No boundaries: Unimog takes on the elements

by Katy de Vries

BARRIE, Ont. – Currie Truck Centre is one of only two distributors in Ontario who carry the European influenced Unimog U500.

The Unimog is a rugged specialized vehicle that is designed to replace several single purpose vehicles and perform multi-function vocational duties.

The versatile Class 6 and 7 work vehicle brings its multiple capabilities to the North American market.

It has a long history of being a reliable multi-purpose vehicle, having been around for over 50 years in 120 countries and used in 80 militaries around the world. It has finally come to North America through the Freightliner system.

The first implement carrier in the world, the Unimog was originally introduced in Europe in 1951. A few hundred thousand have been produced and sold worldwide, working in many applications.

Mercedes-Benz originally manufactured the Unimog and parent company, Daimler Chrysler has since begun distributing it through Freightliner.

The all-wheel drive Unimog is powered by the Mercedes-Benz OM900 electronic diesel engine, an eight-speed transmission and the electro-pneumatic Telligent gearshift system.

It has exceptionally high ground clearance, several different tire combinations, extremely low gearing, and a central tire inflation system that allows a change of tire pressure for on-road and off-road applications from within the cab. VarioPilot is a Unimog option that allows the driver to change from left hand drive to right hand drive in less than 30 seconds.

The Unimog has a number of different implements, which allows the driver to start with the truck and add what is needed to create a system. It could be a snowplow and salt spreader in the winter, a mower with a tree trimmer in the summer or a winch, a crane or a ditch digger.

The Unimog’s factory-installed hydraulic system and controls provide seamless implement changeovers.

Relationships have been forged with many key implement manufacturers from North America and Europe in order to offer customers specific implement choices.

The Unimog covers many bases, says Greg Sheridan, Canadian sales manager for Unimog’s North America division.

“There are two markets the Unimog is specifically aimed towards,” says Sheridan, “one market we’ve targeted is the municipal and roadway markets, which includes airports, where the idea would be that there is such a quick change of attachments at different times of the year. The other market we are looking at is the off-road market where we use the off-road capabilities of the Unimog which are far beyond any conventional truck.”

Don Macmillan, of Currie Truck Centre in Barrie, Ont., likens the Unimog to a household vacuum cleaner with a multitude of attachments all doing different jobs.

“There are many different options with the Unimog and the wide diversity of the vehicle allows customers to customize their Unimog to their specific needs and maximize its use,” says Macmillan.

Sales and service for the multi-use vehicle will be available through selected Freightliner Trucks, Sterling, Western Star and American LaFrance dealers in Canada and the U.S.

For more information visit www.unimogtrucks.com.


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