BajaNomad

Biggest, Bestest, Baddest Baja Rig Ever!

bryanmckenzie - 12-10-2010 at 10:48 AM

Driving towards Gecko Camp in LA Bay, I snapped this picture of a Mercedes Unimog (???) going the other way doing about 25 miles per hour along this awful stretch of dirt road.

Feel free to post your own biggest, bestest, baddest Baja rig photos. Larger image HERE if it helps identify the vehicle.



[Edited on 2010-12-10 by bryanmckenzie]

Bob H - 12-10-2010 at 11:54 AM

It looks very similar to a Unimog... however, this one does not have a Mercedes logo on the front, as all Unimogs display. Maybe it's a Swiss version of the German Unimog.

Check out this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DPUfIBVkwk&feature=fvw

Check out this Swiss Military vehicle link. Maybe the one you saw was a STEYR-PUCH PINZGAUER

http://www.staufferclassics.com/pinzgauer.html

Here are some for sale... pretty reasonable:
http://www.buypinzgauer.com/



[Edited on 12-10-2010 by Bob H]

Pinzgauer is Made is Switzerland

David K - 12-10-2010 at 11:57 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinzgauer_High_Mobility_All-Ter...

unimog

jbcoug - 12-10-2010 at 12:07 PM

IS THAT VIDEO INCREDIBLE OR WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John

Barry A. - 12-10-2010 at 12:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jbcoug
IS THAT VIDEO INCREDIBLE OR WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John


At my age, that is what I need to climb Mt. Whitney!!!! Youuuuu Haaaaa!!!!!

Barry

Taco de Baja - 12-10-2010 at 12:18 PM

I saw that guy a number of years ago on the Pacific side north of punta blanca. Very cool rig. :yes:

MBenz Unimog - Camp Gecko - Bahia de los Angeles

Ken Cooke - 12-17-2010 at 04:43 PM

Spotted NORTH of the border!

Ken Cooke - 12-17-2010 at 04:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bryanmckenzie





Apparently, this guy get's around! My wife Leidys and I spotted this pristine Baja vehicle on the beach in San Diego! :bounce:

bryanmckenzie - 12-18-2010 at 04:47 PM

Great spotting, Ken! Thanks. I guess he's So Cal local, somewhere.

Ken Cooke - 12-18-2010 at 04:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bryanmckenzie
Great spotting, Ken! Thanks. I guess he's So Cal local, somewhere.


I believe so. That is the couple with the tall black dog. I drove around looking for parking in Mission Beach (at the dog beach, there), and I was blown away by this massive Unimog.

woody with a view - 12-18-2010 at 04:51 PM

i'll guess. north beach in OB? right near dog beach?????:light:



[Edited on 12-18-2010 by woody with a view]

rsz_31497_1500317386785_1199685860_1444278_3829709_n.jpg - 23kB

Ken Cooke - 12-18-2010 at 04:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
i'll guess. north beach in OB? right near dog beach?????:light:



[Edited on 12-18-2010 by woody with a view]


Not sure. Here are some pictures of us with lots of scenery. This was a dog beach, though.




bryanmckenzie - 12-18-2010 at 05:03 PM

Great links. Thanks, Bob. That rock climber is a monster!

snowcat5 - 12-20-2010 at 08:22 AM

Hi Folks, I have a Unimog and I think the vehicle in Bryan's photo is not a Unimog- I think it is a Mann truck ( English) or maybe an Iveco truck. Volvo is also a possability. My 2004 U500 Mog has 8 forward and reverse gears with Hi/low locking diffs and tranny slip (from the cab). GVW is 33,000 lbs. and my tires are 46" tall. It can ford 60" of water- I haven't tried it out to be certain but the Ops. manual claims this. In low range, any gear, I can leave it in gear, moving, get out and walk faster than it travels. It does attract alot of attention when I drive it- I am still amazed that so many people actually know what a Unimog is, when they see us. Mog On!

durrelllrobert - 12-20-2010 at 11:45 AM

how about this for your next baja off road trip?
http://www.musicacristiana2.com/videos/rip-saw-tracked-atv-e...

[Edited on 12-20-2010 by BajaNomad]

Biggest, Baddest....

hdn2mx - 12-20-2010 at 10:09 PM

Saw this rig last summer in 2 different places. First in San Jaunico (Scorpion Bay), then a couple weeks later further south at Los Cerritos, just south of Todos Santos.

If I remember correctly, it was a couple from Switzerland that had the rig shipped over, I think into US, and were on holiday cruising USA and Mexico.

Fairly young couple who had cumtomized it special for this trip. I thought he said they were going to sell it before heading home.

Killer rig but it wasn't a Unimog. RT

David K - 12-20-2010 at 11:06 PM

I already posted a brand name above... It is Swiss, not German (note the flags on the truck).

racheldarlin - 12-21-2010 at 06:55 AM

Next time I have $600,000 in loose change I'm getting one.

ElFaro - 12-21-2010 at 09:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by snowcat5
Hi Folks, I have a Unimog and I think the vehicle in Bryan's photo is not a Unimog- I think it is a Mann truck ( English) or maybe an Iveco truck. Volvo is also a possability. My 2004 U500 Mog has 8 forward and reverse gears with Hi/low locking diffs and tranny slip (from the cab). GVW is 33,000 lbs. and my tires are 46" tall. It can ford 60" of water- I haven't tried it out to be certain but the Ops. manual claims this. In low range, any gear, I can leave it in gear, moving, get out and walk faster than it travels. It does attract alot of attention when I drive it- I am still amazed that so many people actually know what a Unimog is, when they see us. Mog On!


Is your MOG registered in Calif. ? If so how are you dealing with the SMOG issues? Also isn't a MOG considered a "grey vehicle" and not importable into the US? Is you MOG a 24 volt system ?

I knew a guy who owned a MOG in San Diego but had a AZ regis. The cops were constantly pulling him over checking his regis. against his drivers lic. address.

Fairbanks47 - 12-21-2010 at 03:06 PM

Also saw in San Juanico last summer. Very nice couple!

roadhog - 12-21-2010 at 10:50 PM

yeah but an E250 SOHC/OD with 400 watts Sat radio, Bilsteins, LSD rear axle and Toyo A/T will outfly it to Catavina. It doesn't impress but the Ford does go faster than 40 mph at half the price.

snowcat5 - 12-22-2010 at 08:31 AM

El Faro, My Mog is registered in Nevada, because that is where it is based in Summer- it is used as a wildland fire engine, contracted to the BLM. My Mog is a U500 built by Mercedes and imported by Freightliner into the US market. The elec. system is 12-volt. It is not a Grey Market vehicle and can be registered in California. A side note; twice in the last few years I was pulled-over by the Nev. Highway Patrol. Both officers admitted after checking my reg. that they just wanted to check the Mog out. After giving them the penny tour they both said "sorry" for stopping me! Top speed is 70 mph and it gets about 17 miles to the gallon. The parent company stopped importing the Mogs into the U.S. in 2007 so that they can re-enter the market in 2012 with a new (smog rules) engine. My engine is over 300 hp and is the least polluting of all the dsl. motors Mercedes builds. I have a Lowrance GPS installed on the dash and a pull-down small flat screen tv/dvd hung from the over dash shelf for slow fire days. If anyone is interested; Google "unimog expedition campers" and check-out the pictures of camper Mogs from around the World.