Ok so I'm predictable (and you know I was going to say that didn't you?) But show me a Mercedes Unimog doing its thing and you just know it's going to end up on Biglorryblog. And why not? After all it is the ultimate go-anywhere 4x4 (or have I said that BLB already?)
Anyway, pictured above is the smart new Unimog U500 water tender with a six-man crew cab for Cornwall Fire Service which I am told has “exceeded everybody’s expectations”. Well of course it has...it's a moggie! And whether it's needed to put out a fire on the county’s extensive moorland or providing help in times of flood it's clearly got what it takes to get the job done. Indeed Cornwall Fire Service Chief Engineer Mike Clayton tells me that "The introduction of the Unimog has led to a lot of positive comments."
Meanwhile, Paul Graham, a driving Instructor with the CFS says that all six designated drivers were “unequivocally in favour of the Unimog” because of its stability, power and traction under the most extreme tests. Now click through here for more details and another moggie picture...
The 1,350-litre capacity water tender vehicle is currently based at Launceston, where it provides specialist off-road capabilities for the whole county. Indeed the County Council says it was selected after a series of incidents including heavy snowfall, where it was recognised that the Fire Service required more specialist equipment to operate. Moreover, the severe flooding in Boscastle also highlighted the need for equipment to deal with extreme weather conditions.
“The Unimog gives us excellent off-road ability without compromising on-road performance, and it is narrower than more conventional fire vehicles so it gets through tight farm entrances and gateways,” Mike Clayton adds. And with 279hp under the bonnet (courtesy of its Merc diesel engine) the U500 will shrug off steep slopes, even with a full load.
As part of the driver training programme CFS has devised a series of extreme tests for the Unimog. Under emergency braking it stopped after just 37 metres from full speed - where other 4x4 vehicles have taken over 40 metres to come to a halt. And, with many rural Cornish roads being narrow and winding, the Unimog’s compact size, high ground clearance and exceptional weight stability – even when fully laden with water and equipment – has impressed all the drivers. No more than I'd expect says BLB.
Meanwhile here's a couple of German Unimogs that have gone to blazes...
Now that looks like fun! Why can't I teach people in vehicles like that?!