A series of trucks from Daimler-Benz designed shortly after WWII originally to be used as slow-moving tractors for Germany's turnip harvest.
From the German name UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät, universal motor machine, Unimogs 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 (as in strewn with meter 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 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 80hp in the most common versions of this model.
Specifications (Unimog 404)
- width: 84in
- length: 194in
- height: 86in (cab height: 63in)
- cargo bed: 118in x 78in (84in x 82in with double-cab)
- wheelbase: 2900mm (114in)
- turning radius: 42.6ft
- empty weight: 6393lb
- gross weight: 9700lb
- tires: 10.5 x 20 (DOT)
- fuel: 2 x 15.9 gal
- ground clearance: 15.7in
- fording (w/o equipment): 80cm (31.5in)
- traverse angle
- on a side slope: 42 degrees
- approach: 45 degrees
- departure: 46 degrees
- climb: 70% grade
- descent: 90% grade
- avg milege (gasoline): 10-14 mpg
- trans. gearing
- forward: 14.93/8.23/4.47/2.46/1.52/1.0
- reverse: 20.12/11.09
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