Well, we made it to Wednesday! I know on Monday’s, Wednesdays are so far away, but here we are again… 2 days until the weekend. Life’s just racing by, I swear I saw the holiday stuff come out at the department store already? Really, wasn’t it just Christmas? I have just finally got the stupid Dogs barking Christmas Carroll’s out of my head and we’re right back to the holiday season. I remember when I was a kid, not all that long ago in reality, the holiday season was from Thanksgiving until New Years Day. That’s just over a month by my calculations… I’m beginning to believe we’ve been successfully duped into this 3+ month long season of commercialism.

 

   I am really wondering how we’re going to pull off a good sales season this year? I was thinking that the economy was pretty tight last year but the stores in large part have been able to keep the doors open? Before anyone emails to remind me that the recession is officially over, take a survey of the people you know and see if you can’t name a few that don’t have a job. I didn’t see the last jobs report but I do hear from people I personally know that they haven’t been able to find any kind of meaningful employment and these people were actually looking? I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see! I was really hoping for a little more time to pass before I had to have the reminders of the fact that Christmas was right around the corner…

 

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Today I’m going to share with you a little bit of how I spent my time last Sunday afternoon. Really it wasn’t more than a couple of hours but you get the idea. 

   Let me back up just a little bit… This all started back on Labor Day weekend. We were on our way out of town heading for the BOL. My daughter had a friend coming along with us and so we had to make a quick stop to  pick her up. Neither my wife or I had met this particular friend yet and so we obviously hadn’t met the girls parents previously either. After a bit of a wild goose chase and a few wrong turns we end up finding the correct house. As we pull up to the home I see some sort of military vehicle in the driveway, Swiss military to be exact… I was still distracted as we proceed to parade to the front door so we could make the appropriate introductions before heading for the hills with these nice folks teenage daughter. 

 

   Well we, as all of you would have done, introduced ourselves and made sure that Mom knew exactly where we would be all weekend and how to reach us in an emergency. As I was about to turn and leave I mentioned seeing the “Truck” in the driveway? Mom explains that this was her husbands Unimog project… Ding, Ding, Ding – Unimog? Well, now this really had my attention as I explained that I would have liked to have had the opportunity to talk with him about it. She was surprised that I even knew what the Unimog was! Oh well, maybe next time, she explained that her husband was a history buff and would enjoy telling me about it.

 

This last Sunday I got my chance to get a better look. I called and introduced myself to Dad and asked if I might come see his project and take some photos. I did my best to explain that I had hoped to post them on my website as a way to share with my readers. He asked what exactly this website was all about and after a short explanation he willingly consented to my visit.

 

   We made our mutual introductions and he began to tell me a little of the trucks previous use. This truck was Swiss Military surplus, specifically a 1962 Command Cab Unimog. The truck was manufactured by Mercedes Benz and had spent its life with the Swiss Military and various private owners before it found its way to where it is now owned in Western Washington State, a long way from home.

 

The owner explained that this being a “Command Cab” configuration was similar to the “Radio Box” only a bit taller. This extra height was appreciated as it allowed me to move around the interior completely upright. Originally the interior was setup for a commander to use as a rolling office. It had a desk, bench and was equipped with other various map holding apparatus. 

   The new owner had purchased the truck with only 35,000 Kilometers on the odometer. He has added a few since but this is still a very low road time vehicle. It was left virtually stock on the exterior to maintain the historical  military appearance. However, creative control was exercised on the interior. This truck had been purchased with “Elk Camp” in mind. The owners father is an avid Elk Hunter of MANY years. Each year 3 generations of the family men make the trip to the mountains, less about the meat than about the quality time spent as a family. They like to get away from the crowds and hunt areas off the beaten path. This requires they go higher up and also down into the snowy canyons to find the privacy they’re seeking. It was with this particular need in mind that the owner went searching for his next ORV.

 

    As you are able to see in the photos, there are 3 bunks, a kitchen area, lots of storage under the bunks/benches and even a custom wood stove to provide the required heat for cold wet hunters. This wood stove is completely custom built by the owner. It is made from a piece of  8 inch steel casing and other steel plumbing pipe fittings. He explained that this took a bit of engineering to make work. It will overheat the box if it isn’t managed correctly but will definitely be a hit this winter at camp!

 

   I poked around the trucks cab a bit and found that it wasn’t at all designed for creature comforts. I’m sure that this was both because it was the military as well as 1962. The passenger seat doesn’t even have a leg well for sitting up normally. This requires the passenger to sit with their legs extended straight out in front of them? Doesn’t look to comfortable for a long ride? Everything has been left original and even the labels for the controls are still in German. It is in very good condition over all. The trucks engine is a gasoline configuration, its also the same engine that was found in the Mercedes Benz automobiles of the same vintage. I was told the truck is under powered and not setup for a lot of highway driving. Not a big issue as this owner isn’t going cruising and wanted it for the off road clearance and capabilities! It is perfect for that chore!

 

This was the first Unimog that I have had the opportunity to get a good look at as they don’t seem to be a dime a dozen, at least not in my neck of the woods. This is an impressive vehicle for its age. I would say its condition is “GOOD” to “VERY GOOD”, many of the original pieces of equipment are still with the truck. For example the OE wheel chocks and spare fuel cans. The fuel cans were removed and put in storage as the owner elects to carry additional water over the extra fuel but that is just a personal choice.

 

 

   Other than the obvious parts availability issues, this would make a great bug out vehicle. I think that if a person was a collector and could therefore justify the added expense and trouble that comes with a more rare truck, it would be a real fun project and or hobby that would have the “Preppers” side benefit!

  

   I hope you enjoy getting a look at this truck as much as I did… See ya tomorrow!

 

Prepper