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General Banter! / Re: Ideas Wanted!
« on: September 05, 2016, 07:37:29 pm »
Any inspirations, anybody...?
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17
General Banter! / Offroad for the first time!
« on: August 27, 2016, 10:39:02 pm »
We've been having fun!
For birthday/Christmas last December, Rob bought me a voucher for a half-day 4x4 experience at Deepdale Offroad near Barnard Castle. I'd never driven offroad at all before (unless you count forest tracks, which are still roads really), and having bought a Unimog, I really wanted to use my 4x4 session to learn more about it - I mean, why own a Mog if you're not going to use its abilities?
So off we went, first for a try-out in a Landrover while we got the hang of things, then switched to the Unimog for a couple of hours of fun!
I was incredibly impressed. The guy said that most of off-roading is knowing your vehicle's abilities and learning to trust them. After two hours of crawling, roaring and "walking" up and down increasingly steep slopes, across horrendous ruts, I was both in awe of what the Unimog can do, and thoroughly enjoying myself.
The sheer level of control was amazing. We toddled up a 45 degree grass and earth slope in 1st gear, with my feet right off the pedals, engine just on tick-over, and the machine just ground its way slowly to the top - then I put it in reverse 1st gear and it ground its way just as slowly back to the bottom - all I did was steer. It was the sort of slope where all you can see is bonnet and sky. Rob and my daughter, who were sitting in the back seats, had to brace themselves to avoid sliding into a heap.
And that chassis twist that means all four wheels remain in contact with the floor? Here's proof!
Even with that great big pump shelf on the front, Hans' approach angle still gave a massive amount of clearance to take a steep and rock-filled ridge in his stride.
Not exactly hot action shots, but that was the one time when the guy got out of the vehicle, so beggars can't be choosers and all that.
Previously, the thought of taking the Mog offroad made me a bit nervous, because I had no idea what I was doing. Now I'm planning to save up and do a full training day geared specially for the Unimog.
Sue
For birthday/Christmas last December, Rob bought me a voucher for a half-day 4x4 experience at Deepdale Offroad near Barnard Castle. I'd never driven offroad at all before (unless you count forest tracks, which are still roads really), and having bought a Unimog, I really wanted to use my 4x4 session to learn more about it - I mean, why own a Mog if you're not going to use its abilities?
So off we went, first for a try-out in a Landrover while we got the hang of things, then switched to the Unimog for a couple of hours of fun!
I was incredibly impressed. The guy said that most of off-roading is knowing your vehicle's abilities and learning to trust them. After two hours of crawling, roaring and "walking" up and down increasingly steep slopes, across horrendous ruts, I was both in awe of what the Unimog can do, and thoroughly enjoying myself.
The sheer level of control was amazing. We toddled up a 45 degree grass and earth slope in 1st gear, with my feet right off the pedals, engine just on tick-over, and the machine just ground its way slowly to the top - then I put it in reverse 1st gear and it ground its way just as slowly back to the bottom - all I did was steer. It was the sort of slope where all you can see is bonnet and sky. Rob and my daughter, who were sitting in the back seats, had to brace themselves to avoid sliding into a heap.
And that chassis twist that means all four wheels remain in contact with the floor? Here's proof!
Even with that great big pump shelf on the front, Hans' approach angle still gave a massive amount of clearance to take a steep and rock-filled ridge in his stride.
Not exactly hot action shots, but that was the one time when the guy got out of the vehicle, so beggars can't be choosers and all that.
Previously, the thought of taking the Mog offroad made me a bit nervous, because I had no idea what I was doing. Now I'm planning to save up and do a full training day geared specially for the Unimog.
Sue
18
General Banter! / Re: Ideas Wanted!
« on: August 27, 2016, 10:53:06 am »
Hmm, we are wondering now whether it might be a better fix to remove the current diesel tank from its perch under the passenger door, and replace it with the big tank. The current tank is two feet long, 15" high and probably 18" deep. It sits inset into the checker plate side step like so:
The brackets that hold the tank fore and aft are welded to the support brackets for the side step like so:
Fastening the big tank on top of the side step brackets would work just fine as far as we can see. The dimensions are: 4 foot long, 26" deep, 15" high. The only problem is that the big tank is 26" deep front to back, so unless we can snug it right back against the chassis rail, we can kiss the step to get into the passenger front door goodbye! Alas, there are some great big triangular bracing bits that will effectively push the tank out about 4-6" from the rail
Here are the big triangles:
And an overview of where they are:
Actually the two step brackets that sit behind the current tank have smaller triangles! Here they are:
And only one of the really big triangle brackets is getting in the way of the big tank, so perhaps we could remove the existing giant triangle, and get a slightly slimmer one welded in its place? Then if we lift the tank slightly off the step, that will mean it sits back further towards the chassis rail too...
What do you think guys? Does this sound do-able?
Just modifying this for a quick update.
Cheers for all the input!
Rob & Sue
The brackets that hold the tank fore and aft are welded to the support brackets for the side step like so:
Fastening the big tank on top of the side step brackets would work just fine as far as we can see. The dimensions are: 4 foot long, 26" deep, 15" high. The only problem is that the big tank is 26" deep front to back, so unless we can snug it right back against the chassis rail, we can kiss the step to get into the passenger front door goodbye! Alas, there are some great big triangular bracing bits that will effectively push the tank out about 4-6" from the rail
Here are the big triangles:And an overview of where they are:
Actually the two step brackets that sit behind the current tank have smaller triangles! Here they are:
And only one of the really big triangle brackets is getting in the way of the big tank, so perhaps we could remove the existing giant triangle, and get a slightly slimmer one welded in its place? Then if we lift the tank slightly off the step, that will mean it sits back further towards the chassis rail too...
What do you think guys? Does this sound do-able?
Just modifying this for a quick update.
Cheers for all the input!
Rob & Sue
19
General Banter! / Re: Ideas Wanted!
« on: August 24, 2016, 07:25:46 pm »Make two L shaped brackets one slightly longer than the other then make a rocking beam that sits under the tank and on top of the L braket to allow for flex clearance to pivot point must be a minimum of 20mm always remember to not drill or weld the chassis.Sorry to be thick but is there any chance you could do a quick sketch? I'm having trouble visualising how this will go together...
Moose
Cheers,
Rob
20
General Banter! / Ideas Wanted!
« on: August 22, 2016, 09:59:45 pm »
Hi everybody,
we've acquired a 280 litre aluminium fuel tank, not much used, from that well-known auction site.
It's a well-made piece of kit, 4ft long, 26" deep and 15" high.
We've got a few possible places we can put it on the fire engine but as this isn't a Unimog tank, we're wondering what the best way to attach it is going to be, as the brackets and straps that came fitted to it were from a very large truck. The bolts had rusted solid and had to be removed using the angle grinder.
I remember reading somewhere that anything you attach to a Mog has to be able to flex with the chassis... hence the question: How do I make a 4 foot long fuel tank flex?
Cheers,
Rob
we've acquired a 280 litre aluminium fuel tank, not much used, from that well-known auction site.
It's a well-made piece of kit, 4ft long, 26" deep and 15" high.
We've got a few possible places we can put it on the fire engine but as this isn't a Unimog tank, we're wondering what the best way to attach it is going to be, as the brackets and straps that came fitted to it were from a very large truck. The bolts had rusted solid and had to be removed using the angle grinder.
I remember reading somewhere that anything you attach to a Mog has to be able to flex with the chassis... hence the question: How do I make a 4 foot long fuel tank flex?
Cheers,
Rob
21
Unimog build threads / Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« on: July 26, 2016, 08:54:23 am »
Re replacing all hub and axle oils with Syntrans or similar - Moose, what grades of synthetic would we be best getting for axles, gearbox and hubs respectively? Don't want to damage the seals.
It's a 1981 U1300L 37. Can give you the VIN number if that would be useful.
Cheers,
Rob
It's a 1981 U1300L 37. Can give you the VIN number if that would be useful.
Cheers,
Rob
22
Unimog build threads / Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« on: July 26, 2016, 08:49:38 am »
Hi Moose,
we'll definitely want to pick your brains when we get to the turboing stage! Yes, it has a front PTO (the very fast one as currently it has a large water pump on it).
Rob
we'll definitely want to pick your brains when we get to the turboing stage! Yes, it has a front PTO (the very fast one as currently it has a large water pump on it).
Rob
23
Unimog build threads / Re: ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« on: July 17, 2016, 07:19:36 pm »
Yeah, it's a steep learning curve, isn't it?
It drives pretty well, has a better turning circle than our old American pickup, though due to the fast axles it is pretty gutless when faced with hills. Sue is getting familiarised with the right moment to change down... and down... and down. LOL
Moose informs us that this can be rectified by turboing the engine... next year's adaptation, I think!
It'll do 60 no problem, but it is definitely happier between and 50 and 55.
Added bonus is the exhaust brake for long downhill stretches - combining the two different sorts of braking is a real Godsend!
It drives pretty well, has a better turning circle than our old American pickup, though due to the fast axles it is pretty gutless when faced with hills. Sue is getting familiarised with the right moment to change down... and down... and down. LOL
Moose informs us that this can be rectified by turboing the engine... next year's adaptation, I think!
It'll do 60 no problem, but it is definitely happier between and 50 and 55.
Added bonus is the exhaust brake for long downhill stretches - combining the two different sorts of braking is a real Godsend!
24
Unimog build threads / ROAD LEGAL AT LAST!
« on: July 12, 2016, 08:06:33 pm » We did it! We imported, HGV tested and registered a Unimog!
Clever Hans the German Fire Engine now has a UK logbook, a UK registration number and proper Ministry plates
Once the faff with the headlights got sorted (the eventual answer was: stickers LOL), he sailed through, and the "permission to get numberplates made" letter arrived while we were away on holiday. Nice surprise when we got home!
DVSA HGV plate and plating certificate arrived too, so we're good to go.
He's had his maiden voyage already - we got the numberplates made up on Saturday, and drove him 145 miles to drop off the youngest at her boyfriend's place. Wheels stayed between cool and lukewarm all the way, and despite a certain gutlessness up long hills (courtesy of the fast axles/diffs), Hans took it all in stride very nicely.
The only annoying thing was - we developed a squeak on the back springs... there is a smaller diameter spring inside the big one at the back, and one of them seems to have moved a bit at the bottom end and be rubbing against the outer spring. Nothing appears to be missing. Anybody got an idea how to put it back, or is this replacement territory?
25
Unimog's For Sale / Re: Plant trailer for sale
« on: June 14, 2016, 09:59:28 pm »
Wow, grass growing on it and everything - it really IS a plant trailer! 
Ba boom boom tscchhh
Ba boom boom tscchhh
26
Unimog build threads / Re: Whoops
« on: June 11, 2016, 11:42:28 pm »
Good news - after learning to use an angle grinder (fun!), how to pop rivet (ditto), and discovering the joys of Sikaflex (it's almost all gone off my skin now after two weeks), the repair job we did was good enough that the DVSA tester guy didn't even mention it, let alone say there was a problem! And we hadn't covered it up or anything, it was all right there to be seen.
Very happy with that result!
Very happy with that result!
27
Unimog build threads / Re: Hans Is Home!
« on: June 11, 2016, 11:38:05 pm »
Now all we have to do is find suitable UK replacement units... may as well upgrade while we're at it. Anybody got recommendations for nice bright units to fit into the rectangular headlight holes in the bumper? I'm thinking of not going for LEDs as I hear they won't stay clear in snow and ice like nice warm conventional headlamps
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
28
Unimog build threads / Re: Hans Is Home!
« on: June 11, 2016, 02:24:39 pm »
Hans has passed his first plating test... finally!
Only two re-tests...
On each occasion, it failed due to its headlights having an EU beam pattern (right-side kick-up) instead of UK. We were totally mystified, as before the first test, we had changed the front headlight lenses for what we we told were correct UK lenses.
We sent those back and got sent a different set - these again came up as EU beam pattern. Another fail. Another lane charge.
At painful cost, we tried changing the entire headlamp unit for ones marked "LINKS VERKEHR" (left traffic)... once again, these had an EU beam pattern with a kick-up to the right when put on the headlight tester.
We switched back to the original lights with German lenses, slapped on a set of beam converter stickers (£6.99) - and passed the test!
We now have a year to figure out what the heck all that was about.
Anybody got any ideas...?
Just to say - the first time, it also failed on having a great big searchlight on the front - apparently it was blocking my view, and had to be removed, just for the test, then we could put it back on! LOL
Cheers,
Rob & Sue
Only two re-tests...
On each occasion, it failed due to its headlights having an EU beam pattern (right-side kick-up) instead of UK. We were totally mystified, as before the first test, we had changed the front headlight lenses for what we we told were correct UK lenses.
We sent those back and got sent a different set - these again came up as EU beam pattern. Another fail. Another lane charge.
At painful cost, we tried changing the entire headlamp unit for ones marked "LINKS VERKEHR" (left traffic)... once again, these had an EU beam pattern with a kick-up to the right when put on the headlight tester.
We switched back to the original lights with German lenses, slapped on a set of beam converter stickers (£6.99) - and passed the test!
We now have a year to figure out what the heck all that was about.
Anybody got any ideas...?
Just to say - the first time, it also failed on having a great big searchlight on the front - apparently it was blocking my view, and had to be removed, just for the test, then we could put it back on! LOL
Cheers,
Rob & Sue
29
"I've Always Wanted A Unimog" / Re: Unimogu600407
« on: June 11, 2016, 02:13:35 pm »In Germany tho and 28k
Euros or pounds? Either way... hmmm...
30
General Banter! / Re: Buying a U1300 in europe !
« on: June 06, 2016, 10:32:32 pm »
Hi Ziggy,
we're going through this process with our U1300L 37 at the moment - what year is yours?
Cheers,
Rob & Sue
we're going through this process with our U1300L 37 at the moment - what year is yours?
Cheers,
Rob & Sue