U20?

[ntsqd]

Searched, didn't find any previous mention of this new (?) model.
http://www.sae.org/automag/technewsletter/070618CV/09.htm

[pskhaat]

That thing is sweet. They say only 3 passengers but it has 4 doors! :wings: Wonder how hard it'd be to get that baby into the US. Complete drool.

[charlieaarons]

The Mog in the picture is a U3-5000, not a U20. It's a Doka (doppelkabine, or crewcab). The U500 has a lot of the same features and you can buy them in the US new, if you can still find one.

Charlie

[Blair G]

Searched, didn't find any previous mention of this new (?) model.
http://www.sae.org/automag/technewsletter/070618CV/09.htm

That looks cool.


http://image53.webshots.com/453/1/64/40/2791164400039369595odoGWj_ph.jpg?track_pagetag=/page/photo/rides/trucks&track_action=/Shortcuts/FullSize

[pskhaat]

The U500 has a lot of the same features and you can buy them in the US new, if you can still find one.

I didn't know the U500 was even available in crew cab. Very cool. Better get back to working the day away to sometime have enough $ for one 'em.

Found a U20 pic here (albeit CG):

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/09/19/022316.4-lg.jpg

[Blair G]

The Mog in the picture is a U3-5000, not a U20. It's a Doka (doppelkabine, or crewcab). The U500 has a lot of the same features and you can buy them in the US new, if you can still find one.

Charlie

They seem to show up fairly regularly.

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?ohid=1463996&guid=DAC84D4F6A4F4047952CECCA35789319

[charlieaarons]

I didn't know the U500 was even available in crew cab. Very cool. Better get back to working the day away to sometime have enough $ for one 'em.

Found a U20 pic here (albeit CG):

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/09/19/022316.4-lg.jpg
It's not available w/crewcab except very ugly factory approved aftermarket. I wouldn't get it, it uses up too much wheelbase for the camper. But the U500 comes with the important stuff: EAS, working/crawler gears, CTIS, hydraulics....
Charlie

[flyingwil]

Here is real pics of it:

http://www.hadel.net/autos/assets/2006/lkw/lkw_mercedes_unimog_u20_2006_01.jpg

http://www.hadel.net/autos/assets/2006/lkw/lkw_mercedes_unimog_u20_2006_02.jpg

http://www.hadel.net/autos/assets/2006/lkw/lkw_mercedes_unimog_u20_2006_04.jpg

http://www.hadel.net/autos/assets/2006/lkw/lkw_mercedes_unimog_u20_2006_05.jpg

[haven]

The U20 is a U300 with shortened wheelbase. The article linked tells the story.

...a gross vehicle mass of 16,500 or 18,700 lb...
...wheelbase has been shortened to 106 in
...four-cylinder 4.25-L turbodiesel with 148 hp
...an all-steel cab...space for up to three people.
...Euro-4 emissions compliant

I doubt Freightliner will be interested in the U20. Sigh...

Chip Haven

[norseman]

A Unimog that doesn't seem like a Unimog to me.

The U20 has a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter all steel cab.

David Gudmunsen

[Robthebrit]

The U20 is not coming to the US neither are the U3000-5000 models, these are the traditional unimogs. In fact the U500 you can get here is the U500 NA which is specially made for north america with lots of US parts and fittings to make them easier to fix here. It is not legal to import a European U500 or its smaller brothers the U300 and U400.

Rob

[charlieaarons]

The NA U500 has in particular:
260 hp/700 ft-lb engine with EGR instead of Euro 4 280hp/826 ft-lb (optional). I don't know if the Euro 4 version has EGR.
5.92 gears instead of 6.38
A little fan on the rear driveshaft to keep the rear diff cooler at 70 mph.
US type air and hydraulic fittings, and a 130 psi air system instead of European 260 psi. Which means a different air compressor.
12 volt starter and alternator and body electrics, instead of 24V. The transmission and engine electronics are still 24V, it has a 12-24 convertor with a built in spare in case the main one fails. Which means a different starter and alternator.
Different air brake slave cylinders.

Clutch, transmission, axles (except for gear ratios), frame are the same, I think. I already have spare alternator and air compressor and voltage convertor. Obviously spare wheel bearings and oil seals and a U-joint are needed, also brake parts.

All in all I feel very fortunate to have a new U500 that is US legal. So far none if its' deficiencies relative to the U5000 have been a problem even offroad. The one thing I'd like to add is a 4psi pressurization to gearbox vents for fording.
If I somehow were able to finagle a U5000 into the US you'd want to swap its' 6.94 gears for 5.92s. 53 mph doesn't work well on US highways. Then you'd want to up-engine it to a MBE 926 (7.2L), a company called Hellgeth does that in Germany. That would be $$$$!!

Charlie

[Robthebrit]

Charlie, you hit the nail on the head with the differences. The highspeed gears are available in the EU too but the extra cost and strict speed restrictions make them less popular. Mogs have had high speed gears for 40 years but they are not terribly common and to upgrade afterwards will damage your bank account, you'll be able to buy a jeep with the change.

I don't think you are going to take the U500 to its limits and given the the awesome view from the cab, much higher speed, much more power and the creature comforts available for the U500 I think it makes a much better expedition truck than the U5000, even if it is 'less capable'. The U5000 is a Unimog in every sense of the word. Your camper is still a unimog and capability is relative.

The engine used in the U5000 is a bit of a pig too, your 6 cylinder great and is the latest version in the chain of OM352 derivatives and used world wide in all sorts of applictions from trucks to cranes to generators.

The only thing I would be concerned with is US air/hydrualic fittings and hoses can be hard to find in other places but certainly not impossible and you can always order from the US if you have a computer. Given the truck only uses a handfull of different types of connector you can simply take some spares with you and a few splice kits.

Rob

[shartzer]

Just another article about the new U20 I found today.

http://www.sae.org/ohmag/technewsletter/080401Tech/06.htm

[david despain]

http://www.unimog-international.com/content/unimog_int/mpc/mpc_unimog_website/en/home_mpc/unimog/home/system_unimog/model_range/u_20.html

i sent off for a brochure from M-B yesterday and its still not here yet. i am getting antsy. it would be cool if these were widely used by local municipalities then there would be lots of used ones in a few years.

[Octamog]

I have a bunch of U20 photos in my Unimog Gallery here: http://octamog.smugmug.com/gallery/1377196_erxDi#168578847

[david despain]

The U20 is not coming to the US neither are the U3000-5000 models, these are the traditional unimogs. In fact the U500 you can get here is the U500 NA which is specially made for north america with lots of US parts and fittings to make them easier to fix here. It is not legal to import a European U500 or its smaller brothers the U300 and U400.

Rob


Hello Mr. Despain ,

Unfortunately due to non compliance with emission regulations that went into effect in 2007 we are no longer able to sell the Unimog in North America.

If I can be of further assistance do not hesitate contacting me at the phone number below or via email.

Sincerely

Traian Grecu
Manager, Unimog North America
12620 SW Trigger Dr.
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
TraianGrecu@Freightliner.com
Office Phone: (503) 716 8510
Cell Phone: (503) 913 6625
Fax: (503) 716 8511
www.Unimog-Trucks.com


I Guess this is old news to you mog guys but for a casual observer/enthusiast i didnt realize this. too bad.

[david despain]

got my brochure in the mail, pretty good stuff. and now i know why it wont sell here. it has a refillable catalyst injection tank. im guessing urea or similar. looks like it holds a few gallons and it doesnt say how long it lasts. and the good ol' usa EPA says catalysts are required to be free from service for 100k miles. too bad.

[charlieaarons]

got my brochure in the mail, pretty good stuff. and now i know why it wont sell here. it has a refillable catalyst injection tank. im guessing urea or similar. looks like it holds a few gallons and it doesnt say how long it lasts. and the good ol' usa EPA says catalysts are required to be free from service for 100k miles. too bad.

It's not just that. MAN meets current Euro 4 specs for NOx with EGR, without urea injection and a catalyst. But 2007 EPA specs are more stringent than even 2010 Euro 5, I think.
Glad I got a U500 (without a cat, for high sulfur diesel) when I could. Too bad I ended up with the 2005 700 ft-lb version instead of the 2003 826 ft-lb version.

Charlie