Educate me on Unimogs!

[rrental]

Back in the day when I was still living in Holland my buddy's dad had an Unimog and we used it for all kind of jobs at the business we owned. I have always been impressed with the simplicity and the abuse we put the little machine through. A few years ago I saw the Unimog alive and well still going strong.

This weekend I was plowing snow and decided I need one. I don't know too much about them other than the usual information I could find on-line.

This spring I will go back and planning to find myself one and ship it over to Canada, and was wondering what to look for.

I has to be a diesel, with the possibility to put a plow on it. A little dump box would be good, but I really like the old fire trucks for the condition they are in, low mileage/hours and goodies they come with.

[Arizona_928]

Look up the freightliners on gov planet. They are unimogs with attachments. I plan to get one when the bidding frenzy stops on those things.

[look 171]

Look up Vonsmog here. He restores those damn things. I want one soooo bad. If I had the parking for another car, there will be one in my driveway.

[unclebilly]

Vonsmog is the man.

I had a unimog 406 for about 5 years. Mine was fully loaded... 20spd trans, 2 speed pto, front and rear hydraulics, air brakes for a trailer, heated windshield which was expected side when it broke...

It was too slow to be practical for street use, too clunky for use on the farm, and when it got stuck...

They are cool but kinda like a Swiss Army knife with all spoons. My new Kubota M7060 is way more useful.

It had front and rear hydraulics and a 2 speed pto which was handy. The front pto spins the wrong direction.

If I get another, and I have thought about it, it will be a gas exmiltary version. These have all of the cool with none of the clunky.

Google unimog exchange...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

They're awesome but stooopid expensive right now (experiencing a bubble-ish run-up not unlike what's happening with air-cooled 911s)

Would love one but once I move there really won't be a need. Wait is "need" ever really a criterion?

They're fun.

[bickyd]

where we live , a Unimog would be practical. I live in 100 Mile House and would like to have one for winter. I think it would be great for fishing , hunting etc. If you ever want to leave me in the dust with your turbo, would love to see your car and compare it to my 88 911.

[tadd]

I gots one and I LOVE it! That said, they are not for everyone. They are an acquired taste. You can argue all day long if its a truck or a tractor... Europe uses them all over.

Murican trucks you spend your cash to make them more off road capable. On a mog you spend your dollars to make them more road capable (comfortable). It is loud and very hot in the summer. It is joked that the Mercedes engineers gave you just enough comfort to survive the trip :-).

I have a late model (84) 406 (short wheel base) CASE truck with the optional high speed extra hydraulic system for running backhoes and stuff. CASE had a bunch of modular equipment that went on the back.

For improved comfort there are simple things that can be done to significantly improve things. A 2" cab lift will greatly cool things off and allow you to add more sound deading (factory did this on the later high hp big square cab mogs). I'm also working up a radiator relocation to the side to get all that heat out of the cab underside.

The biggest drawback to most is the speed. Its not slow per se, but it is gearing limited. You can turn up the governor on the IP to 3050 or 3100 (it will run there all day 24/7) and get 55 mph. Add in some 425/75-20 (46") tires on the next change and your around 60. I would have done this but for finding stock 405/70-20s stupid cheap when I needed tires. Kinda wish I had sucked it up and gotten the 425s at the time though. There are fast R&Ps and taller portal gears from the factory but they are expensive (2500-2900 for just the parts), so most do the pump and tires when they need them and be content. The factory used on or the other, Von is adding both. Once you've done tires and pump you will want more oomph. 110 hp aint much. The mog starts slowing on hills. Turbo is your friend.

It should be noted that most of these updates can be found on the later square cab mogs. If you go for the earlier round cab, you either spend a bit more to get one that has already been done or live with what you get (or take your $$$ lumps later).

Buy the most truck you can afford. It is pricey to add features.

All that said, I love mine and drive it to the store, work, ect. Its a hoot and actually drives really well. Someone once said the noise is like riding in a bomber in formation. Its awesome :-). Get it off road and nothing, I mean nothing short of a tracked vehicle, goes like a mog. I spent half a day hauling expensive bus RVs out of a field after a week of heavy rain after a local show. Pulled like a train in soft loam dragging an RV like a sled!

A redone round cab will set you back 25-30k, a fully functional fixer upper like mine (minimal surface rust) will set you back around 20. A square cab will start at 25, but it has a lot of updates that you will spend time and money to fix on a round cab.

For me, its about the challenge of making it better, and in the process, unique to me.

A mog is not for the wall flower... you get lots of attention (thumbs up and honking)... as well as evil stares from the guys with the jacked and stacked 1/2 tons.

[rrental]

Originally Posted by bickyd

where we live , a Unimog would be practical. I live in 100 Mile House and would like to have one for winter. I think it would be great for fishing , hunting etc. If you ever want to leave me in the dust with your turbo, would love to see your car and compare it to my 88 911.

Shamed to admit the 930 didn't leave the shop that often this year....I will have a lot of time this coming year (sold the business) and the first I will do is work on the old 911 project. For sure will head your way this spring and maybe get a lunch or something!

Yes, the word "need" is maybe a bit much. It will definitely have a place on the property to work. But in all reality, I "needed" a 930 and "needed" a 911. It's like with the Porsches, there are probably more economical and more sensible ways of transportation, but for sure non of them will be as much fun!

Thanks for all the useful information! Talked to the custom broker today and they did import some Mog's and are ready to help me out. My brother in law is going to Europe next month and he can do the legwork and check out some units. The plan is to see if we can fit 2 units in a 40ft HC container and fill the empty space with some parts and accessorizes. I used to own a shipping company and the current owners are great to deal with and can arrange all the shipping from Europe to the West Coast.

It will probably take a while before I actually see one on the ground after all the paperwork is done!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by look 171

Look up Vonsmog here. He restores those damn things. I want one soooo bad. If I had the parking for another car, there will be one in my driveway.

If'n I had a neighbor that pissed me off, I would own a Unimog. Just sayin'.

[bickyd]

Sounds good on that lunch! Please post pics if a mog lands on the ground. I am sure we would all enjoy seeing it. As I head out to hand shovel my driveway, ( wife says it's invigorating and good for us...) I am contemplating this word, "need". Cheers folks, and Happy New Year. Ps. tadd, that is one cool machine!

[Craig T]

Just for fun Google "Unimog for sale" and click on "images". Drool drool drool. I'm without a project. If I can avoid buying one of these as a project it'll be a miracle.