Comments by "Helmuth Schultes" (@helmuthschultes9243) on "American Learns About the Mercedes UNIMOG" video.

  1. I got into work with BOSCH in 1977, and in 1979 I visited Bosch Development near Stuttgart. It was here riding the bus to work where I first saw UNIMOG vehicles around most farms and some in other roles including village Fire Brigade. Being into 4WD since late 1960s I was enthused by a versatile 4x4 vehicle with lots of capabilities. As it turned out there were a couple of Unimogs at work used for injection and electronic ignition development, so I had chance to get into one for a close look oh the drool over its features. Sadly at the time only dreams. At start of 1980s I had to undertake training for injection system application work. During a 5 month working stint I got another chance for closeup Unimog experience. It almost happened, I had opportunity to buy a second hand, development Unimog for a mere $10,000, which was way less than a new price but the vehicle was low mileage around 16,000km from memory, and a mere two years old it was superseded by design changes but matched normal sold types. Sadly I procrastinated so it was sold to another engineer whose family had a small farm. As it turned out, I was very fortunate, the Unimog had never been built in Right Hand drive version, which I needed for Australia. As Left Hand Drive model I could not have driven much or long term in Australia except under limited special permit. As no parts ever were designed to allow Right Hand version , a conversion using standard parts was impossible, and custom rebuild virtually impossible or at least SUPER expensive. From memory three Unimogs were imported for a deep expedition to central Australia to search for the 'mythical' lost Lasseter's Gold Reef. These had a two year permit for the expedition. Not until Australian Army contracted for Mercedes to supply Right Hand Drive vehicles for the army did a redesigned version become available. From memory near end 1980s. To add to the prior 6WD army landrovers used prior to getting these bigger tougher Unimogs. I had opportunity on one summer Red Cross Canoe marathon event to use my Nissan Patrol with Warn Electric winch to unbogg an Army Unimog on a sandy river bank flat. UNIMOG bogged? Yes bogged, which realistically is virtually IMPOSSIBLE. It took a less than brilliant young army driver to actually bury one in loose sand. Not the only vehicle getting bogged that day I would have winched and towed over fifteen vehicles out including a tow truck that someone called saying he did not think I could help, so I got him and the tow truck out. Anyhow this young army driver first tried only two wheel drive getting rear two wheels dug in. Then in 4WD rather than slow low range gears to crawl free left it in high range and second or even third gear reving engine hard, dropped the clutch spinning all four wheels, and progressively on several such spinning efforts dug rear in deeper and front now also dug in. He argued with fellow army guys, that that was the way to get out, not slow low gear crawl. By the time his senior order him out of the truck even slow crawl did not help just churning loose sand now up to wheel gear hubs in sand. Now those wheels are BIG , must be over 1m outer diameter so the wheels would have been over 1/2m dug in. I used my winch and gave needed pull as the new driver of Unimog slowly rolled his wheels and the Unimog was free in under a minute after hooking up. It then managed to crawl off the sand slowly. Still a very impressive vehicle which driven properly can do more than most vehicles of its size. While ex Army Unimogs have become available, and far cheaper than new price, which is still daunting for us normal humans the continued cost of maintenance and spares remains painful. So likely never to own one. It is also large as far as parking space in suburban home yards or garage (height as well as width). A bit more feasible is a vehicle sort of in Unimog style, still in upper cost range, that is getting good reviews and kind of popular, is a IVECO model that us mere mortals could afford. It also has massive capability beyond the typical 4x4 and small to medium pickup trucks. It is worth following up, sorry Right now can not even state the model name.. just it is by IVECO.
    2