Unimog SEE at GSA

[steelsoldiers]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

So after much to-do, what did the truck go for? Anyone know? They are pretty cool little numbers to look at.

NEIOWA, I have heard similar rumblings about Sam going after some high-speed wheeled or tracked hoe/loaders. Something similar to the JCB Fastrac with an armored cab would be handy. http://www.jcb.com/minisites/8250/index.html

 

[jeli]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

Except for the hoe built by Case a SEE isn't much to brag about. The loader is slow and worthless except to haul your duffle bags in. With four corner coil springs it's like riding an amusment park ride. It doesn't do too bad on the highway 55 to 60 top speed. Give me a tracked Bobcat and a trailer behind a 5 ton.

Benz made the Mog, Case the hoe, and Freightliner imported it. That's why it's nameplated like that.

 

[steelsoldiers]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

Don't the SEE tractors have a air-shock suspension lock-out for using the bucket and hoe? Guess that would be a little rough for the highway though!

 

[tennmogger]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

When the stabilizers are down, and the front bucket stabilizing the front, there's no need for suspension lockouts for backhoe use. For front loader use, the small amount of movement in the suspension (the heaviest MB made for this model truck) is not a problem. Even on the lighter duty non-military 406's the front bucket is rated at 1200 lbs, half a yard. That'll move a lot of dirt/gravel. Top speed for the 406 with no implements is about 45 mph. With front loader and backhoe top speed is whatever, up to 45 mph, the driver has the numnuts to attempt!

The backhoe/loader combination is still extremely capable in rough terrain. Wheel/axle/frame articulation with that weight is awesome, something a regular tractor or tracked vehicle cannot do.

Once the system is understood, maintenance is relatively easy. Repair of major components, like replacing a tranny, certainly is a major job. So it is on a crawler tractor too. OTOH, many of these 406 trucks are still going strong after 35 years of heavy use.

The SEE is the "Swiss Knife" of excavators, IMHO. I'd like to have one someday.

 

[greenjeepster]

Anybody know what it sold for? I missed that one all together

 

[NEIOWA]

2ea available Ft Jackson F& condition. Now in DOD status (DRMS system).

http://www.drms.dla.mil/flis_plus/s...c=SXGZ&dtid=MMV3336342E104A&ftype=GOV&dodaac=

Chance that they will get to govliquidation - ZERO

 

[greenjeepster]

DRMS had a unimog with a hiab crain a mont or so ago, but it was in germany.

 

[K5NUTT]

I'd sure like to know how much one of these goes for as i' really like to by one....

DW

 

[ARMYMAN30YearsPlus]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

Just last year I was down in Kuwait riding a bicycle around the base looking for lost or frustrated equipment when I came by a Specialist stuck in one of these tring to get from the sand onto the road. (read not too OR capable) I got off my bike and told him if he could drive and kick the back hoe out he would be fine. He could not so I the lowly LTC got in the back and used the bucket to crab him forward as he drove and accelerated. We got back on the road fine and I got back to finding millions of dollars worth of lost equipment.

 

[K5NUTT]

LTC...appreciate your experience with the See's and thier offroad worthyness or lack of.
I have a special mission that the SEE would be perfect for and thats why i am gathering info prior to getting serious about looking. Before switching career fields and working out here as an mwd hand in the oil patch i had 11 years with frieghtliner so i am more than capable of wrenching on her....and the back hoe and auger attachement would do wonders for what i need her to do...


DW

 

[acetomatoco]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

Politics aside... The SEE is based on a Unimog. the Backhoe is Case and the US Sales arm was Freightliner.. hence the Freightliner name plates... Remember the new Dodge vans, actually Mercedes, were marked Freightliner for a couple of years before becoming the Sprinter...now even UPS is using them.. The term maintenance nightmare is applied to casually to stuff these days.. Just because Soldier 1 is to lazy to read the manual and operate it as a piece of heavy equipment, which it is.. and breaks something and can't figure out that there are a combination of metric and sae fasteners on board..does not make it a maintenance nightmare... In the long run those boys need a #2 D handled shovel from the OVM rack and a entrenching tool to make their hidey holes...

 

[motorolanut]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

And More Cats outta the bag!!!!! Its a Free for All!!!!!!LMAO

 

[saddamsnightmare]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

January 20th, 2008.

Interesting comment about the stability of an SEE a few posts up, given that the base vehicle was a Unimog, I can only suspect too much top end weight in the form of the backhoes created the questionnable handlng. I would say they are light in weight, but then, please remember that the Unimog was designed as an agricultural implement- not as a truck. As such, they are VERY fast
tractors but VERY SLOW trucks. I can only speak from owning a basically stripped Swiss S404.114 (gas), completely factory except it has the Swiss bed and cab roof system, but it's agility in rough terrain and mud has so far exceeded any conventional US built jeep or light truck, that I don't know how I got along without one. Lately, it has been behaving better then my M35A2, which is suffering starting battery issues from the cold.
THe Unimog, however, had a very bad bout with really rusty and polluted gas here in Texas, and IT HAS BEEN EXPENSIVE correcting those problems to the tune of New Carb, NEw fuel pump, new strainer in tank neck (original was never there), and the gas was so bad it looked like Pearl beer- only good for bon fires. The Unimog is getting expensive lately in terms of parts prices due to the dropping buck, but when they run they run like H---!! It outworks conventional trucks in terms of weight, traction and agility, just not in speed or mileage, but then the M35A2 says the same thing, but it can travel farther on the road and stay happy about the speed (40-45MPH), they are both designed to live their lives mostly off road.
Just my $ .02 in Confederate, and if you get oneof these critters, they do beat a hand shovel and a skid steer for digging, and you can even drive over to the next town for a bite (try that with a skid steer). Thanks again, and have a happy weekend.

Sincerely,
Kyle F. McGrogan
1963 Mercedes Benz S404.114 (Swiss)
1971 Kaiser Jeep M35A2 Wo/W "Saddam's Nightmare" Vietnam and Desert Storm Veteran Duece, suffering from the cold!!

 

[cr4x4cruiser]

Well, I saw that truck. Thought about it - for a "Manhattan Minute". I don't have the cash, nor the garage, nor the tools to deal with such a beast. As well, it appears more like a toy than a serious earth-moving piece of equipment.

I'm no expert, but that has got to be the shortest wheelbase offered on a Unimog. As for the Freightliner name, the two are not so far apart. MB and Freightliner are a conjoined operation in the states.Actually, Freightliner is a subsidiary of Daimler AG.

Likely, when this contract was drawn up, Freightliner submitted this rig as their choice to compete with other manufacturers. As an aside, look at those MB panel vans, the ones that replaced Dodge Ram Vans. You can buy one as a Mercedes, Dodge, or Freightliner. They remain MB designed and engineered.

As for giving others a heads-up on various auctions, I have to say that I don't think much gets by those who seek out their particular vehicles or equipment. I miss the days of buying at an auction - on a single day (even then, many auction houses have internet bidding available).

The internet has been a boon for finding great "stuff". But, on the other hand, everybody and their brother finds it, too. I'm pretty much a rookie, at seeking out a truck to buy. Very much a rookie on this site. But, in only a few weeks, I have found plenty more places to find the vehicle I want. Which would have never been possible without the internet.

Whether it's found at an auction in your town or on the internet, if somebody else has the same thoughts as you, then you have a bidding war. My "Dream Truck" got away, because another saw a great deal. On a day that had several auctions in the same area all happening at the same time.

I couldn't have asked for a better chance at my truck. Except asking for somebody with less money in their pocket. But, my "loss" has caused me to find out that there are plenty more to be had. I'll keep looking. I'll keep hoping.

But eventually, I will find my rig - no matter how much it is advertised or talked about. Even moreimportantly, I'll keep saving my pennies...

 

[acetomatoco]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: Unimog SEE at GSA

There is a rebuild program in place and you can SEE one of these zero time SEEs at the Connecticut show each year along with a HEMTT fire truck...

 

[tcody]

I had a SEE tractor until last year when I sold it. It was a nice machine, but with the weight of the attachments and the engine not having a great deal of power I got it stuck a few times when I figured I shouldn't have. The loader was a schmidt FL4 and was good for light work, but not the greatest for visability and for someone like me who only used it on occasion it took a little practice getting used to. Not being able to turn your seat around like a case hoe made it a little less efficient than a purpose built rig. I had the michelin XM 47's on it so in theory it should have run highway speeds, but it always felt top heavy and I think pushing it beyond 45 would have been asking for trouble. The best part of this truck as far as the 406/419 line was the transmission. The air shift 16 speed was a lot nicer than the older 20 speed. Worst part of the truck was the price of parts. Now with the $ the way it is it could be a expensive machine to repair. I have a few pictures of my SEE at www.fridge.com/images/unimog/man/thane.htm The truck was surplused out when the Berlin wall went down and they were not needed. A German fellow purchased it and painted it blue and was going to use it in his business then decided against it. I shipped it back. Kind of wish I still had it.

 

[ARMYMAN30YearsPlus]

Funny I clicked on the link and found another one still for sale it is amazing how things get around isnt it?

 

[jeli]

I've had no problems running 55 mph on the interstate. It works best if you have a couple duffle bags in the loader bucket. The HMEE will replace it. Looks pretty bad. Basically a JD 410 on steroids.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=11521569

 

[stosh]

Funny I clicked on the link and found another one still for sale it is amazing how things get around isnt it?

Which link was that?

I wonder when the Army is going to auction off the SEEs once the JCB HMEE replacement comes on line. I heard the earliest would be 2011.

 

[RangerJake72]

I have one here at work FL DOF we use as a excavator, we got through FEPP surplus, still in CARC, it is a 1987 model that has a 2002 rebuild, labeled as USMC, it didnt come with any of the hydraulic tools, backhoe works ok, but seems a bit weak, the front loader is alright, a few problems with the 4 speed ear box (wont go into 1st) and a leaky air regulator (silly 2 part air/hydraulic brake system) today however while helping plant trees on the state forest the connecting linkage on the throttle came apart, pedal went to the floor and engine was stuck at idle, so it will have to be towed back to the shop tomorrow