Gelaendewagen

[Dave Bennett]

I have driven both the Hummer and G-Wagon (IFAV) extensively.

Both excellent, but with different strengths...

The G-Wagon is much more stealthy, and can go more places IMO due to it's size.

 

[Gurkha]

From what I know, lockers are not standard with Hummer whereas in G, front and rear lockers are standard as is with the Gurkha. G Wagen is the right size and proper suspension to handle off road and are in their natural elements there. Germans have been designing off road vehicles since early days of motoring and the G reflects that design philiosophy well. The early Gs from 30s incorporated 4 wheel steering as well.

My friend who runs a tourist desert safari outfit in Dubai recently upgraded his vehicles, after extensive testing with Range Rovers, LR, Hummers, Cherokee and others, Toyota FJ and G was his final choice. Not surprising as these were the only vehicles that did the dunes with minimal drama and more critical, no overheating as that is the vagaries of using them on daily basis in 50C desert. The Hummer H3 was the easiest to get stuck in, the RR broke down and both the Cherokee and Hummer overheated which was the final nail in the coffin.

 

[4Rescue]

Personaly I would clearly rather have the G-Wagen, but you've got to admit, that hummer looks pretty smooth hauling assover that broken ground. The G clearly crawls better, but the 4W IFS is so smooth looking at speed eh.

I'd say a fari'r compro would be the G versus the 70 Wagon or troupie. Both have F/R Diff locks and oddly enough look real similar as well. The Hummer is just a different kind of beast that is better suited to hauling *** over the dunes with a huge machine gun blazing on top than crawling through the woods. The Few guy's that try to bring them out to the trails here in the NW get a real education on how close trees grow together out in the deep woods Trails cut by CJ's and at the longest 4Runners like mine present a bit of an issue for the big AMGEN, espescialy the turns. That's not to say that a couple haven't gotten through, but it's alot more work.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Guinness44]

about the comparison video: Swiss Alps? Wonder where, there is no such thing a legal wheeling, (except for the farmers or forrestry service, and the army).

That comparison is a joke. The Hummer is a 92 to 95 model, to lock up the diffs (Torsens) the driver needs to learn how to BTM. One can drive a BTM truck anywhere, a locker truck goes. Granted it is hard on the drivetrain. That fellow in the movie is lucky he didnt bust a halfshaft. Tirespinning in a heavy Hummer is a big NO. This is just drivererror. There is nothing difficult on that "trail".

On lockers and Hummer, that depends on the year, they went from BTM, to TT4 (because of the mandated heavy duty truck ABS), then to rearlocker (and TT4), then to rear and front (and TT4). The 2s or 3s have rearlockers, the new 3 will have a front also (plus auto traction control).

 

[4Rescue]

about the comparison video: Swiss Alps? Wonder where, there is no such thing a legal wheeling, (except for the farmers or forrestry service, and the army).

That comparison is a joke. The Hummer is a 92 to 95 model, to lock up the diffs (Torsens) the driver needs to learn how to BTM. One can drive a BTM truck anywhere, a locker truck goes. Granted it is hard on the drivetrain. That fellow in the movie is lucky he didnt bust a halfshaft. Tirespinning in a heavy Hummer is a big NO. This is just drivererror. There is nothing difficult on that "trail".

On lockers and Hummer, that depends on the year, they went from BTM, to TT4 (because of the mandated heavy duty truck ABS), then to rearlocker (and TT4), then to rear and front (and TT4). The 2s or 3s have rearlockers, the new 3 will have a front also (plus auto traction control).

Yeah you can see at one point during the grassy hill climb where he hits the brakes to stop rolling back and all of the sudden he's climbing with little to no problem. Pure driver inexperience. Again though, I'd rather have the G for sheer size reasons.

Cheers

DAve

 

[Ron B]

From what I know, lockers are not standard with Hummer whereas in G, front and rear lockers are standard as is with the Gurkha.

that was kinda my point...if you know how to drive a hummer you won't need lockers (just lube for the narrow spots!).

How big of a tire can go on a gwagon? I love them but never see them on the trails here in so cal. I see tons blinged out in LA (hummers too to be fair...but I see those on the trails). Love to wheel with one someday.

rb

 

[Gurkha]

that was kinda my point...if you know how to drive a hummer you won't need lockers (just lube for the narrow spots!).

How big of a tire can go on a gwagon? I love them but never see them on the trails here in so cal. I see tons blinged out in LA (hummers too to be fair...but I see those on the trails). Love to wheel with one someday.

rb

Since I have driven both in inhospitable terrain, the lockers as well as the general suspension design of the G gives it an unprecedented advantage over Hummers. Check out forum member's page at http://www.rubicon-trail.com/G-Class/ for info on the size of tires that can be put in the G Wagen. The one in the vid has the stock low profile tires and considering that, it did a swell job.

 

[98roamer]

From what I know, lockers are not standard with Hummer whereas in G, front and rear lockers are standard as is with the Gurkha. G Wagen is the right size and proper suspension to handle off road and are in their natural elements there. Germans have been designing off road vehicles since early days of motoring and the G reflects that design philiosophy well. The early Gs from 30s incorporated 4 wheel steering as well.

like this one.

Speed on a gravel road, old article

 

[Gurkha]

The last pic is from 4x4abc site if I am not mistaken and it was the result of travelling to fast on a gravel road.

 

[Ron B]

the general suspension design of the G gives it an unprecedented advantage over Hummers

drop me a line/pm me if you are ever in So Cal or Moab. I'd love to wheel with you and see how unprecedented your G is compared to my truck.

rb

 

[1leglance]

Thanks Dave,

And none of my cars is burdened with worthless pseudo expedition bling either (pick+shovel, HiLift, snorkel etc etc).

Huh...Yeah the G-wagen and many other rigs might be great but not having proper recovery gear is goofy...
And I love my long handle shovel around the campfire, my pulaski for chopping wood and possible recovery...
And a snorkel is useful for water crossing and dust being sucked into the engine.

I understand your concept and I agree that starting with a proper rig like the G-wagen helps but to knock having gear with you fly's in the face of most all other advice in the overlanding world.

 

[Gurkha]

drop me a line/pm me if you are ever in So Cal or Moab. I'd love to wheel with you and see how unprecedented your G is compared to my truck.

rb

I would love to but in good spirits.........so far your tone doesn't seem to indicate that if I am not mistaken. Most H1 owners are one sackful of ego trip. Its pointless though, you may be a better driver than I am but the G will win and this has been proven many a times. I will take up your challenge if I am in your neighborhood, hopefully you will come with a spare FJ or Rubicon in tow as those would be the only serious challenge to the G.

Good day.........why don't you ask 4x4abc btw? Better chances to see him in your neighborhood than me.

 

[Ron B]

I was being serious -- it would be fun. Every truck has strengths and weaknesses in different areas. No truck can be the best at everything. I thought it would be fun to explore/compare these strengths and weaknesses.

Like I said earlier, I've never seen them on a trail, just all blinged out on the streets driven by rappers. I also said in an earlier post that I was a big fan of the g-wagon -- you , might be the one with the superiority complex my friend.

I'll stop now and get back to wheeling instead an escalation of he sad she said. Hope to wheel with one someday.

rb

 

[Gurkha]

I was being serious -- it would be fun. Every truck has strengths and weaknesses in different areas. No truck can be the best at everything. I thought it would be fun to explore/compare these strengths and weaknesses.

Like I said earlier, I've never seen them on a trail, just all blinged out on the streets driven by rappers. I also said in an earlier post that I was a big fan of the g-wagon -- you , might be the one with the superiority complex my friend.

I'll stop now and get back to wheeling instead an escalation of he sad she said. Hope to wheel with one someday.

rb

Trust me, G Wagen as the name says were only built with one purpose, that is to be taken off road and driven and go where others fail, historically like the Unimog, the were built for farmers and miners etc., one look at the old G460/461 will convince you of that. Its a pity that MB succumbed to the rapper crowd and started making them more luxury than utility but every G Wagen can be taken off road. On road with their live front and long travel, they are skittish and lead to poor drive. Since I have had the extensive opportunity to drive the H1, H2 as well as G, it was totally apparent that the G was superior in every respect but the H1 was better on road. I will take up your offer when I am near your neighborhood, heck I will bring in the beer as well.

 

[kellymoe]

This is my buddies '84 Gwagen.. He has a parts rig for it, and has been working on it for a few years. I agree that the motor isn't anything impressive, but it goes like hell off-road... Gotta love the factory hydraulic lockers.

Here's his wife's '02 Gwagon... Yep, he wheels the $70k rig The trail that these pics were taken on is rated 4 on the standard 'Moab' rating scale; 5 being highest. Gwagon snaked through without a scratch.

That area looks very familiar. If not for the euro plates I would swear that was the East side of the Inyo Mountains near Bonham Mine just North of Cerro Gordo.