Finally!

[Jolly Roger]

Hi Iain

Thanks very much for the thorough reply and the link to your weight list, which is really helpful. Yes, I agree that the military box is probably not the lightest option around and that weight savings could be achieved by switching to a lighter material. Sadly, I'm not handy like you are so could not undertake doing the build myself (your's looks great by the way). I took my truck over the scales a couple of days ago and it was around 3,500kg on the front axel and 2,900kg on the rear. Obviously the military box is quite heavy and it still has the original truck bed on which again, I assume is quite heavy. If I got rid of both of those, I reckon I would have a starting weight of a little over 5,000kg's??? While we're committed to trying to go a light as possible, my wife and I also want to be relatively comfortable as we'll be on the road for a number of years. We also have a couple of dogs that we'll be taking with us. Although they are not large, they will take up some of the valuable space and require some gear, equipment, etc. Hmmmmmmm . . . looks like some serious thought and planning will be needed on this one.

Thanks again.
Cheers
Simon

 

[dzzz]

One thing that may not't make you faster in the real world, considering the horsepower, is larger tires. 46" tires will just add more rotational mass for the engine to overcome, and mess up the low gears. The tire size you have now are well balanced to the gears through years of experience by unimog.

Old tires are a concern, but in the XZL I would look at the 365 size, not the 395. (I'm assuming your current tires are 40-42").

The 365 I believe are 55 mph rated. Not sure about the tires you have now. Maybe 100 kph. The first North American U500s used 365 XZL . This soon changed to 395 size and a 70 mph top speed. But the U500 has a lot more horsepower and with the 365 size was gear ratio limited in most highway conditions.

I'm curious what tires unimog puts on new U4000/5000

 

[charlieaarons]

How about 365/80 (not 85)R20? They have more than enough load capacity at 7100kg/axle and are 43.1" tall. I think the speed rating is 110kph.

Charlie

 

[dzzz]

I'm assuming the 360A engine is 170bhp. If its a higher hp version (LA?), then it may drive in the 60 mphs well when loaded. Many of the L37 were apparently higher horsepower, from what I remember when I was looking.

The mogs that don't get near that 1 hp/ 100 pounds are not great highway trucks. For me that was an issue.

 

[Iain_U1250]

You guys must feel sorry for me in my little U1250 - with all of 125hp . I think I might be able to wring 150hp :wings: out of it with my new turbo, intercooler etc, but despite it being geared for cruising at 100kph @ 2200rpm, I doubt I will be doing much of that.

I would be running a 1hp / 130lb if I get enough out of the turbo.


My 365/80-R20 Continental MPT 81's are rated at 3550kg/ 7800lbs - 152K (110 kph) and my 425/70-R20 Michelin XM47's rated at 2600kg/6950lbs - 148G (90kph)

 

[dzzz]

You guys must feel sorry for me in my little U1250 - with all of 125hp . I think I might be able to wring 150hp :wings: out of it with my new turbo, .......

Not at all. You just arrive a little later. You know what you want to do in Oz and elsewhere. I don't believe there's right and wrong in these choices. Just features with certain characteristics. Whatever choices we make there many good things to do with the trucks.

I've enjoyed peoples reaction to a mog much more than I expected. Almost everyone just finds it's fun to look at. No debates like here. For me that was an unexpected benefit of an unusual truck. I heard a woman who didn't see me say "It looks just like a toy enlarged to life size". She's right!

The funniest reaction is some of the people who really know truck models. Some of them freeze for a moment when they see a U500 or 1250 or whatever because they have never seen one "in person" before.

I talked to a twenty year old kid on a near deserted beach in Northern California who knew the mercedes names of the systems on the U500 - more than I knew. He had never seen a U500, and never expected to.

Anyway, the specs and features are meaningful but the best part is just being out in the world with a big friendly toy.

Charlie must have a blast in Australia with a unicat bearing Alaskan tags. Not many Aussies expect to see that coming into town.

 

[Iain_U1250]

Ron did a similar trip in his GXV U500 - so now people in remote areas have seen two U500 expedition trucks. I've seen photos of their trucks on most 4x4 forums, being called everything from MAN's, IVECO's to HINO's with custom cabs. They are certainly unique over here. I was able to track Ron's progress around Australia by the photos on various websites, but have not seen that many photos of Charlie's truck - maybe people are used to U500's now

Mine should not create to much of a stir - it looks like the army Unimogs so at least people will have seen something like it before. Once we get overseas, that will all change - some areas will have seen plenty of SBU Unimog, some will not, all part of the adventure.

I don' think there is anything as a "stealth Unimog" - no matter where we go, we will be noticed. I'm thinking of getting some camo netting for around Australia - so we will look like a big square bush when camped up :suning:

 

[charlieaarons]

One thing I like about my dark blue color - it is nearly invisible at night.

Charlie

 

[grizzlyj]

Nice truck

Iain, 3kg for a shower head!!! The fact you even know that?!?!

As for changing Mogs when you discover the camper you thought was a bargain weighed a lot more than you thought? That would be this clown;

http://www.moglet.co.uk/page96.html

(Me, that is!)

I now have a U1700 that has been intercooled, on 395 XZLs and is 9.5 tons all up. As well as heavy shower heads these tyres are 100kg each, a split rim wheel 50 kg (so Charlie told me, and I don't argue with his figures!), so perhaps you will carry two tyres one wheel as we do? We have 400l of diesel, 260l of water, currently 80l of oil so there is a ton straight away.

We cruise at 80/85kph at 2400/2500rpm roughly speaking, so we have lower axle gearing than you do it seems. On the flat i pull off in 3rd. I thought 1st was low enough for everything, and didn't have working gears on the old chassis but splashed out on this one. Our proposed trip was totally screwed by chassis swap cost anyway

Over the last week we've been traversing west from Figuig to now be just south of Erfoud in Morocco, via routes ME6, 4 and 3 as shown on Chris Scotts website here;

http://www.morocco-overland.com/routes/ME.htm

If I had aired the tyres down we could have gone faster on the "smooth" bits, but slow with no punctures is good, and the rocks shatter producing razor sharp edges. ME3 piste section only of about 40km took 24 hours, just about every washed out river crossing took low box 3rd, or mostly 1st, having scouted first to find the easy point to cross. Road speed 1st would have been dangerously fast, and considering we have a tall box we would be on our side, the nearest tree about 30km away. How many donkeys do you need to pull a mog upright?!

When its as bumpy as this was, you still open up the camper at the end of the day wondering what you will find has migrated to the wrong end of the camper! Slow is 100% required!

Moglet is now 1983 vintage. Taking Iains ace approach and rebuilding everything gives peace of mind regarding potential failures, and a better idea when problem solving, but I have neither the skill, money or time for that. The last few days I've seen 2 motoX bikes, 4 landcruisers and we're travelling with a 130 Defender camper with a low tow bar. We have gone where few others have unless they're on a donkey or 50cc scooter, so if we had a problem, getting something to us of a size to help may not be possible without asking the army nicely, and how far away are they?! Changing chassis for me was important to give the vehicle the best chance to get me where I wanted and back again. I really can't see any logic in buying a truck, then overloading it with stuff you want but certainly don't need, and then taking it to where having a problem is a problem. Having said that the last chassis being a U1300l travelled from Alaska to Costa Rica with at least 500kg, maybe 1000kg too much with the previous owners with no problem that I'm aware of. It did have smooth super singles all round, no knobblies, so perhaps they stuck to tarmac? I don't know.

Lighter is better!

Jason

 

[Jolly Roger]

Anyone in San Jose looking for a nice Mog?
:wings:

 

[Iain_U1250]

Why don't you look at doing something like have - swap the seat for a small bed in my layout and the dog can sit right behind you just like a DOKA

 

[Jolly Roger]

Why don't you look at doing something like have - swap the seat for a small bed in my layout and the dog can sit right behind you just like a DOKA

Not sure exactly what you are describing?? Do you have a photo or a plan you can post of what you did? Looked through your thread but couldn't see anything . . . unless I missed it somehow??

 

[Iain_U1250]

This shows the window between the cab and the camper -

If you were to put a small across the rear window - then the dogs could be in the back, they would be right behind you - just as close as in a DOKA


This show the seats in mine. My wife can sit in either of the two seats and see out the front windscreen, I prefer the one further back.

If you make the small bed full length, and put two small windows either side, your dogs could stick their heads out and be right at home

 

[Jolly Roger]

Hi Iain

Thanks for the photos, that really helped me visualize the set-up and understand the concept. I could see that working, so that may turn out to be a good option. As it stands, I think we still like the Doka idea and have a deal pending on one. However, we can't go ahead with that purchase until we sell the U1550. Sooooooooo . . . if a buyer isn't forthcoming for ours, we'll have to let the Doka go and figure out something else. Thank for the idea though . . . I like it.

 

[Jolly Roger]

Well, we have found a Doka which will fit our needs and have a deal pending on it . . . . so we'd like to sell the U1550L to clinch the deal. As mentioned, we're willing to negotiate on the price with any serious buyers. Our loss is your gain.

This is a great vehicle with many desirable options and will make a perfect expo, work or recreational vehicle for the right person.

Cheers