I saw one of these awhile back. Very impressive looking rig. Anybody got any first hand experience with them? There is an outfit in Germany that arranges to have the surplus vehicles from the German Army shipped over. He has them refurbished and completely inspected. I'm wondering if it is worth the effort.

Anbody got any input? I think one would make a hell of an elk hunting rig.

Mac

not specifically on the unimog .. which is convertable for left/right hand drive
1: its nearly impossible to get it titled as a road car, as it will have to face CURRENT emissions
2: will have to face current safety requirements (it won't pass)

3: you have to pay a huge import tax for bringing it over as a car

4: "grey" market loopholes closed in the 80s

5: you can regester it as a tractor/utv

6: the current "mini trucks" can be 4x4 and are already HERE, and cheaper than side by side UTVs...

a rzr or other sxs would be far far far easier

Fantastic vehicles and practically unmatched for off-road ability. The only vehicle i'd ever choose over it if heading seriously off track would be a pinzgauer.

I've owned a few. Feel free to mail me if you wish more info.
marcgcallaghan@hotmail.com

Jeffeosso,

Don't know where you have gotten your info, but I don't believe you are correct.

The Unimog I saw had valid plates on it. That means it was registered and street legal. Not every place in the country has vehicle inspections or emission requirements. I know where I grew up in northeast Colorado, there aren't any. Also, the company in Germany has been sending them stateside for years and have all the paperwork for clearing customs, and getting them registered. The things are made by Mercedes and those dealers can help with any issues. Import cost is about 5 grand. Not really too bad because they are classified as commercial rigs and not passenger cars.

Additionaly, there are usually about 3 or 4 of them for dsale on EBAY. And all the pics I've seen on EBAY show plates. As to their speed, not really a concern for me. I can be in elk country in less than 10 miles worth of driving. I'm not talking about taking the thing across 3 or 4 states.

I just think they would make one hell of a hunting rig. And you can get into one for less than a new, decked out Chevy would cost.

Mac

MAC:

I am sure you have Googled "Unimog" as there is lots of info available such as www.swissarmyvehicles.com

It is one cool vehicle!

The Daimler/Chrysler/Mercedes/Freightliner relationships may mean it is possible and serviceable.

Keep us posted if this develops.

RCG

Hi MAC.

I had a Unimog 404 a while ago. It was a 1962 model, NATO spec canvas top vehicle, powered by the 2.8l gasoline straight six engine.

With its long coil sprung suspension, the Unimog is a superior off-road vehicle. Mine had manual diff-locks and was converted for use of 44" tires. Completely unstoppable.

The downside was fuel consumption. The tiny 2.8l straight six was not a "happy" component of the Unimog. I do remember one winter journey into the highlands as consumption rose to approx. 40 liters / 100 Km. The canvas top was not really an improvement either

Some have made conversions on the larger Unimog models and swapped the gasoline and smaller diesels for the much larger and more suitable OM-352 diesel six.

The Unimog is truly an extraordinary terrain vehicle.

Regards,

Mog's 1986 and earlier can be brought into the US without emissions/safety certification. Any importer who tells you that you can bring a new one in by removing the engine and importing separately is FOS. If you get caught the penalty is going to be $$$$$$ and your "parts truck" will be just that.

Lots of old 404's around and they can be had for about $5k...but this is a VERY primitive truck compared to a new HD pickup. You better like roughing it if you get one of those. Plus they are absolute pigs anywhere but crawling around off road...

The larger diesel Unimogs were model numbers 406/416 these had the cool rounded cabs. Case imported them at one time. You could option them out with every possible attachment (mowers, front end loaders, backhoe's, snow blowers). The larger square cabs ones had model numbers like U1000 or U1300. These have roomier cabs than the 400 series and bigger motors. ie faster speeds. I had a Case unimog that need a full restoration and one of the few smart moves of my life was selling it. Parts are not cheap and the Mercedes dealers will usually laugh at you when you need parts for the older models. So break downs will require a machine shop and mail order parts. Think labor of love when you buy one.

All true.

USA MBZ retailers don't evem have access to Mog parts in their database. If your Mog importer doesn't have the parts you need then you have to develop a relationship with a Mog Haus in Germany and pay the freight.

"Ex German Army" could mean alot
of different Unimog.From the 404 series up to the current U1300L still in use.

If you plan on travelling longer distances,and not having to carry heavy loads over very rough terrain afterwards,then I would say forget the Unimog.I have a U1000 424,its a great hobby truck,but being based in Norway the spare parts are easy to get ex Germany.

Unimog are loud,slow,expensive to maintain and as a freind of mine one said "like trying to drive and iced brick by bits of string".

Unimogs are great vehicles, in my mind, only with a diesel engine and the optional low range transfer case. Without these, hell, go American

Of course you could get a proper Off road truck!

These Alvis Stalwarts are 1960's &70's vintage and are now available as Army surplus in the UK..

And if you wanted something smaller, the Pinzgauer already mentioned is damn good offroad ..

I have a 1962 404 ,which i bought in Perth western Australia from a German who claimed it had a rebuilt engine. which it didnt .Good if you want it just for hunting and off road use ,mine is screaming at 80 kmph and guzzles the gasoline 8 mpg .You are sitting next to the engine which makes hot weather hotter ! tyres arent cheap and stake easily if your not careful off road .Best 4x4 i have ever driven off road, just lock the diffs and point it ,high ground clearance, 113:1 gearing ,gets you where you want to go.... unlike the other Gay sport utility vehicles with independent front suspension etc.I would like to have a 406 or 416 diesel Mog but there hard to find and expensive.You can get 404 parts for reasonble prices fron United parts service ,Expedition Exports Etc .Unimogs were never designed as sport utility vehicles that the wife will be happy driving ,like old dodge powerwagons, they were designed as work or miltary vehicles

quote:

And if you wanted something smaller, the Pinzgauer already mentioned is damn good offroad ..

I seen a few in Lander Wy last year, the guy was selling them for $6k. You could sleep right in the back. Pretty cool rig.

My PH had two 404's (gas) in Namibia. I am in the US military, and those things went places that made me cringe. One of the most outstanding off-road vehicles I've encountered, to include the HUMMV's. When I grow up I will have one.

My SAR team used to have one. It is a truck so it is the best car you can have for river crossing and driving wet snow until the tires stop reaching the ground. Most SAR units here have stopped using them and use modyfied F350, Landcrusier or Nissan Patrols. Tires size from 38" to 49". Theese car can drive over glaciers and are pretty good in river crossing. For a car/truck this big it is surpriseingly easy to drive. And the look cool. Some SAR tried Hummers and they are called "bummers" over here, total crappy car, only good use for them is fast driving on bad roads, but bad in snow and whiteout snowstorm, you sit to low.

I guess it depends on where you want to use your rig and what you want to do with it. The Pinzgauer and Unimog look interesting, but their tires are too narrow for soft ground. A modified pick up using farm tractor tires is a far better choice for soft ground where there is no trail. The Pinzgauer and Unimog are probably fine for lower 48 use as an expensive play toy, but the only ones I see in Alaska are rolling on paved roads.