What is the UNIMOG best suited?

[Seriousman]

I am amazed by the UNIMOG for its merrit of mechanical wonder. So I am planning to but an UNIMOG and build a body on the chassis.

However I am confused on what choices of the body options: a simple camper (beds and water only) vs a full camper (bed, seating, kitchen, toilet, waters).

1. Would a full camper cause trouble to UNIMOG because of the low payload?
2. Is it in sane to bring the house hold of a full camper to do extreme off-roading?

It seems that a U4000 Doka Long fits well for installing a simple camper with two sides seating (75 cm x 200 cm), the water tanks (600 l) and batteries located under benches. The back supports of benches could lifted up as bunk beds. So there are four beds.

This is sufficient for suvival in the wildness. Is this an unaaceptable behavior to use the wildness as toilet?

I feel U4000 chassis is lighter than U5000 for some 800 kg and has the same engine. So I would prefer to have an U4000 Doka Long as the chassis of a simple camp body. Does this make sense?

I would be glad to have your comments to help me sorting out my mind. This is going to be my most expensive toy. I have to do it right.

Thanks.

 

[charlieaarons]

If you have the renmibi to be considering these things, I would recommend the U5000 with the single cab. Then you can use a 4.5-4.8m camper which is still not very large for 2-3 people. If you get the Doka, you will only be able to fit a 3.2-3.5m camper which will be tiny - too small for the 5 people you can carry in the front.
Camper weights add up rapidly with all the junk people want to carry; that's why I say get the U5000. If you need to cruise over 85 kph (up to 105 kph), you need a U500.
On my U500 I carry a rear axle load when fully loaded equal to the rear axle load rating, which is 8500kg.
I would think you want a camper with all the facilities - cooking, seating, bathroom - if you are going to spend that kind of money and go for very long trips.
Nobody with any mental sanity does "extreme offroading" when 100s or 1000s of km away from home. Just getting to one's destination, getting home, and experiencing the new places and things in between, is enough for most people.

Charlie

 

[haven]

Seriousman, welcome to ExPo!

If you're traveling in China, why not consider a vehicle of
Chinese manufacture as the chassis for your camper?
While there may be a Mercedes Benz truck dealer in
Shanghai, you may not find one when you're on the
road.

For example, Howo makes a 6x6 off-road truck. I believe
it's a design licensed from Steyr. I don't know if it's
available in a crew cab.

On the other hand, if you plan to travel internationally
with your vehicle, then Mercedes is an excellent choice.

Chip Haven

 

[Seriousman]

Reply to Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for your comments and reply. U5000 is indded in my consideration.

How many years do you drive your UNICAT? Which type of UNICAT? Could you share some experiences and comments on your big toy.

 

[Seriousman]

Reply to Chip

Hi Chip,

I did ask questions to Dongfeng which makes 4x4 and 6x6 for the army. Unfortunately they only export them. The price is very cheap.

I did not talk to HOWO. I noticed them on the road. I will certainly study them now.

I have spent quite some efforts in UNIMOG, MAN and Axor/Actros. I have confidence on them when I drive to the middle of nowhere.

However I heard very little about experience of Dongfeng or HOWO. Most millitary trucks go in convoy which assure the problems of maintenance and repair.

This is not what I can have when I drive out for trips. This does scare me when considering a breakdown.

 

[charlieaarons]

Unicat has built campers for people in China. I have a 4.8m camper. I plan to enter China at the Laos-Yunnan border south of Kunming ~ 15 April 2012 and travel northwest to Tibet, then Sinkiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, then enter Outer Mongolia at Hohot ~ 21 June 2012. In Outer Mongolia I want to visit the Khalkin Gol battlefield, then go west and enter Russia near Tannu Tuva etc etc either go thru Central Asia states-Azerbaijan-Armenia-Turkey or Russia to arrive in Germany in Sept or Oct 2012.
My vehicle has ~53000km but will have lot more after trips around Australia between June 2010 and Jan 2012.
A Dong Feng is a nice truck for China, like a Kamaz is nice for Russia, but hard to find parts and service outside of its' own country unless part of a large military/industrial purchase.
I have had my camper since July 2006, the chassis is a 2005 model.

Charlie

 

[Seriousman]

To Charlie

I am going to start building my expedition vehicle around that time. Now I am trying to figure out which chassis:
A. U5000 Doka with short body (shorter version of TC46) or
B. MAN TGM 18330 4x4 Doka or TGA Lcab vs MB Axor 1833 4x4 or Actros 2036 4x4 with TC52.

Option A gives more confidence in overcoming road conditions and Option B give more confort.

With Option B, MAN TGM/TGL has the crewcab which is ideal for me. Other models of MAN or MB trucks have no crew cab in product line.

Which UNICAT body do you have? Are you satisfied?

When you are in China, I hope to have the opportunity to visit you and see your vehicle. My email is Seriousman@TOM.COM

The Chinese 4x4 or 6x6 trucks are under powered by small enignes.

Please comment more on the choice of chassis and cab.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[charlieaarons]

I have the Terracross 48 body. You can see my actual camper and truck by going to:
http://www.unicat.net/en/info/TC49compact.html
The extra pictures are reached by clicking the link at the bottom. That's my truck and my family in it.
If you have need for a crewcab (family larger than wife and 1 child) then I'd recommend the MAN/Axor/Atego 1.5 cab or crewcab. Because you can't put an adequate sized body with a Doka on a U5000.
I have more features on my vehicle than listed in the description, like generator, 850L fuel (includes 12 jerrycans), freezer, storage boxes on back next to spare tire, front winch as well as rear.
Note there is an outstanding MAN Doka for sale at Unicat:http://www.unicat.net/en/info/GEX46HD-MANM4x4CC.html
. I looked carefully at it during its' construction, it is very roomy for a 4.6m camper because it has the raising roof. it is very fully equipped.
This is also a relatively inexpensive virtually new vehicle I have personally looked at with a Doka:http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/s...ORT&customerIdsAsString=&lang=en&pageNumber=3
I believed it is/was owned by a former co-owner of Unicat and custom built for her.


Charlie

 

[charlieaarons]

Seriousman I tried e-mailing you but it was blocked by something - "kbas"?? I'll send you a private message.

Charlie

 

[Seriousman]

To Charlie

Hi Charlie,

I am indeed spending time on MAN TGM 18.330 4x4 with crew cab. This seems ideal for my group (wife, two sons and possibly a guide). Of cource I could also accpet MB Axor or Actros or MAN TGA with a tailor made crew cab.

Thank you for your infor on the two sales of UNICAT. I am not looking EX type of body but TC type. My favorate is TC52 which can hold 4 persons in the body and one in the crew cab for sleeping. Moreover EX body is much more expensive.

I also need a generator for the airco. There are many places where the night is still very hot.

It is unlikely to bring the whole group for extreme off-roading. So MAN or MB trucks 4x4 are adequate for my needs.

It is also insane to use a brand new MOG to do extreme off-roading. So I will look for a second hand MOG for this as a toy. There are over 2000 MOGs in service in China. I am sure to have the opportunity to find a retired MOG. The true onstacle is about license the second hand vehicle. China has a strict regulation on this and allows a very short period of life cylce (8 years!).

My email is seriousman@tom.com.

 

[charlieaarons]

8 years!! Even on a very expensive once-in-a-lifetime expensive personal vehicle like a Unicat camper? I am sure I will still be using mine when it is 20 years old if I am healthy enough to drive it, otherwise my daughter Elizabeth will have it. It has very little steel to rust, just the frame and major driveline components; most of the body is plastic in one form or another.
We have a generator for the air conditioning. I remember one night in interior Queensland in December or January 1990. My daughters who were young children then thought they were going to die in the Landcruiser Troopy camper we rented. Finally I started the engine with the A/C on max and let it idle all night. Fortunately it was a diesel. It was about 42 C. and it never cooled down outdoors.
My comment about extreme offroading was in reference to doing it with a camper far away from home. You'd hate to put your house on its' side.

Charlie

 

[Seriousman]

Length of license

In China, the current period of truck license is 8 years. I heard that the reason is to outdate those old fashioned trucks for the sake of environment. It make senses in my view.

Right now there is application by stake holders related to trucks (mostly imported trucks) to extend the life to 15 years unconditionally. I heard that it is like to be that way. Of course it does reflect the durability of modern trucks.

My hesitation on my expedition vehicle was partly due to the choice of chassis and body. The major obstacle is the length of licensed life. I heard that it will be allowed for 15 years in near future.

Then I would have no obstacle from the legislation side.

I met a couple of guys who dump their money for brand new U5000, MAN 8x8 and MB 6x6 to make expedition vehicle.

 

[spencyg]

So you buy a new truck and then they take it away 8 years later? Why wouldn't anybody sign up for that crock of !$#%! ? I would flip out...

Wait...I just did.

Spence

 

[RMP&O]

maybe this will give you some ideas....

more pics at...

http://mercedes4x4store.com/photos.htm

unfortunately the really awesome camper seen there is only viewable as thumbnails. A few years back he had more pics of it up and you could view in full size. But it is broken now!

 

[Seriousman]

Thanks for this photo

This is a rally vehicle. It is very impressive! Thanks. I need expedition vehicle.