Unimog

The Unimog (from the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", meaning "universal motor machine") is a series of trucks from Daimler-Benz designed shortly after WWII, originally to be used as slow-moving tractors for Germany's turnip harvest.

They feature very high ground clearance — greater than the Humvee — made possible by portal gears that allow the axles and transmission to be higher than the tires' centers. Unimogs also feature a flexible frame that allows the tyres a wide range of vertical movement to allow the truck to comfortably drive over extremely uneven terrain, even metre-high boulders.

Unimogs have been used by many different militaries, including the German and Swiss armies. They are also used extensively by the South African National Defence Force.

The most popular Unimog model in terms of number of trucks manufactured is the Unimog 404, produced in troop carrier and radio box variants and powered by a 2-liter waterproofed Mercedes-Benz gasoline engine that produced as little as 80 horsepower in the most common versions of this model.

Specifications (Unimog 404)

• width: 84 in
• length: 194 in
• height: 86 in (cab height: 63 in)
• cargo bed: 118 in x 78 in (84 in x 82 in with double-cab)
• wheelbase: 2900 mm (114 in)
• turning radius: 42.6 ft
• empty weight: 6393 lb
• gross weight: 9700 lb
• tires: 10.5 x 20 (DOT)
• fuel: 2 x 15.9 gal
• ground clearance: 15.7 in
• fording (w/o equipment): 800 mm (31.5 in)
• traverse angle
  • on a side slope: 42 degrees
  • approach: 45 degrees
  • departure: 46 degrees
• climb: 70% grade
• descent: 90% grade
• avg fuel consumption (gasoline): 10–14 mpg
• trans. gearing
  • forward: 14.93/8.23/4.47/2.46/1.52/1.0
  • reverse: 20.12/11.09

External links

• Unimog 404 FAQ
• Mercedes-Benz International Website
• 2004 Northwest Mog Fest Photos