Unimog Club UK

 
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?

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!

That's great news. I will follow the turbo bit with interest as I know of a kit but still cannot decide if I really want to do that with my engine.

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

Any synthetic gear oil 75/90 in the hubs diff but the gearbox get millers or Morris oils the gearbox needs to be gl 5 spec if you want to be absolutely correct buy from a Mercedes Unimog dealer but you'll pay for it.
Because your not going to overload your machine you could use standard oil and change regularly I like this because you see the condttion and levels at regular intervals always check the levels before you drain to see if you have any seals gone.
Moose

Hi Clever hans,

Any updates on this?

Cheers, Brian

Seen this before it is a good solution my 1450 does just this, you can't beat getting out of your Unimog after a long drive walking round it putting your hand on each hub if it's hot you have a Pottential problem anything Over 70c is a real problem and needs looking at, I'm not just talking about low oil level there's contamination over full hubs from input seals and overloaded axles.
All I'm saying is don't become complacent as there only 200ml of oil in em and there easy enough to change 😊
Moose

Rob & Sue,

That is a great little link you have put up from benzworld that I had not seen. It looks like I have some fabrication to do as my drivers side hub definitely suffers from this! It is something that I have always worried about and had assumed that capillary action was to blame but had never seen a solution to before.

Thank you,

Paul