Unimog is a line of four-wheel drive vehicles with high ground clearance and rugged construction. First introduced in Germany after World War II, they are still used in agriculture, civilian and military contexts. The vehicles have exceptional ground clearance and all-wheel drive, making them useful in a variety of applications and terrains.
Unimog is a line of four-wheel drive vehicles first introduced in Germany shortly after World War II. These vehicles are still found in agricultural and civilian contexts, and are used by some military as well. There have been several different vehicle platforms within the Unimog line, and they all share some general characteristics. Four-wheel drive, rugged construction and high ground clearance are some of the features that have defined these vehicles over the years. These same features have helped make many of the vehicles within the lineup useful in a variety of different applications and terrains.
The first Unimog prototype was built in 1946, which is when the term “Universal-Motor-Gerät” was coined and later shortened to create the official name. These early prototypes were intended to be a new type of tractor with four wheels the same size as a car or truck, an enclosed cab, and high ground clearance. Most of the design choices that were used in the first Universal-Motor-Gerät were utilitarian and intended to allow the vehicles to function in harsh environments. Attachments were designed so the vehicles could pull loads, and Power Take Off (PTO) systems were created to operate various farm implements.
In the early 1950s, the first commercially available Unimog trucks were launched. A popular line first offered in the early 1950s remained in production for about thirty years. Although the vehicles remained popular in agricultural settings, the ubiquitous four-wheel drive and high ground clearance also made them useful in other civil and military operations. Since these vehicles can travel through difficult terrain, they have been used to fight fires, transport equipment, and clear snow. Some motorsport events that take place in difficult conditions also use Unimog trucks.
The two main characteristics that Unimog vehicles tend to share are exceptional ground clearance and all-wheel drive. These vehicles tend to have higher ground clearance than other trucks of a similar size, which is made possible through devices known as portal gears. Most vehicles have driveshafts that sit in the center of the tires, so the ground clearance can’t be more than the radius of the tires, and technically it’s less than that due to the size of the axle itself. , plus differentials, transfer cases and other components. A portal gear is a device that allows the axle to sit at the top of the wheel instead of the center, which can dramatically increase ground clearance.
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