U5000 and camper

[DKM]

I`m new to this forum and we are interested in having an expedition camper built on the unimog platform.

I have searched but couldn`t find much information on the U5000 as a base for an expedition camper in this forum.

Does anyone have any experience with the newer unimog 4000/5000 platforms?

 

[charlieaarons]

There have been a few campers built on U4/5000 but not a lot. I have one on a U500.
First of all, the U500 comes with a 6cyl motor~280 hp, the U5000 with 4cyl, 218hp. The U500 outside North America is geared at 6.38, the U5000 at 6.94. These relatively small differences allow the U500 to cruise at 90-95kph but the U500 at only about 80kph, a substantial difference.
Be sure if you get one to get a U500 or 5000, not the lighter GVM models but weight is the biggest problem in building a camper.
Also if you order one new or buy a used one, try to make sure it has electroautomatic shifting (excellent for city driving) and CTIS is very nice, for both inflation/deflation and pressure monitoring. The option lists are long and worth very careful examination.

Charlie
Ellenbrae Station, Gibb River Road, Western Australia

 

[DKM]

Thanks Charlie, I understand that it will be slower, but that is not a problem. We would prefer to drive a little slower.
Electroautomatic shifting and CTIS are what we want most.
I have the options list and it is very long. I`m still going over it trying to determine what is essential.

Do you know anyone that has purchased unimog campers from Unicat other than yourself? I have been searching the Internet but haven`t come across anyone other than you.

Should I try to contact Unicat directly for information?

 

[charlieaarons]

There's 1-200 Unicat campers around the world.
There's also Global Expedition Vehicles in the US and Actionmobil in Austria.
Among others...

Charlie

 

[grizzlyj]

Hi

Newer engines won't like high sulphur content fuel still used in many devloping countries.

Newer vehicles have more electronics, giving more systems to fail in a remote location, a long way from a dealer perhaps?

Have you looked into Carnet costs at all, depending where you are looking at travelling? Usually info and the thing itself is issued by your countries motoring organisation.

An older U2150 for instance has the same off road capability, the same speed and payload, but no electronics, a more tolerant engine, (I think!?!) and lower Carnet costs since that is based on chassis value. CTIS is possible, but I don't think an auto is.

Buy a 2150 and spend what you would have spent on a U5000 on renewing critical systems?

Happy travels!

 

[charlieaarons]

Hi






Buy a 2150 and spend what you would have spent on a U5000 on renewing critical systems?

Happy travels!

And how about renewing portal boxes in an older Unimog that weren't perfectly cared for by the previous owner(s) or just decided to wear out, air systems gummed up with oil/water goo because many older Mogs don't have air dryer/filter, etc etc.
Some new vehicle "issues" like electronics can be mitigated by taking a Mercedes Star Diagnostic laptop with you, like the one I'm typing on right now.
For many people it is "buy an older Mog and spend a LOT of money renewing systems.

Charlie

 

[DKM]

Charlie,

I have to agree. I can`t see putting a lot of money into an older Unimog just so that we can have CTIS and an automatic transmission. I looked at doing it both ways and in the long run a newer model just makes more sense. I am a bit worried about DEF, etc., though.

I will look into Carnet costs.

Charlie,

Do you know if Unicat has any plans to use the Zetros? It seems like it would be a good plateform for an expedition camper.

I tried contacting Unicat, but haven`t heard back from them.

 

[grizzlyj]

I was hoping you would come back on that Charlie!

A 1999 70000km U2150 L38 is for sale in the UK for 35K GBP plus taxes. A fully specced U5000 would be 100K more perhaps? That would buy new axles, rewired and a new air system and a great deal more? But for Carnet purposes a chassis value of something like 30K would still be accepted after all the refurbishments.

A UK Carnet for worst case scenario Egypt is 800% of chassis value, slightly painful for a U2150, eyewatering for a new U5000.

An older Mog will have all the same basic systems a new one will, but how many extra things does a new truck need to run, every one of which can fail. However big your payload is you still can only take so many things, and the electric gubbins multiplies the total number of things that could go wrong. Mitigating some error codes is indeed a nice outcome if you come to a stop, but an older truck won't have those codes in the first place And a Euro 5 engine I believe just will not last in Syria for instance because of the diesel's sulphur content. Do you want your nice new shiny go anywhere U5000 to stop you from going where you've dreamed of? (Even if Syria today may not be ideal for tourists, and perhaps you have no intention of driving to Egypt!?)

I'm not as Mog travelled as you are Charlie, but recently in Morocco, being nearly 100km from tarmac, and then much further from any sort of garage, or anything big enough to tow me, confirmed my belief that an older, simpler vehicle has to be a good thing, if in good condition of course!

Jason

 

[762X39]

Those of us that own (and travel with) vintage mogs know that our vehicles are also our hobbies. For serious overland travel, a reliable vehicle with a known history and everything 100% really makes the trip more enjoyable.There seems to be a "conspiracy" against newer vehicles for overland travel and I think it is fear of the unknown as well as an un-willingness to adapt to new technologies.Although the newer mogs (and newer every other vehicle on the planet) are more complicated, I see no reason to shy away from them.If I was afraid of these vehicles I would never get on a plane and fly anywhere unless it was a DC3. Instead of worrying about the new technologies, just get some training on it, read the tech manuals and store the 1-800 numbers in your sat phone.

 

[mervifwdc]

that's so true! When I got a Td5 defender in 2003, a load of my buddies with 300tdi engined trucks were warning me of trouble and doom ahead. 110k miles later, it's still my daily driver.

That said, there is nothing wrong with a well maintained older truck, the trick is knowing or trusting it's past history. I just bought a 1300L camper, and while it does'nt look too fancy it's just back from 30k trip through north africa, middle and far east. I checked all I could to determine if it was well maintained, and the way I see it, it's a "proven" truck. if it got that far, it will go for another while....

Merv.

Although the newer mogs (and newer every other vehicle on the planet) are more complicated, I see no reason to shy away from them.If I was afraid of these vehicles I would never get on a plane and fly anywhere unless it was a DC3. Instead of worrying about the new technologies, just get some training on it, read the tech manuals and store the 1-800 numbers in your sat phone.

 

[grizzlyj]

I don't think its a fear of the unknown as such.

A fear of stuff you can't fix maybe though.

All the gubbins to produce Euro5 emissions was not added by Mercedes to improve offroad durability, but to appease politicians. They will not currently run on high sulphur diesel as discussed elsewhere here. Somewhere on the UK Merc Unimog website it says Euro3 is still available new, but it wouldn't be legal to drive a new one in the UK, or probably Europe /USA too?

Chris Scotts new book, with content from the wise people here, describes "pinnacle" vehicles, being as new as possible to be as capable as possible but without too many complicated electrical systems to stop you.

A Euro 3 Mog may be a pinnacle vehicle, but a new Euro5 one isn't IMHO. No-one in places where you may make best use of a Mog camper will have the first idea about electric anything outside of 20 year old technology. By all means use your sat phone to ring the dealer back home, but they might just tell you you can't fix it with what you've got with you. How do they ship that critical part 200 miles into a desert half way round the world if you can't get to the DHL office? Or what happens to your Unicat while you leave it to fetch the parts?

Why if you are going to put your life in your vehicles hands would you not want to keep it as simple as possible? Why can a U500 refuse to start because of moisture in the rear light cluster as someone recently reported? In 50 degree heat why is that a handy must have system? 20 miles from a dealer in Germany maybe, so your employee can't drive off without fully functioning lighting. But when its just you, a big load of beautiful emptiness and the tools and parts you took with you, K.I.S.S. has to be your aim in vehicle choice and preparation?

 

[charlieaarons]

I don't think its a fear of the unknown as such.

A fear of stuff you can't fix maybe though.

All the gubbins to produce Euro5 emissions was not added by Mercedes to improve offroad durability, but to appease politicians. They will not currently run on high sulphur diesel as discussed elsewhere here. Somewhere on the UK Merc Unimog website it says Euro3 is still available new, but it wouldn't be legal to drive a new one in the UK, or probably Europe /USA too?

Chris Scotts new book, with content from the wise people here, describes "pinnacle" vehicles, being as new as possible to be as capable as possible but without too many complicated electrical systems to stop you.

A Euro 3 Mog may be a pinnacle vehicle, but a new Euro5 one isn't IMHO. No-one in places where you may make best use of a Mog camper will have the first idea about electric anything outside of 20 year old technology. By all means use your sat phone to ring the dealer back home, but they might just tell you you can't fix it with what you've got with you. How do they ship that critical part 200 miles into a desert half way round the world if you can't get to the DHL office? Or what happens to your Unicat while you leave it to fetch the parts?

Why if you are going to put your life in your vehicles hands would you not want to keep it as simple as possible? Why can a U500 refuse to start because of moisture in the rear light cluster as someone recently reported? In 50 degree heat why is that a handy must have system? 20 miles from a dealer in Germany maybe, so your employee can't drive off without fully functioning lighting. But when its just you, a big load of beautiful emptiness and the tools and parts you took with you, K.I.S.S. has to be your aim in vehicle choice and preparation?

First of all, a Euro 5 vehicle WILL run on high sulfur fuel. But the catalytic converter won't last very long. All the bits that are damaged by high sulfur fuel are downstream of the motor.
Second, I can't believe a U500 won't start with a bad tail light. Maybe I'll do an experiment with mine just to prove it. Mine starts with a malfunctioning ABS sensor on the right rear wheel, the light goes out after driving a few meters. It has run with a dead alternator and on bad corrugations the ABS warning light sometimes stays on. But it still runs!
Other "critical" warning lights have come on over the life of the vehicle for various reasons and it has never stopped running (knock on wood!). I do carry many spares, including Star Diagnostic System, engine sensors and ECU, plus more usual spares.
If one were to buy a Euro 5 U500/5000 and planning 3rd world travel, I would talk to Hellgeth (www.hellgeth.de) about by passing the convertor box, defeating the need for DEF (AdBlue) with water or turning it off altogether. They are the top experts on Mercedes truck engine controls/ECUs. Then the motor will run just fine on high sulfur fuel and high ash oil if needed.

Charlie

 

[DKM]

Charlie,

I talked with Thomas at Unicat and he recommends the Zetros since there will be three of us traveling.

Personally I would prefer the Unimog, but based on what Bill Caid has stated on his website, the Zetros should be able to get me to where I would want to go.

I asked about U4000 6x6. He said that it`s underpowered.

Any thoughts?

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Zetros!!!!!

 

[mogwildRW1]

And how about renewing portal boxes in an older Unimog that weren't perfectly cared for by the previous owner(s) or just decided to wear out, air systems gummed up with oil/water goo because many older Mogs don't have air dryer/filter, etc etc.
Some new vehicle "issues" like electronics can be mitigated by taking a Mercedes Star Diagnostic laptop with you, like the one I'm typing on right now.
For many people it is "buy an older Mog and spend a LOT of money renewing systems.

Charlie

I purchased my truck, an ex-fire truck, 1988 Vintage, with only 15,000km on it, and its like new underneath, very well maintained. The vehicles that are in Germany have to pass much stricter inspections than we do here, my truck was basically new when I received it, I'm the second owner.

It has the air dryer as well

Today I passed a brand new BMW SUV on the road, hood up, awaiting tow truck, any vehicle, new or old, can leave you stranded, I prefer my Mog san's electronics.