Truck I haven't seen discussed: Steyr 12M18

[Lynn]

I haven't seen any discussion on the Steyr 12M18 as a potential overland camper chassis, so thought I would start some...

Manufactured by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Austria, of G-wagen / Pinzgaurer fame.

Precursor to the US Military FMTV.

177hp turbo diesel.

Front and rear diff locks.

5 ton capacity.

Extended cab, so nice and roomy.

Top speed ~60 mph. Normal highway speed probably 50ish?

I've found conflicting reports that these trucks entered service with the Austrian military in either 1985 or 1986, so the first models are either eligible for import into the US this year, or will be next year, by the 25-year rule.

I've also read that they use a lot of standard Bosch components, and are 'easily serviceable,' but that comes from an importer/salesman, so...

Anyone on here with first-hand experience?

Here's a cool youTube video

 

[LukeH]

Yep they're good.

Just to add fuel to the fire, (or get you all fired up):
Steyr made their reputation in Austria by copying/stealing the design for the Hafy and Pinzgauer from none other than Tatra. (google the Tatra 805 and you'll see what I mean)
They've been more of a consulting company than a constructor, lending a hand with the syncro, the iltis, the boxy Panda 4x4 among others. The engines are amazingly well thought out too, MAN used to consult themfor a while.
However their transfer cases equip virtually all western european 4x4 heavy trucks, and they're solid. Very solid. They can also be found in those huge 30+ wheeled mobile cranes for whom Steyr consulting did the design work.
The 12M18 was made to help Austria save face and avoid them have to buy the Merc 1017, they're aimed at the same payload bracket.

Steyr really are THE reference in off-road load carriers (notice I didn't say truck, cos I don't want the Mog fans to get upset).
So much the reference that instead of simply consulting them, MAN bought the company.
Which is why you don't see them any more.
With the exception of the KAT, all the MAN 4x4 trucks that made the MAN reputation off road are in fact STEYRs with a MAN motor and cab. There's a certain generation of Steyr that even has exactly the same cab as its MAN equivalent.
All that blabla to say that if the Steyr weren't so short, I would have already bought one,
and I'd have paid straight up without viewing they're such nice trucks.
There is just one other problem, I wouldn't know where to get spare cab parts; the rest of the mechanicals is easy though.

Great vid, I hope my 210 hp Volvo will be able to do that kind of stuff (I hope my wife will let me)
Cheers
Luke

 

[Jarek M]

Sorry man it's not happening any time soon, last one on GL auction was a junker and it went for $42K!!! You better off with a M900A2 series vehicles.

 

[Jarek M]

But I can't wait till they show up

 

[Lynn]

Sorry man it's not happening any time soon, last one on GL auction was a junker and it went for $42K!!! You better off with a M900A2 series vehicles.

Please note that I was not referring to the US FMTV. IIRC there was some discussion on here previously that brought out that they have serious issues, and extreme maintenance costs.

I was referring to importing a 25+ year old Austrian Styer 12M16, and that is the truck I am hoping to learn more about with this thread.

My understanding is that the US FMTV was 'based' on the Styer design, and my suspicion is that the original Styer is a tough reliable design, but Stewart and Stevenson screwed with the design too much.

As I mentioned in my OP, Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG made the Pinzgaur and G-wagon, so they certainly know how to build good stuff. Stewart and Stevenson (now BAE) I'm not so confident in.

But I admit that's a lot of supposition, and I would love to be educated.

Also, if I buy a US Military surplus truck, export restrictions could prevent me from taking it out of the US. Not really what I want in a global expedition vehicle.

On the other hand, I can legally import a 25 y.o Styer and drive it wherever I want without worry.

 

[M.Bas]

As I mentioned in my OP, Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG made the Pinzgaur and G-wagon, so they certainly know how to build good stuff. Stewart and Stevenson (now BAE) I'm not so confident in.

BAE makes the Pinzgauer

:xxrotflma

 

[LukeH]

BAE makes the Pinzgauer

:xxrotflma

They do now.
I've always found it encouraging that good vehicle designs are carried on in develeloping countries after they've been axed in their home countries:
You can get Beetles and Combis in Brazil, Golf 1s and t3 vw busses in south Africa,
And now brand new Pinzis in England

He he

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I would sooo rock a MTV as a expo camper. I want the troop carries, since it is like 8 feet longer than the normal one. We have two brand new ones sitting on base collecting dust...along with about 100 "up armored" ones we just got in.

 

[AxelG]

Anyone on here with first-hand experience?

We have one of the former Austrian Army 12M18's in our family since early this year. After a quick camping-installation we went to the Tunisian sand-area with it in April. I was amazed by the qualities of this truck in the Dunes - I would never have thought it could be that capable...

In short, it is a handsome, easy to use 4x4 "light-truck" with many qualities for overland expeditions (serviceability, wheelbase, consumption...).

Here a few impressions of our trip:

Cheers,
Axel

 

[Lynn]

Axel,

Thanks for your impressions and pictures.

Is this a difficult vehicle for you to get parts for?

 

[AxelG]

Since MAN has bought Steyr's truck sector, we are very well off when it comes to spare parts.

 

[Patman]

No real usefull info, but that redefines COOL on a whole new level!

I would live with a 45mph top speed to rock one of these with a "van/camper" body on the back!

 

[germanboy]

Check out www.goldbacher.com

Friends of ours are coming with one of these "brutes" from Germany to drive it from Alaska to the bottom of South America.....
Sadly their site is only in German, but I am sure they will have some pretty cool pictures on there!

They are also planning to leave the truck in the US after, sometime around December 2011.

Cheers,
Karl:coffeedrink:

 

[Vtunimog]

I haven't seen any discussion on the Steyr 12M18 as a potential overland camper chassis, so thought I would start some...

Manufactured by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Austria, of G-wagen / Pinzgaurer fame.

Precursor to the US Military FMTV.

177hp turbo diesel.

Front and rear diff locks.

5 ton capacity.

Extended cab, so nice and roomy.

Top speed ~60 mph. Normal highway speed probably 50ish?

I've found conflicting reports that these trucks entered service with the Austrian military in either 1985 or 1986, so the first models are either eligible for import into the US this year, or will be next year, by the 25-year rule.

I've also read that they use a lot of standard Bosch components, and are 'easily serviceable,' but that comes from an importer/salesman, so...

Anyone on here with first-hand experience?

Here's a cool youTube video

The 12M18 does seem to have conflicting years of service, some say 1986 and others say 1988. I have seen trucks with 1985 as year of MFG.

THe Steyr is a fairly stiff medium duty truck, top speed with modifications is around 110-115 kmh. I have driven two models , one I imported for Canada in 2010 and another in Holland. for the size the trucks are easy to drive, the gearbox is simple controls are simple, the truck is like I said stiff but not so bad as to cause handling issues. while not as stiff as the MAN kat series trucks it is still a large truck. The cab is fairly comfortable and spacious , well laid out and has almost enough space behind the seats for a small platform (for gear etc) or a tiny jump seat (although probably not). THe overall quality of the truck rivals many ex MOD/DEF trucks on the market. Compared to US trucks of the same time period I would choose the Steyr over almost all, this truck is stiff but they are postively rigid. Problems : parts , you will have to hunt for some specialty parts, while many are Bosch and other universal German suppliers, specific items for the drive train can be interesting to find. I found filters for the engine at my local heavy truck supplier (baldwin filters if I recall) we needed brake components and since the brake system was Knorr-Bremse we were able to find cross reference via Bendix/Westinghouse and found what we needed. There are some surplus suppliers out there and for the most part the Daimler engine is really quite bullet proof. The good news is that many of these trucks are in very good service order since the AUstrians used them and the overall quality is excellent. The bad news is that they are exceptionally rare, there are perhaps 10-12 in Austria and perhaps another 30-40 units around Europe. Some are nearly new condition (Steyr in Graz Austria alledgedly rebuilt 40 units under contract for KFOR and never ended up deliverying - so the story goes) Steyr is a very old manfacturer that really no longer exists in the tradtional sense, Styer Daimer Puch truck was spun off and sold to General Dynamics Europe land systems.

Prices vary but for the items you can import an east coast landed price of $35K - $38K is probably the upper end for a decent example. Keep in mind these trucks fall into the 25% duty range due to their nature (over 2.5 ton cargo truck)

IMHO they are becoming more popular as a platform for a mid sized expedition vehicle , especially amongst the austrian and swiss expeditioners.

 

[Vtunimog]

Since MAN has bought Steyr's truck sector, we are very well off when it comes to spare parts.

they purchased the commercial sector didn't they ? I think the military vehicles went with General Dynamics Europe