New Demonstration Unit for Unimogs in Britain
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CAUSE of a number of requests hey have received for demonstrations Unimog vehicles, Mercedes-Benz at Britain), Ltd., have had a selfrined demonstration unit built. It is rrimore drop-frame semi-trailer with ecial box body, also built by Carri
Six Wheelers, Ltd., to the design 4ercedes-Benz. Two Unimogs plus II set of attachments and equipment
for them will be carried in the unit which will make a series of demonstration tours.
Overall length of the two floor levels of the semi-trailer is 28 ft.—the drop section is 16 ft. 7 in. long—and there is a 3-ft. 6-in. Luton head at the front end.
The body has a timber framework with light-alloy panelling and there is a translucent strip in the centre of the roof running almost the full length of the body. Full-height rear doors with special hinges can be folded flat against the body. Two flaps incorporated in the left-hand body side can be raised to provide protection when the demonstration vehicles are being worked on outside the semi-trailer.
Twin channel-section ramps, spaced to suit the track of the Unimog, are mounted on the drop-section of the body floor. These are built to the same height as the front section and detachable extensions are carried which are attached to the ends of the ramps when the demonstration vehicles are to.be loaded. An I-section steel joist runs the full length of the body roof and carries a Morris 10-cwt. capacity block and tackle.
The tractive unit will be a MercedesBenz LPS 327 chassis modified by Mercedes-Benz (Great Britain) to a wheelbase of 8 ft. 6 in. from the original 10 ft. 6 in, The braking system has also been modified to give two-line airpressure at the connections for the trailer brakes. Following standard MercedesBenz practice, the hand-operated reaction valve for the trailer brakes is linked mechanically to the exhaust brake lever and the handbrake is also connected to the reaction valve. The chassis has a two-speed rear axle and a 110-b.h.p. diesel engine. A B.T.C. fifth-wheel coupling is fitted.
The tractive unit is to be offered, as modified, to operators in this country for use at a gross train weight of 24 tons, although in this first application the outfit will be operated at a gross train weight of 18 tons.