Posts about other Real 4x4's. Examples: Unimogs, Steyr-Puch G-wagens, Tatra, MAN, ex-military, etc. Please keep posts related to rare 4x4's, Euro/military/industrial and portal axle related off-road trucks. (This is not a Jeep forum)
I participated in a team-building event with the Estonian branch of the company I work for last Thursday. To make a long story short, I spent an afternoon driving an ex-Soviet (then Estonian) army UAZ-469 on Estonian backcountry trails and roads. Beats any day in the office!!
Althought they were quite efficient on muddy trails (we had 8 of these for the event), they are very rudimentary: 4-speed box with low gear and part-time 4WD. I don't know if this is typical of the vehicles we had, which weren't in tip-top shape, or if they came like this from the factory, but at times they made my 710M feel like a Rolls-Royce in comparison : driver seat cannot be adjused (which my 6'2" didn't really enjoy), not very lively engine, the gearbox is loudly uncooperative despite constant double-clutching and the wipers are useless.
In any case they did the job and it was a very fun afternoon!
Yes, I hoped my little truck for the afternoon would go and "feel" beyond my preconceptions about soviet-era designs... but really didn't.
One of my Estonian colleagues did his military service while the USSR was still alive and kicking, driving engineer armoured vehicles based on T-62 tanks. He said the UAZ-469s were a piece of cake compared to the T-62s...
But in the mud they really did the job... if you google "UAZ Estonia Safari": http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... afari&sm=3
...you will find a selection with the top 6 videos being of the same event organizers and their vehicles. It has been as mild in Europe the last 2 weeks as it was cold in North America, so the ground was more or less the same as in the videos, maybe even more wet. Less sunshine than on the videos, though.
The tires were quite heavily studded, reminding me of some ATV tire tread designs, so this helped, too.
I have a U1300L a 710K and a UAZ 469b circa 1980s. My UAZ is a full metal rebuild with an Andoria 4C90 diesel engine. OK easiest way is to say that the UAZ is comparable to a series Landrover and actually slightly more capable off road. Just like a Landrover if you drive a beat up example that is near the end of its life you will gain a bad impression.. New springs and polybushes and all the driveline refurbished will give you a completely different drive. Why is the UAZ slightly better than a Landrover off road? well the leaf springs sit above the axles so they don't plough and the axles are split so that the diffs are similar to old ww2 trucks, meaning the diffs are knife edge so they cut rather than plough. On You Tube go look for things like 'Test UAZ Hunter vs Landrover 90......you can also buy a new UAZ 469b that looks just like the ones that came out of the factory in 1972, the new ones have a 5 speed box which is all new and coil springs at the front with disc brakes (it is a simple task to fit disc brakes all round if you so wish. It can be had as a soft top or a hardtop with a new diesel engine. There is also a new vehicle built on the 469b chassis called the UAZ Patriot, it is 'old tech' by western standards but is a tough vehicle for the conditions encountered in these eastern European parts....none of these vehicles are discomfited by cold or snow, they are made in Ulyanovsk...see where it is!!! Oh and parts?? the whole vehicle is cheap by western standards, but recently I chewed up my diff, so I bought a whole complete axle, brand new straight out of the box complete with brakes and ready to just bolt on.....It was cheaper than just a pair of brake calipers for the back of a Landrover, so many parts are just pennies it makes you wonder how they do it. Here in Poland parts are no problem and can arrive next day.......there is a company here in Poland (see website - Tarmot.pl) who are UAZ specialist and they sell complete vehicles and parts new and used. Oh and the drivers seat can be adjusted.....it has three positions, but you do have to unbolt it from the floor to move it back and forth.
Aiming to introduce UK Politicians to Piano wire and Lamposts!
Anytime Genevapinz, I am into diesel transplants big time......I forgot to mention that my Pinz has a Mercedes OM 602 5 cyl diesel from a sprinter and the 5 speed gearbox from that same vehicle. It is not a ball of fire, but it is reliable, starts easily (after 10 seconds heater plugs) in -30C and is just right for the roads in these parts......it is bit heavy on the front and if I were doing a diesel conversion again......well I would start with something like a VW TDI 110 much lighter and even more powerful than the diesel I already have.
Aiming to introduce UK Politicians to Piano wire and Lamposts!
: driver seat cannot be adjused (which my 6'2" didn't really enjoy), not very lively engine, the gearbox is loudly uncooperative despite constant double-clutching and the wipers are useless.
