what do you moggers think of this mog?

4Rescue

Expedition Leader
Well, I'll tell you a few things... That is a sweet looking mog from the outside. For refrence I drive that same model Chasis for Wildland Firefighting (as part of an engine company)in the sumer here in oregon, and I'm quite familiar with them. BUT that ford motor is a TURD. Basicly the Cummins 4BT was used heavily to replace that exact motor in countless delivery trucks because it flat out SUCKS (those being city driven 2wd trucks... add 4WD and an overzealous pilot and you can see where the problems might start occuring) So, the good news is that there's a good solid replacement motor, but the down side is some poor fool actualy went to the trouble of puting it in something. Other than that, those rigs are AWSOME. I've driven one over things that I never thought possible, and all that with a huge water tank on the back with a fire burning in the near vacinity... Cool truck, crappy engine.
 

Robthebrit

Explorer
I personally do not like 404s but that is a nice a mog. Its been listed for a while and the price is a little high but if its on Expedition Imports web site then it must be a good truck, Scott is a great guy, very reliable and stands by what he sells. For that price you are getting into the range of the diesel mogs and there is no comparison.

That engine might be a turd but its 'better' than the detuned 85hp M180 that was originally in there. I put 'better' in quotes because is it really better?

The mog is an overall system and it was very well designed system, its 50+ years old and dropping a new engine in may not be the best thing. Mogs have different oil sumps and pumps to account for extreme angles, they also have different carbs for the same reason. You new engine might be better on the freeway but tip it to 45 degrees and see what happens.

In general changing out any part of a mog affects the whole thing. Jeep guys will tell you that mog axles break all the time but they never break on a mog regardless of the amount of abuse they take, why is that? Its probably because they are putting 300hp through a system made for less than 100 - the numbers simple do not add up, mog components are not indestructible.

The 404 tranny uses journals instead of bearings and it is known for overheating and failing when driving on the freeway, most 404 owners stop every hour or two and allow it to cool down. I can only more powerful engine makes it worse as it will allow you to fast more often and may even allow you to go a little faster due to a higher redline. To go anywhere in a mog you have to run it at very high RPMs, how reliable is that ford engine going to be when sitting at 6000rpms for hours and hours. It may last it may not, the M180 is crap but its a proven piece of crap.

If going fast or spinning wheels or traveling in comfort is your thing then don't buy a 404. If you want an awesome off road machine get a stock 404 with all its original parts. If you really need a mog for traveling get 416 or a 1300 with fast axles and AC.


Rob
 

unimogmike

New member
As a 404 owner I guess I should chime in.

A 404 is a great high speed tractor, in stock form it is hard to beat offroad. Both the 416 and 1300 came later and are way more refined and better suited to highway travel, while being as capable off road as the 404. I can cruise at 55 mph, yes I watch the trans temp guage, but the scenery and journey are part of the fun of owning a 404, or really any unimog for that matter.

I would only consider purchasing a stock truck. A lot of engineering went into the design and it is proven itself.
 

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