Can I Daily Drive a Mercedes Unimog? Here's What It's Like!

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#mercedes #unimog #highway

[@rheinisch2003]

The unimog isn't military based. It's development began in the farming sector. It was produced with a pto, hydraulic rear lift and so an. That's the reason why you had so many gears and the reduction gear. Now a days the Unimog isn't any more in deep farming, mostly you see it in the Municipal sector, like Road maintenance etc. In winter you often see it with a plow. Or like you said already many fire trucks are based on the unimog. Also it's very likely to build a camper on top of the Unimog. So you see, the Unimog was every where, not just in the military sector. PS Unimog means "Universal Motor Gerät" which is translatet Universal motor device "

[@cb1p111]

It's everything else, but military based... "farmer based" doesn't for sure sound that fancy...

[@michelt4390]

That's correct. It was designed as a tractor... that you could drive your family to town with. As far as a daily driver, I was half-expecting him to go to the mall and get groceries...

[@deltajohnny]

Great info! 👏👏

[@MihaiRUdeRO]

I mostly see Unimogs in Romania used for highway maintenance, road works / construction applications

[@hippiehillape]

Unimog was designed as farm equipment, by an engineer with military background. The width of the Unimog is two potato rows wide.

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

military based truck? No, it's not?! Primarily for municipal use, construction and maintenance, farming and also the military, but it's not a truck specifically designed for the military

[@bohnito]

And to be specific the first UNIMOG in the 40s was intended for farming. That was the reason for a couple of design choices like the AWD, the lockers in all differentials, the portal axles, track witdh and the possibilty to power additional equipment. But it became quickly clear it is well maybe even better suited for the above mentionend use cases.

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

I get what he's saying though, the German military did use them. They were designed as a farm tractor first though...

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

@@richfarfugnuven6308 many military forces use them because it's practical, but it never was primarily designed as military truck and then used off label for another purpose

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

@EnjoyFirefighting - International Emergency Response Videos I always joke that it's the opposite of the HUMVEE. HUMVEE was for military use and the public grabbed and loves them now. The UNIMOG was for the public and the military loved them and started grabbing them.

[@Sidepea]

No civilian should own military grade “assault trucks”!

[@GermanMythbuster]

Unimog isn't a Military Truck! It was build for Civilian use and got adopted by the Military because of the outstanding capabilities. Unimog stands for Universal-Motor-Gerät (Universal motor device). You can attach hundreds if not thousands of different machines to it that got developed for it by many company's. Cranes, mowers, snowplows, winches, street cleaners you name it the Unimog can do it! (normally they have a pto shaft like a tractor)

[@dmfick18]

My HOA would go crazy but gotta have one of those. I see your G-wagon and raise by 1,000%

[@J.Young808]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@desnekke7073]

Primarily it was constructed for the farmers after the war that they don’t have to buy a truck and tractor. It is till today the most useable off-road car you can afford in the whole world. I have one of my grandfather from 1967 and a new one. Best German engineering ❤ 👍

[@tatraoverland6055]

Correction: No glow plugs on this style Unimog, possibly has a Webasto or Espar etc. Coolant heater. 15 minutes can help it start unless ambient temp are really cold. Then it may require a little longer preheat. Brakes are what is known as Air over hydraulic. In Canada you need an air endorsement on your license. Unimog owner for over 40 years-Nice Mog!

[@altergreenhorn]

You need to ad a pinzgauer in your fleet because Tatra and Pinzgauer have the same dad I mean the constructor.

[@philhealey4443]

The U1250 and U2150 I've encountered has an ether spray, with a small hand pump by the gear levers. Never needed it down to around minus ten deg C.

[@michaelhoskins832]

Love the sign on the back,saying "I identify as a Prius."

[@Qrail]

We had a Unimog Fire truck that belonged to the forest service. I got an order to pickup a fire crew 320 miles away. I took them 578 miles to the fire. The Unimog has a distinct sound. I heard it coming into fire camp the next morning. He could only drive 45 mph, and was exhausted from the trip. (1988)

[@racinglightning01]

I used to operate a Unimog with a slick line rig on the back of it, for a few years back in the early 2000's. To call it a rough ride on the highway, or gravel roads is an understatement. Incredible off road, but you might want to invest in a kidney belt to get there.

[@MagdalenaMuffins]

Twin tech?

[@leonidaseguiluz]

I think you should've skipped gears, like 3rd then 5th then 7th.... Don't think the uni will have problems handling that

[@thealien6900]

I have always wanted one. I definitely don’t need one. There are many things on the list before one of those. But you never know when that crazy deal might come up. Thanks for sharing

[@geertrebreps191]

Unimog startete sein Leben nicht als Militär- sondern als Agrarfahrzeug mit 45 PS Unimog startet its life not as a military- but as an agricultural vehicle with 45 hp Uni >>Universal Mo > motor G > Gerät In der EU wird der Unimog als LKW zugelassen und erreicht daher max 90 km/h In the EU, the Unimog is registered as a truck and therefore reaches max 90 km/h

[@asmongoldsmouth9839]

It's an 18-spd Trans. 4 gears, low range/high range and then split 1/2 gears for each. 4x4 is 16 forward gears. Then you can high/low range the Lo gear (crawling gear). When you were starting off, that wasn't 3rd gear. That was 5th gear. Then when you thought you were in 4th gear, that was 7th gear. Then 9th gear. You were skipping your split gears or 1/2 gears. Everytime you don't split a gear, you are skipping a gear. (Which is fine when you are empty). I know this because I am a trucker and I have driven everything under the sun that has wheels. Including operating trains/engines.

[@JockeSelin]

It’s not split gears. The standard box is 4 gears with automated high-low switch in a double H pattern. First row is 1,2, second row 3,4, then third shifts to high, and gives you 5,6, fourth slot to the right gives you 7,8. The extra gears he mentions are crawler and working gears that reduce the main gearbox. Overdrive is a planetary gear that sits between the engine and gearbox and it just reduces the rpm. Not a very common setup. Plenty of pics on the Internet of what the different levers do

[@benjaminrobinson251]

Wrong

[@ReggaeGandalf86]

We have the Unimog Museum and it's birthplace like 50k s away. You can be driven in the most offroady one on a demonstration course. The capability of that thing is freaking scary. And the newer ones are way more comfy with the auto, the way nicer cabin and the astonishingly powerful 5.0 4pot diesel.

[@miwove]

In vehicles like that where the gear ratios are so tight together i tend to skip at least 1 sometimes 2 geas if they are empty. i.e. starting in 3rd go to 5th and so on.

[@texnorthman]

Nice to watch a video where for once we can get the truck cheaper here in Europe ;) A new one is about 150k + VAT. If you go nuts on the spec, double cab, hydraulics, winches and so on you should still be under 200k. This videos are seriously making me consider one though... looks amazing! Also have to note it stresses me out every time I see you guys fill what I think is the wrong fuel in your trucks 😅 Green is for Petrol in Europe, while black is for Diesel.

[@brian0410]

I just watched The Amazing Race (USA) and the people put petrol instead of diesel and broke 3 of the cars. All because you have different colors than we do 😂

[@Fetidaf]

It also says “diesel” on the pump. And the nozzles are different and it’s difficult to put a diesel nozzle in a gasoline car and vice versa.

[@Tacosauce81]

Now this is a real truck! I'd take this over any new truck on the market. Go anywhere, haul everything, beast.

[@maxbleicher]

The Unimog has nerver been a military vihicle. Is is used by military but its designed for agricultural use.

[@Hard_7_Iron]

Ahhhh Hwy 287 Colfax Ave?….. I lived in the Denver area 30 years ago….or more, and when you said Hwy 287, Colfax Ave. popped into my head. Man….WHAT a vehicle! Love the video….

[@sonatine3266]

Unimogs are such amazing vehicles. Especially the newest models like the U5030 - so comfy for such a big truck and capable of more things than most people even would try to do.

[@brianb-p6586]

The upshift sequence is hilarious - it must spend as much time with the clutch disengaged as actually applying power.

[@Stef.Cata051]

I don't think that the unimog is a truck, it's mainly a tractor, crane, construction equipment. I've seen people using them for farming(with some weird wheels and spraying equipment) and in Germany I've seen them used for construction and infrastructure maintenance. Never seen one used as a truck but I guess it can be used as one

[@MagdalenaMuffins]

Uni versal Mo torized G erat (appliance) . Built for Ag, municipal, military, emergency, and they could be purchased new for pleasure optioned exactly how you want it.

[@brianb-p6586]

If all you need is a truck, you probably don't really need a Unimog, but you can certainly use one. Military applications tend to use it simply as a truck, and "expedition campers" do the same... neither taking advantage of the power take-offs and extreme gearing.

[@nevinkuser9892]

It makes an awesome RV.

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

10 mpg isn't bad at all for a truck that size...

[@bruceklassen8261]

Great video, and it sounded amazing!!!!!!!!!

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Probably the only reliable merc out there.

[@seadog686]

Stirring that gearbox in traffic gives you a taste of what it was like to be a "Big Truck" (18 wheeler) driver before the automated transmissions.

[@TFLtruck]

Oh yea!

[@henryblanton6992]

In European Trucks Manuel Transmissions are Synchronized, American Manuel Transmissions are Constant Mesh: if you can’t “Float”, that is Shift without using the Clutch once under way, then you have to Double Clutch to Shift.

[@dancarter482]

@@TFLtruck Some of the Mog boxes have a switchover lever at the clutch to engage an auto shift mode, ideal in traffic etc.

[@anthonysourdiff1835]

I love that truck. Makes s great family hauler.

[@petercollingwood522]

True that the Unimog was not originally a Military design. But it worked great for many military applications. Google the "Buffel" mrap developed by South Africa during the border war 66 to 89. The Buffel was the standard South African Army troop transporter which was a converted Unimog. They took the cab and bed off and replaced them with a v shaped bin and protected driver compartment and used them for the next couple of decades. The basic vehicle remained standard Unimog though.

[@semajniffirg230]

Unimog is not military oriented it was designed for farming, so farmers that couldn't buy a truck and a tractor could use the Unimog for both if they needed.

[@ArneP82]

UNIMOG was not invented for the millitary. After the war the german ingenuers wanted to creat a car which is able to fullfill all tasks. it should be able to work on the field like a tractor and also be able for works in City or on hayways. UNIMOG means universal motor device

[@zkdadof4]

This is hilarious 😂. Love it.

[@mclroy]

Hi Andre. Good video as always. I wonder if you have to double cluth to shift?

[@bosse641]

So cool. Would love to Every Day this beast.

[@RogerM88]

I think Mercedes-Benz would increase drastically their Unimog sales, if they mass produced a more compact version similar to the U430 with a more affordable price, and simpler equipment. Also standard with a 3 point hitch and rear PTO. It would compete with the compact tractor segment, to small Farms with the pros of having a more comfort ride.

[@colinbateman8233]

I think when you look at the versatility of the unimog and the many attachments this truck is perfect for many uses

[@asdf51501]

Interesting and must have been a pretty fun video to make.

[@johnj9693]

Would love to see if an LMTV can follow the Unimog on the Couch course.

[@joetrotter148]

I want to see their MTVR take on a Mog

[@congozilla]

Pretty good for cross country and loves speed. Gets around 9 mpg.

[@christophingame]

That’s a question I’ve often asked myself. Would like to try!

[@MeEntertainmentJo_876]

We didn’t see this one the Tumbleweed course though? And we didn’t get to see a mpg loop or an Ike Gauntlet! What a bummer.

[@learycogic]

Just seen one of these from Florida for the first time. I had to look it up and find out more about it. Lol

[@byteme9718]

Thanks for the lesson on how to use a key.

[@Afriqueleblanq]

It is an agricultural vehicle by primary design, with added functionality. We used a 416 unit as a daily in 1980-81. 5.7 litre NA straight six Diesel, diff-locks on every axle, unstoppable. Not meant to be fast, just meant to have unequalled endurance and longevity. With 500mm ground clearance, what can go wrong?

[@martinwinther6013]

Its a universal agricultural vehicle designed as a platform for all sorts mechanical/pneumatic loadouts. Its basically an advanced tractor -

[@satyakammisra]

I am taking one to the Nurburgring next weekend. Wish me luck 😂❤

[@bantizzle79]

MPG loop would be interesting seeing the results.

[@davidlynch7666]

Gpm maybe

[@MagdalenaMuffins]

7-9 mpg at 70 in a turned up doka like this with an over drive.

[@AH-nj2kj]

I drove this truck to Flagstaff last year for Overand Expo, we were getting between 12-14mpg with a 100gal diesel tank and everything else for the show loaded in the back.

[@ap6553]

Thanks, would love to know what the RPM was at top speed?

[@marcleibovic6879]

Andre you are the Best

[@TFLtruck]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@giftcard8478]

My neighbor had a few of these in California. Cool

[@cyberjack]

thats cool AF .. absolute monster ,, love it

[@jacksonrodabaugh9984]

My dad has a 2002 ford e350 Quigley 15 passenger, which is like 4 tons and it only gets between like 8 and about 13 miles per gallon, depending on how it's driven

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

My 8000 pound 2003 Excursion is turned up to 600/1100 and it does about the same. If I keep my foot out of it on the highway, I can do a little better when I turn on the water methanol...

[@jacksonrodabaugh9984]

@@richfarfugnuven6308 I know excursions have like forty some gallon tanks which is great since they get such terrible gas mileage. Someday I want an Excursion

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

@Jackson Rodabaugh the 6.0L powerstroke was not bad stock, but I had it torn apart and completely bulletproofed. Now at these power levels, it's pretty bad.

[@jacksonrodabaugh9984]

@@richfarfugnuven6308 oof, yea I can imagine so

[@montegrifo]

Using a Unimog as daily driver is like using a jackhammer to crush your ice for a cocktail.

[@garryrichardson4572]

You said the brakes were hydraulic. It’s actually air over hydraulic. The master cylinder is half way down the truck and air pushed by the pedal in the cab is pushed to that master cylinder and the hydraulic circuit works from there. Unless the modern models went a different path.

[@chrisE815]

That's why a CDL is not required, correct?

[@adamscarchannel5578]

That had to be a bit scary driving that on the freeway. I'll bet everyone got out of your way Andre.

[@tylough]

He actually has a CDL so he's not a stranger to driving big trucks.

[@adamscarchannel5578]

@@tylough I figured as much.

[@tristesskartoffel8677]

This is a true workhorse.

[@mattheweburns]

You must have to lower your tire pressure for it to be low enough to fit in the garage

[@carmas54]

Love it but no where to get it serviced.zetros is my favorite truck chassis

[@joao_goncalves]

You got the mog for 2 months, and I only saw the videos for you getting it and giving it back. What did you even do with it?

[@tomplump2629]

Got a 1982 ex military for sale here in South Carolina

[@machfive916]

Looks like a blast to drive. Great review Andre!

[@poplaurentiu4148]

Not a daily highway plush cruiser but definitely a super cool crazy off-road beast..

[@Tiger1200xrx]

The refuelling threw me for a second… The Green pump is Petrol (gasoline) here in the UK, diesel is Black. That’s definitely one to watch out for if I ever get to the US and have to fuel up. Great Truck though.

[@jamessharkey7391]

Love the context just wish the guy didn’t sound like Gru from the minions 😂

[@ammo4184]

Does anyone know what year this Unimog is? Looked newer on the outside than the inside, plus most of the newer ones are auto these days.

[@youtube7076]

is there some reason not to skip alternate gears when accelerating ?

[@TexasDragon3907]

Andre needs a Kamaz or a Ural to go with the bukhanka

[@TFLtruck]

Ural would be great!

[@Alexx120493]

You are a brave man to run a Unimog at 75 mph :D In most places they are governed to 55mph and even then they are pretty unstable with their high center of gravity and comparetively short wheelbase

[@JockeSelin]

Ours is rated at 87km/h on standard tyres. Apart from having the engine scream, it’s not a problem to drive. Not a sports car, of course, but it’s pretty good for an off road truck.

[@MagdalenaMuffins]

This particular one has an aftermarket overdrive between the clutch housing and the transmission.

[@1badpete999]

Try to park it on a busy week end day at walmart lol !

[@Onurlagez]

Harika video olmuş elinize sağlık.❤

[@dernawey]

This vehicle is on my wish list along with the porsche 911 GT3 RS

[@dudestpriest504]

When yall going to come down to the Durango area?

[@MrOetzilars]

The Unimog is one of the best you can drive Offroad

[@CaptianInternet]

You have a double cab, short bed unimog?!?! Where did you get that one? It is my dream truck. I just withed it had abed that continues the flanks of the cab like the G Class. Just bigger.

[@martinhuehnerbein2497]

better explanation for the gears: you have 8 forward and also 8 backward gears... but you need big balls to drive 70 mph backwards. because of gear reduction for offroad you have in total 16 different gears

[@NenadTrajkovic]

In Europe, the Unimog is a work machine more than a classic vehicle...like a tractor, harvester or mixer...literally no one drives them except those who really need them.

[@duraflexllc4860]

Lots of people use it for over landing

[@ronniemaeker9102]

Age old question...Where to find parts... Can/would you do an Ike run...?

[@speakebreathe]

Which part of CO is the ranch? Looks nice

[@jjt1093]

Sure you could daily drive it if you have money coming out of every nook and cranny possible, But she is a farm truck from birth then maintenance,construction all that also military but not primarily I drive a 1970s series 3 land rover daily with turbo diesel, I can feel the pain on roads and highways same as the mog. Mogs are awesome vehicles

[@markusdippenaar331]

The enjin motor is a inline 4 cylinder nota 6 cylinder

[@cockderoon2363]

Wwenn you means you have an overdrive . . . . . that means you have not 24 gears but you have 48 gears. You can use youre overdrive in every gear. In the German langues that calls a "Nachschalltgetriebe" . Greetings from one of the dutch Unimogambassadors .

[@BrewPub]

What model year is this Mog?

[@dannynevada9880]

Hydraulic brakes? If thats the case why do you need to build air pressure?

[@mississippidrifter5960]

Just because it looks military doesn't make it military it's agricultural based. But you should do a durability test between the unimog and the h3. Wow you really should know something about a vehicle before you do a review of it there's a reason that you can deflate your tires and it's not because they're over pressurized. But I thought it was really funny how it wasn't an electric vehicle so you couldn't figure out how to start it.

[@l2positionuno268]

This is dream of mine…same self harming dream as driving around on a regular basis in a GT3 cup car. 😂 😊💭

[@mangravy2000]

What year is the vehicle?

[@foshizzlfizzl]

Hehehe😂😂 first of all, where did you get the double cabin from? It's damn rare. Second, you have some facts wrong about the Unimogs.. But the most important, this isn't an old model! This is the latest model that is out there 😅

[@tosil]

Has to be a British speedo to read in MPH. Pretty cool

[@kc0lif]

i likes the unimog and tumbleweed ranch.

[@Som09mer]

The glow light must turn off before starting the motor so that it can get preheated

[@philhealey4443]

What glow plugs? Neither the OM352 or OM366 motors have glow plugs ! You have an ether start pilot system which is only needed at very low temperatures.

[@Som09mer]

@@philhealey4443 didn't know they don't have these. we were always told with diesel motors to way till the „glow plug symbol“ has turned off

[@Sylvan_dB]

The background repeating sound sequence (not quite music) for the first few minutes is really annoying.

[@martintin5496]

Amazing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@joezephyr]

But can the Unimog keep up with the Buhanka! :)

[@jonjnichols]

Seems like a missed opportunity for a TFL drag race 🤷

[@mchilly]

Where are the cup holders for my big gulp?

[@AccountantByDay553]

Would love a used one here in Canada😅

[@un_garconrouge7713]

you would’nt be able to afford it, remember you also have a home mortgage to pay😂😂

[@duraflexllc4860]

You guys in Canada can get new ones and old ones you guys are the lucky ones lol.

[@brianb-p6586]

@@duraflexllc4860 New Unimogs are not sold by Daimler in Canada. One company imports new Unimogs, but they are only legal for off-road use.

[@ephjay6t87]

Hack: Glue a piece of carpet to the steering column to stop that clatter from the key chain. Cheap mod.

[@Kimandy6862]

Does it have Apple CarPlay?

[@akim2007p]

Where is Bukhanka? Unimog is too comfy, we need utilitarian Bukhanka! Real man wagon! 🤣

[@Indypacecar82]

Why haven't you done more videos with the Unimog?

[@WW-wf8tu]

Right? 2 months on the ranch and they did ONE video of it dragging around a little rav4 in the snow. WTH? Original purpose they said was to bring it to the ranch to use as a recovery rig. Recover what? What did they do in 2 months with it? They did not drive it down into their course and properly challenge it. (not that it would have been much of a challenge)There are a fair amount of videos of it, but not ON the ranch doing what they said they were going to do. Unless editing is still working on things they did with it. Timeline of things taking place is a bit confusing.

[@Indypacecar82]

@@WW-wf8tu They could have taken it to Moab, Ike Gauntlet, road trip test. Many video opportunities and we only got one

[@TFLtruck]

The course iced over and got filled with snow, so it’s dangerous to drive anything through it. You can be sure that the Unimog will return in the Spring.

[@Indypacecar82]

@@TFLtruck looking forward to it.

[@nevinkuser9892]

How much does one of these cost?

[@Flying_Tiger_enthusiast]

UNIMOG on highway is like walking on a leash with a lion.

[@daku911]

After the celebrities destroyed the reputation of the G wagon and made it into a status symbol for the rich, along with equipping it wheels and tires that kill its capability. This is truly the best and most reliable Mercedes left.