Mercedes Benz RV - Boondocking - I Want One!!!!!

[Alfred622]

I just saw this article: Fox News UniMOG RV article

My gosh, look at the specs on this bad-boy. I'd love to take one of these boondocking. Gee... I don't think you'd even need a road for this beast!

[bshpilot]

probably a better camper for alaska than the lower 48 or TEXAS.

[m37charlie]

bshpilot & Horsedoc - beg to differ - It gets about the same fuel mileage as a typical large Class C with gas engine and automatic transmission, maybe better: 8-10 mpg. It has a specified top speed of 75mph, so it can comfortably cruise at 65mph. The motor puts out 960 ft-lb torque.
It also has some features neither of your vehicles have: 4WD, low range, 9spd synchro manual transmission (Allison optional), air locking differentials, central tire inflation, 14.00R20 (49.5") or 16.00R20 (53") tires.
Obviously not designed for the interstate cruising you guys appear to be fond of, but better for some other environments.

Charlie

[Horsedoc]

Might be ok if you wanted so go a short distance across open land like the prairie or such, but it would take a tremendous amount of fuel and also time to do a east coast to Rockies trip in that thing. Pass!

[bshpilot]

79 gallons of water & that tiny motor - sheesh - i call that a good start (compared to my 220 gals of water & larger motor).

id love to see a trail wide enough w/ enough over head clearance for that thing to go down !

personally Id rather park at the (level) trails edge and ride in via jeep or dirt bike.

my bet is that thing is geared so low that you wouldnt wanna drive it on the highway just to get to the trail.

[Daveinet]

Interesting videos. I didn't realize the Ford was so bad. I always thought their frame was stiffer than GM. When you go off road though, you normally release the torsion bar, that way the axle will articulate and the tires stay in contact with the ground, so they can get traction.

[GENECOP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f3CAnH7WIM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[GENECOP]

Daveinet wrote:

GENECOP wrote:

Daveinet wrote:
Don't know if it is an optical illusion, but the box looks twisted compared to the cab.
While there are some places it could go, I would fear it being too top heavy and prone to roll. Ends up being too much ground clearance.

No illusion part of the independent off road suspension, the best of the off road RV s have this type of Cab separation......all the weight is LOW, not easy to flip at all...

Ok, I'm sorry, I have to correct you on this one. Unimog is a solid portal axle, not independent suspension. The axles are raised up above wheel center line for greater ground clearance. That means the frame height is significantly higher, putting the engine higher, as well as the steel box. A quick search on Youtube shows a an empty bed bouncing around with no frame twist between the bed and the cab. Another video shows with a weighted bed and significant twist of the frame. Normally when you go off road, you want the articulation in the axles, not the frame.

Example...

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f3CAnH7WIM&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Sent from my iPad

[m37charlie]

I'm sorry, but a Zetros is NOT a Unimog. The writer of the article is, politely, unfamiliar with Mercedes offroad trucks; unpolitely, an idiot.
I do have a Unimog U500 camper.

Charlie

[Daveinet]

GENECOP wrote:

Daveinet wrote:
Don't know if it is an optical illusion, but the box looks twisted compared to the cab.
While there are some places it could go, I would fear it being too top heavy and prone to roll. Ends up being too much ground clearance.

No illusion part of the independent off road suspension, the best of the off road RV s have this type of Cab separation......all the weight is LOW, not easy to flip at all...

Ok, I'm sorry, I have to correct you on this one. Unimog is a solid portal axle, not independent suspension. The axles are raised up above wheel center line for greater ground clearance. That means the frame height is significantly higher, putting the engine higher, as well as the steel box. A quick search on Youtube shows a an empty bed bouncing around with no frame twist between the bed and the cab. Another video shows with a weighted bed and significant twist of the frame. Normally when you go off road, you want the articulation in the axles, not the frame.

[Bucky1320]

Mog's have been around for some time. Where do you want to go? It isn't exactly a tread lightly vehicle. Whereever you go, you tear up a bit. And that isn't going to fly with the land owners. It would be just the thing if you wanted to completely excape society indefinately while you build a compound.

[SeaDog_BRR]

No thanks my winnie is 1/100 the cost and does boon docking just fine.

[GENECOP]

Daveinet wrote:
Don't know if it is an optical illusion, but the box looks twisted compared to the cab.
While there are some places it could go, I would fear it being too top heavy and prone to roll. Ends up being too much ground clearance.

No illusion part of the independent off road suspension, the best of the off road RV s have this type of Cab separation......all the weight is LOW, not easy to flip at all...

[Daveinet]

Don't know if it is an optical illusion, but the box looks twisted compared to the cab.
While there are some places it could go, I would fear it being too top heavy and prone to roll. Ends up being too much ground clearance.

[dockmasterdave]

Nice article. Saw my first Unimog in about 79. I was duly impressed.
It'll go anywhere and you can change bodies easily, from a dump truck, to a tow truck, to a box truck, ETC ETC ETC, just drive out from under one, and under the next.