The Mercedes UNIMOG is the Coolest Road-going Truck Ever

If you want an off-roader or an expedition vehicle, the first ones that come to mind are most likely made by Toyota, Jeep, or Land Rover. These vehicles are without a doubt great choices. However, what if you want something large enough to sleep in? A van is the first thing to pop in mind; however, those aren’t good for off-roading. Maybe a caravan? Same issue. Aha! A Unimog, that’s what you need. The Unimog has the size to become a full-on home on wheels while also being immensely off-road capable. It dwarfs everything next to it and can drive up and through obstacles, you would never expect it to. Also, let’s not forget that it most probably is the coolest thing on the road.

How Did the Unimog Come to Life?

The Unimog was not always produced by Mercedes. The first variants which were mainly developed for agricultural use were developed by Boehringer Bros. In 1948, Albert Friedrich began work on a medium-sized four-wheel drive agricultural tractor that could perform a variety of jobs both on the field and on the road. The Unimog had to be able to carry cargo and tools, be fast enough to keep up with city traffic, and be able to pull a plow.

The first prototype hit every goal thanks to complex suspension and portal axles. The engine was sourced by Daimler (OM636 diesel) and the company produced 600 examples with demand quickly outgrowing supply.

Due to a variety of events, two years after the first Unimog was produced, Daimler-Benz signed a deal and Mercedes took over production.

What Makes the Unimog So Capable?

The Unimog offers everything an off-road vehicle must have in order to be immensely capable. It has strong solid axles, an average of 20 inches (depending on model) of ground clearance at the diff, two lockers, and huge 42-inch tires.

Just like a military Hummer, Mercedes also provided the truck with a tire inflation and deflation system. This enables the driver to inflate or deflate the rear, front, or both rear and front tires while sitting in the cabin. The lower the tire pressure, the more grip the vehicle has off-road and the better it rides over rough terrain.

The engines are also designed for heavy work. They are mostly large displacement diesels that produce most of their power down low. This helps with crawling over obstacles or towing heavy loads through difficult terrain. One of the latest engines to be featured in a Unimog produces 218 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Depending on model and year, engine choices will differ and there have been Unimogs with both more and less powerful engines than this.

What really sets the Unimog apart, however, is the gearing. The vehicle has a working gear group which is there for as the word suggests “hard work”. When the working gear group is engaged, the first gear low range changes from 100:1 to 680:1. But wait, there is more – some Unimogs come equipped with a second lever that reduced the gearing even further for a 3800:1 ratio

The bigger the number the lower the gearing is and the more control you have over tough obstacles. For perspective, the old Land Rover Defender had a 1st gear low range ratio of 40:1, and a very capable rock crawler will have something along the lines of 100:1. So, as you can see, the Unimog offers features no other vehicle can offer.

The Unimog is the Pinnacle in Vehicle Adaptability

Due to the immensely capable base and high payload capacity, the Unimog is the ultimate vehicle to personalize. For example, it can be optimized for farm use by bolting on farm equipment or it can become a fire truck that can drive to hard-to-reach areas during wildfires. Many of them have also served as military vehicles or just as transportation trucks in the harshest environments of the world.

However, one of the coolest adaptations one can do to a Unimog is converting it to an expedition vehicle. The large space in the back enables you to include everything you could possibly need to stay comfortable on the road – from a kitchen to a king-size bed. No need for tents or cramped camper trailers here. The best thing is that even with all that weight in the rear, the Unimog will still be able to take you through some of the toughest trails in the world; unless they are a bit too narrow for it to fit through.

Because it is such a popular machine, you will also be able to find parts for it regardless of where you happen to be. This is a huge bonus when it comes to choosing a vehicle for tough work or a global expedition.

Final Thoughts

The Unimog is a vehicle the automotive world must respect. It is one of a kind and offers abilities nothing else can offer. Watching such a heavy machine tackle terrain so demanding beggars belief. It is a vehicle that has worked on farms, taken travelers all around the world, soldiers to war, and firefighters to wildfires. Thankfully, it is still in production without any obvious signs of it being put off anytime soon. Due to emissions, heavy machinery is at a difficult stage during this era of carbon-free vehicles. However, if there is one brand that can make it work, it is Mercedes.