August 23rd, 2015.
bcowanwheels:
Every man is an expert, or so he thinks. I have driven M715's with 4 pallets of common brick at 45-50 all day long, and they never complained. I have driven a 1963 Unimog S404.114 for 10 hours a day at 50 MPH with a load, and it handled it easily. If you take care of the machine, and do the preventative maintenance, they will do just as well as the modern vehicles, and I have seen more two and three year old trucks and cars dead on the road then I have seen 50+ year old Army trucks.
Hang on to your opinions, I believe the OP may well make you look, shall we say, under-informed or mis-informed. If his truck acts up, its only about 45 years old, but then any vehicle can act up, that's why new ones have warranties! If I could figure out how to bring the KIA diesel version of this truck into the US, I would eat most modern Ford, Dodge or Chevies lunches, as I have often done with my Unimog in every case except Over The Road speed, but then I have all day to get there (sometimes it takes two or three days). Cheer up, Negative Waves never did anyone good, Moriarty!
The new trucks owner's really hate it when I drag them out of an axle deep mudhole with no spinning or strain on an 85 HP engine. The old Unimogs use brass transfer (FWD and Transmission unit) case bearings, so they won't go much over 45-50 flat out, the newer U1300L's with the right axles will do 70 MPH all day long with a load.
I have also seen a 1910 Model T go coast to coast on its own wheels and power, so the newer vehicles will not be able to say that at 107 years from now.... You are entitled to your opinions, others are entitled to theirs, that's what makes this farm work so well.