saddamsnightmare
Well-known member
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- Location
- Abilene, Texas
July 1st, 2010.
Gents:
Its gonna be balls to the wall for taking the old Unimog to Springfield, IL on July 3,4,5, and possibly 6th, from Reno,Texas. Uncle Sam has been kind enough to give me a posting as a GS0025-09/7 Park Ranger (I) with the National Park Service at Abraham Lincoln Home NHS in Springfield. MY report to work date is July 7th, 2010 at 0830, and its 750-760 miles from home. I had intended to take the M35A2 + M105A2 up on the first run, but I haven't located quarters yet in Springfield, and Uncle Sam will not allow the M35A2 to be parked in the Site's bus parking area while I'm at work, and the chance of finding reasonable & safe parking for an M35A2 W/convoy lights in an urban area during the day is, to say the least, slim.
So far, most Unimog experts I have inquired of, have said my 1963 Swiss S404.114 with 32,000 KM should be able to handle the trip length at between 70 and 80 KM/PH (47-53 MPH approx), with a 3/4 ton load or less, so now we get to see just how well a 47 year old Unimog takes the road running...... At least it should fit the parking space for a normal pickup in the park area.... I wonder who, in Springfield, can maintain a Unimog at a commercial garage,as I will have few tools and only the shop and operators manuals to go by....
The route may be either from here (Reno) to Little Rock, then to Fort Smith,Ar, to Springfield, Mo., to St. Louis, Mo., to Springfield, IL, mostly two lane if I can handle and help it. Otherwise it will be Reno, Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis and up I-55 to Springfield, IL. I figure three days at 250 miles per day may be all I and the Unimog can take, what with the engine doghouse and radiator tank in the cab....... Any members on the way, I might appreciate a phone number or address, should I have any problems, as all I will have is a cell phone and no computer access until I get situated in Springfield.....
Any suggestions as to route, sites to see, things to avoid.....??? AT least the Illinois State Troopers should find little reason to bother a truck going 50 MPH, save for the european tail lights (Swiss standard issue)......
Later the M35A2 and M105A2 will be making the trek loaded over one or the other variation of the above routes, nursemaiding my wife and her 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, at least she says, I won't be able to outrun her, and I won't be invisible in 686A tan, Convoy lights, and MERDC woodland/tan cover trailer......
Weigh in, I'll have to take a disposable camera and digitize it later for your edification, as I don't have a digital camera I want to carry with me.....
Sic Transit Gloria....![[thumbzup]](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumzup.gif "Thumbs Up [thumbzup]")
Gents:
Its gonna be balls to the wall for taking the old Unimog to Springfield, IL on July 3,4,5, and possibly 6th, from Reno,Texas. Uncle Sam has been kind enough to give me a posting as a GS0025-09/7 Park Ranger (I) with the National Park Service at Abraham Lincoln Home NHS in Springfield. MY report to work date is July 7th, 2010 at 0830, and its 750-760 miles from home. I had intended to take the M35A2 + M105A2 up on the first run, but I haven't located quarters yet in Springfield, and Uncle Sam will not allow the M35A2 to be parked in the Site's bus parking area while I'm at work, and the chance of finding reasonable & safe parking for an M35A2 W/convoy lights in an urban area during the day is, to say the least, slim.
So far, most Unimog experts I have inquired of, have said my 1963 Swiss S404.114 with 32,000 KM should be able to handle the trip length at between 70 and 80 KM/PH (47-53 MPH approx), with a 3/4 ton load or less, so now we get to see just how well a 47 year old Unimog takes the road running...... At least it should fit the parking space for a normal pickup in the park area.... I wonder who, in Springfield, can maintain a Unimog at a commercial garage,as I will have few tools and only the shop and operators manuals to go by....
The route may be either from here (Reno) to Little Rock, then to Fort Smith,Ar, to Springfield, Mo., to St. Louis, Mo., to Springfield, IL, mostly two lane if I can handle and help it. Otherwise it will be Reno, Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis and up I-55 to Springfield, IL. I figure three days at 250 miles per day may be all I and the Unimog can take, what with the engine doghouse and radiator tank in the cab....... Any members on the way, I might appreciate a phone number or address, should I have any problems, as all I will have is a cell phone and no computer access until I get situated in Springfield.....
Any suggestions as to route, sites to see, things to avoid.....??? AT least the Illinois State Troopers should find little reason to bother a truck going 50 MPH, save for the european tail lights (Swiss standard issue)......
Later the M35A2 and M105A2 will be making the trek loaded over one or the other variation of the above routes, nursemaiding my wife and her 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, at least she says, I won't be able to outrun her, and I won't be invisible in 686A tan, Convoy lights, and MERDC woodland/tan cover trailer......
Weigh in, I'll have to take a disposable camera and digitize it later for your edification, as I don't have a digital camera I want to carry with me.....
Sic Transit Gloria....
