It only takes a few minutes of rain to turn a working construction site into a quagmire and when vehicles get stuick--nothing gets done. So no wonder Kent-based steel erectors Fitness Engineering chose this all-terrain Mercedes-Benz Unimog U500, with a 22-metre reach PM Crane, to get around the problem. And that's some 'reach' too.
Although only a small percentage of the Moggie's work is likely to be truly 'off-road', it's knowing that the Unimog/PM combo will get to the site, tackle the job effectively, and then get off it again that gives Fitness that all-important peace of mind that its profitability won't be hit. The radio-controlled PM Crane is powered directly from the Unimog's engine via a p-to, while there's room behind the cab to carry tools and equipment. The PM 30025SP crane, installed by Truck Hydraulics of East Yorkshire, has a lifting capacity of 3.75-tonnes at six metres; 1.35-tonnes at 14.4 metres: and with the fly jib 330kg at 22-metres. How's that for flexibility Ash? Moreover, the 2.5-tonne winch, working in conjunction with the fly jib, allows lifting or lowering loads in difficult access locations, and a powerful, front-mounted winch ensures that the Unimog is never stuck off-road.
With the PM Crane having a radio remote control from a distance up to 200 metres the operator can be close by the load being lifted at all times from where he has perfect visibility for inch-perfect load alignment and placement. This also allows the operator to be the slinger/banksman, saving the cost of a dedicated person.
"The short wheelbase Unimog is ideal for many of the working sites we attend," FE's MD David Fitness tells Biglorryblog: "We've been able to diversify the customer base so that we can access and work on residential driveways or, using the Unimog's Central Tyre Inflation system to reduce tyre pressure, even in domestic gardens. We've also linked with a tree surgeon so that when he is asked to remove a large tree, for example by the side of a road or where overhanging is a risk; we can safely remove the bulk of the trunk without causing any damage"
The current Unimog U500 replaces a second-hand U1700, brought after David recognised the need for a reliable, off-road solution that would power a crane, but at the same time offer on-road speeds and exceptional manoeuvrability. "We can't just stop because of the weather isn't dry or sunny, or the ground conditions aren't hard enough---we have the equipment and the expertise to operate almost anywhere that steel erection is required. This is just the beginning, as our aim is to progress in the future to a fleet of specialised vehicles for rough terrain lifting: whether it be a construction site or a domestic garden, we will have the solution," he adds.
Sounds like more Moggies then!