpart. The UGN faced stiff competition in North America by manufacturers whose truck or equipment lines performed some of the same duties as the Unimog. Some of them are Caterpillar, John Deere, AM General, Sterling Trucks (also a Daimler AG subsidiary), and General Motors. After 5 years and selling only 184 Unimogs, Freightliner LLC has exited the market. Daimler AG has cited non-compliance with EPA07 emission requirements as the main reason for ceasing North American Sales.

Motorsport

Unimogs are used in two kinds of competition: Dakar Rally and other desert rally competitions, and slow-moving Truck Trials over obstacles.

Unimogs have won the truck class of the Dakar several times in the 1980s, often by accident, as their main purpose is usually to provide support for cars and motorbikes. High-powered factory-sponsored entries of truck companies aiming for the overall win have since taken the laurels, with Unimogs used mainly for service purposes.

MB Trac

In 1973 the Unimog department in Gaggenau also designed the MB Trac, a more tractor-like version. It was produced by Daimler-Benz until 1991, when the product line was sold to Werner Forst- und Industrietechnik, who continues to produce it as the WF trac. It is sold and maintained by Mercedes Unimog dealers.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class shares some features of the Unimog, which eases maintenance for military and industry users who also use the Unimog.

Military derivatives

The Unimog also serves as a technical platform for armored vehicles like the ATF Dingo, a mine-protected utility and reconnaissance vehicle used by the German and other European Armed Forces (e.g. Belgium) for territorial defence purposes as well as in international missions.

Armoured vehicles developed in Germany using Unimog chassis are the UR-416, the Sonderwagen 4 and Condor 1 in Police service, and the ATF Dingo used by the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan. The French Aravis mine-protected vehicle, like the Dingo, based on the Special Chassis FGA 12.5 (special application of U5000, see also www.mercedes-benz.com/special-chassis). The Buffel, RG-19 and Mamba APC Armoured Personnel Carriers from South Africa are based upon the Unimog driveline. The AV-VBL developed by Brazil's Tectran is also an AFV family based on the Unimog.

The Swedish Landsverk Company produced an armoured scout car based on the Unimog S404 in the late 1950s. The Irish Army purchased 15 of the vehicles (originally intended for the police force in the Belgian Congo) in 1971 at a bargain price. They were intended as a stop-gap vehicle for use until the first Panhard M3 VTT APCs entered service in 1972. The type had excellent off-road capability but poor on-road handling due to a high centre of gravity and several accidents occurred as a result. A four-man dismountable squad was carried, but space was cramped, and in any case a four-man detachment was far too small for any sort of realistic military purpose. Other considerations were that the FN MAG gunner's position was too exposed. Eventually the Unimog Scout Cars arrived in Ireland in February 1972, their departure having been delayed by a local peace group who thought they were destined for the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). By mid-1978 all had been transferred to the Irish Army Reserve, the FCA. All were withdrawn by 1984, and two are preserved; one in the transport museum in Howth Co Dublin and one in the Muckleburgh Collection, England.

In Singapore, the Army uses the Unimog as transport for sensitive field equipment, such as radars and communication systems.

History

This section contains information translated from the German language Wikipedia page for Unimog.

1946 – First prototype

Unimogs were developed in post-war Germany to be used as agricultural equipment. The Unimog was designed with equal-sized wheels, a mounting bracket in front, a hitch in the rear, and loading space in the center. This was to make it a multi-purpose vehicle that farmers could use in the field and on the highway.

Albert Friedrich designed the first model and entered a production agreement with Erhard und Söhne (Erhard and Sons) in Schwäbisch Gmünd.

Development began on January 1, 1946. The first prototype was ready by the end of 1946. The prototype was equipped with a gasoline engine, because the development of the OM636 diesel engine had not been finished. The prototype looked almost like the Unimogs that were built later. The original track width of 1.270 metres (4 ft 2.0 in) was equivalent to two potato rows.

1947 – Production

The 25-hp (19 kW) OM636 Daimler-Benz diesel engine became standard equipment in the first production Unimogs at 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 "70200" series Unimogs were built by Boehringer. This was mainly for two reasons: Erhard und Soehne did not have the capacity to build the Unimogs and Mercedes Benz was not permitted to build all-wheel drive vehicles at that time.

1951 – Daimler-Benz – Gaggenau manufacturing plant

After Daimler-Benz took over manufacture of the Unimog in 1951, (Unimog 2010) the three-pointed Mercedes star began to appear on the front of the vehicle and replaced the Unimog ox horn symbol. The new model became known as the series 401.

A new series 402 with a long wheelbase chassis (2,120 mm (83 in) instead of 1,720 mm (68 in)) also became available.

The vehicles began to be manufactured in Gaggenau, in Baden-Württemberg. Production continued there until 2002.

1953 – Closed cab

An enclosed driver's cab was available as option starting in 1953, making the Unimog a true all-weather vehicle.

1955 – The 404 S

In 1955, the first Unimog 404 S series were produced. The primary customer of the 404 S was the Bundeswehr (literally Federal Defense, i.e. the West German Armed Forces), which was created in the mid-1950s in the era of the Cold War.

The 404 was intended to be a mobile cross-country truck, instead of an agricultural implement. The 404 S is the most popularly produced variant. 64,242 were produced between 1955 and 1980. One of the oldest 404s known to exist is the 1955 serial number 4, located in Orange County, California.

1957

The Unimog was equipped with a fully synchronized transmission allowing easy gear changes while at speed. It is one of the first agricultural vehicles to be so equipped.

1960s

The 406/416 middle series were produced beginning in 1963. They were equipped with a four-cylinder Diesel (OM312) producing 65 hp (48 kW). The 406 and 416 are similar, The 416 having a longer 2,900 mm (110 in) wheelbase compared to 2,380 mm (94 in) for the 406. Later models were equipped with the direct injection OM352 Diesel engines starting with 80 hp (60 kW) and going up to 110 hp (82 kW).

Between the original Unimog and the middle series, Daimler-Benz developed a light series 421/403. This was later supplemented by the 413 line. They differ by the wheelbase and the engine power. The 421 has a 2,380 mm (94 in) wheelbase and the 403 has a 2,250 mm (89 in) wheelbase. The new engines come from the passenger car line (421/U of 40 hp (30 kW) with 2.2-litre capacity), and from the Benz truck line (403/U of 54 hp (40 kW) with 4.8-litre capacity).

The 100,000th Unimog was built in 1966 in Gaggenau.

Argentina was the first country to manufacture the UNIMOG outside Germany. The first UNIMOG produced in the Mercedes-Benz Argentina S.A. factory in Gonzalez Catán, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires city, rolled off the assembly line on September the 1st, 1968

1972 – MB Trac

The Unimog was quite successful, except as originally intended as an agricultural platform. Daimler-Benz produced a new vehicle in 1972, the MB Trac to be more oriented to larger scale mechanical farming. The new tractor crossed the Unimog technology of 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 four-wheel-drive tractors. There is no articulation between the front and rear sections as with larger tractors.

From the initial MB-trac 65 and MB-trac 70 (later 700) a broad platform developed to the heavy-duty MT-trac 1800 within a few years, though the MB-trac was not a huge success. Daimler-Benz later merged the MB-trac with the agricultural machinery activities of Deutz AG. The manufacturing of the MB-trac series ended in 1991.

1974 – Heavy series

In 1974, The new U 120 of the "heavy" series 425 Daimler-Benz, extended the Unimog available models with 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 in 2006, more than one quarter century later.

The series 425 have a 2,810 millimetres (111 in) wheelbase and nine tons permissible total weight with 120 hp (89 kW) (shortly thereafter 125 hp (93 kW) as U 125).

1975 – Series 435

Manufacture of the series 435 for the Bundeswehr (German Defense Force) began in 1975, as a successor of the Unimog S 404. The 435 was characterized by a long wheelbase of 3,250 mm (128 in), 3,700 mm (150 in) or 3,850 mm (152 in).

1976 – Unimog models renamed

The new angular 424 "middle" series of Unimogs were produced starting from 1976. They are designated U 1000, U 1300/L, U 1500, and the flagship U 1700/L with 124 kW (168 hp) engine performance.

In the same period Daimler-Benz re-ordered the type designations for the older series. The classical round form series of the Mercedes Benz Unimog are designated U 600/L, U 800/L, U 900 and U 1100/L. (The letter L stands for a long wheelbase, because most models are available in two wheelbase variants.)

The Unimog with the rounded driving cab became known as the light series. The new series with angular cab were divided by payload into a middle and heavy series. Some engines overlap – the Unimog nomenclature is not simple to understand (see below for notes on series names).

The long-proven Unimog-S (404), although with clearly decreasing number of items, is the single remaining "Benziner" (i.e. its engine is consuming gasoline/petrol, not diesel fuel) in the lineup.

With the exception of the entry-level model, all Mercedes Benz Unimogs for 1976 were equipped with four wheel disc brakes – many years before this safety equipment was mandated for trucks.

1977 – 200,000th Unimog

Unimog number 200,000 was produced.

1980s

In 1980, production of the U404 (Unimog S) ended.

The light and medium range: 407 and 427 were introduced in 1985.

Production of the 406 and 416 ceased in 1988 and the 437 series was introduced the same year/

1992 – New light models

Introduction of the new light models 408 (U90) and 418 (U110-U140) with newly designed cabins replace the predecessor models. The new very diagonal front portion gives the operator a good overview forward. The asymmetric front hood, which is lower on the driver's side, permits the best overview of connections and attachments. A new framework and progressively working coil springs improve the handling for the Unimog. The completely re-arranged cab with a high roof offers more space than previously, distinct controls, and not least, a friendly workplace. Among the technical characteristics for the new Unimog are: the tire pressure adjustment system that can be operated while driving, anti-skid system, new engines from the passenger car range for the U 90 of the easy series rank as well as "Servolock", a mechanism for the hydraulic connection of implements.

1993 – U2450

The culmination of the 1993 program is the Unimog U 2450 L 6×6, an all-wheel-driven 3 axle truck. Engine performance increased tenfold with this new top model compared to the original Unimog. The Unimog club in Gaggenau is brought into being.

1994 – The "Funmog"

Mercedes Benz built twelve examples of the "Funmog" with luxury extras such as leather seats and carpets. It was the most expensive Unimog, with prices starting at DM150,000.

1996 – UX100

Introduction of the very small model UX100. It is designed to slip speedily over sidewalks and by park plants. It is sold off after a few years of production to Hako who specialize in vehicles of this kind and size.

2000s

The all-new range of models (UGN/405: U300/U400/U500) was introduced in 2000.

In 2003 production was transferred from Gaggenau to the Wörth am Rhein Mercedes-Benz-LKW-Montagewerk, the largest truck manufacturing plant in Europe. The U3000-U5000 models (437.4) were also introduced in 2003

At the Dubai Motor Show in December 2005, the "Unimog U 500 Black Edition" premiered as an offering to wealthy desert-dwellers. It is a similar luxury offering comparable to the Funmog.

Starting from June 2006 the UGN series was produced with "BlueTec" technology so that the future exhaust limit Euro IV requirements would be met. With that a new packaging of the vehicle and new design designations are connected (old design +1, e.g. from 405.100 becomes 405.101)

At the IAA 2006 commercial vehicle show in Hanover a new Unimog U 20 was presented, which was to be available at the end of 2007. The most striking feature is the cabover design with no vestigial front hood characteristic of the traditional Unimog. It has a total weight of 7.5 to 8.5 metric tons. The underlying technology comes from the U 300. The driving cab is from the new Brazilian Accelo light truck (Caminhões Leves) series. The wheelbase is shortened to 2,700 mm (110 in).

2010s

Since August 2013, production of new models started at the Wörth factory. These models feature redesigned cabins and new engines to meet the Euro VI emission standards.

Unimog 404

Unimog U5000 437.430

(Short Wheelbase Single Cab)
Data from

Unimog U5023 437.437

(Long Wheelbase Single Cab)
Data from