Extreme 4x4 truck: Why do men do stupid things?

[Melensdad]

Ok folks I want a Pinzgauer or a Volvo C303. These things are sort of like a combination of a lightweight Mercedes Uni-Mog and a shoebox.

I don't have any need for one of these things.
I don't know why I want one.
I just want one.

And not to leave well enough alone, I want to customize it into something that would be similar to an extreme VW Westfalia type Camper van.

So combine this:

with this:

or maybe with this :

It would be the ultimate beach truck, a decent road vehicle, and great for tailgate parties. In a pinch it could operate as a weekend camper. These things are as capable off-road as a Uni-Mog, and even come in a 6x6 version that would intimidate even the boldest soccer mom in the school parking lot.

Can someone recommend a 12-step program to talk me out of this?

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

Re: Why do me do stupid things?

Can someone recommend a 12-step program to talk me out of this?

It's simple Bob. Give all your money to your wife and make it so you have to ask her before you spend your money. You will be lucky to get a $20 a week allowance.

Or just give me all your money so I can buy one!

 

[Melensdad]

Re: Why do me do stupid things?

Or just give me all your money so I can buy one!

See you want one too! I'm not totally crazy!

Seriously look at the dimensions of this thing, it is about the size of a
Chrylser Mini-Van. But oh so awesome in terms of capabilities.

 

[Mith]

Re: Why do men do stupid things?

I'm thinking Ice Queen's huge truck (Scammel?) would make a nice camper.

Bob, send me the money, I'll strike a deal with IQ, build the thing, and you can rest peacefully knowing that I will then have a nice place to live

 

[Melensdad]

Re: Why do men do stupid things?

Mith, I believe Ice Queen still has a beautiful (but in serious need of restoration) circus wagon (not sure what you folks in the UK call a circus wagon) that would make an amazing conversion. She posted some photos of it in the past and was willing to let it go to someone who would restore it. It is probably way too large to put into an ISO container and ship across the Atlantic. If that wagon was here in the states I would take on that project in a heartbeat!!! Perhaps it is a project you might want to take on?

But while you are doing that, I still want to mess around with a Pinz or V303!!!

 

[Mith]

Bob, it sure would be a project I would love to take on, they look quite reasonable to live in too. The way Anita outlined how to restore it in one of the older posts it sounded like quite a resonable project. But big, far too big.....

You want to buy a few acres here in the UK? I'll look after it for you At £10,000 ($18,000) an acre for greenland it'll shift your cash pretty fast

 

[daedong]

[FONT=&quot]Bob why would you need one of those things, you have 4,164,964 km of silky smooth well-signed sealed roads. On the other hand what you could do is buy one and leave it in Aust. I will look after it for you. You could then holiday and take on some of the most isolated land on the planet.

Why would you get Mith to look after it, they don't even have dirt roads.
[/FONT]

 

[Melensdad]

[FONT=&quot]Bob why would you need one of those things, you have 4,164,964 km of silky smooth well-signed sealed roads.[/FONT]

Vin, you and your boat trip are my inspiration? Or at least you are an excuse I can use! You didn't need to do that any more than I need to do this. But you got to admit, it would be a fun toy and a great conversion project.

Load it up with beer and BBQ supplies, head up to Chicago for a Bears game, or east to South Bend for a Notre Dame game and it would make a great party wagon and ideal tailgate party vehicle.

Maybe even put in a big flatscreen TV and satellite dish and just drink beer and watch the football game from the parking lot!

 

[Dargo]

I've looked into these things for years now secretly wanting one. I like the Unimog and the Pinz but don't have any attraction to the Volvo unit. There are several clubs around here for the Unimogs and Pinz machines as well. I'm not sure they would let you in with a Volvo.

 

[Melensdad]

I've looked into these things for years now secretly wanting one.

Well at least I am not alone. I gather that Mith and Vin both also feel the same way.

I like the Unimog and the Pinz but don't have any attraction to the Volvo unit.

There is also a Land Rover 101 that is very similar. to the Pinzgauer and the Volvo 300 series. I was unaware of the Volvo until Mike (Snowcat Operations made me aware of it) and the Volvos seem to be very rare here in the USA. But from my research, the Volvo is probably an improved version of the Pinz in several ways. The Pinz being a simpler unit in many ways, which some may find to be an advantage. The Unimog, seems to be a much greater capacity vehicle in every way, physically larger and physically stronger. The Unimogs larger size, to me is a disadvantage, it renders that vehicle a little to large to run to the grocery store or to drop the kids off at school. The smaller Pinz or Volvo is more family friendly, yet still amazingly capable in an extreme way.

There are several clubs around here for the Unimogs and Pinz machines as well.

Can you direct me to them? Do they have websites?

I'm not sure they would let you in with a Volvo.

Bite me.

 

[BoneheadNW]

Here you go Bob, THIS is what you need:
Bonehead

Owner InfoAndy CoudyserBelgiumContact Andy C 1956 401 Unimog Snow Blower

This truck has a V6 Deutz diesel engine in the back which drives the Beilhack snowblower.​

Owner InfoAndy Coudyser 1956 401 Unimog Snow Blower

Owner

 

[Melensdad]

Nope Bonehead, I'm actually looking for something that would be more fun, more useful than a snowblower!

While it might be hard to argue that a Pinzgauer is a useful vehicle, its reasonably small size actually makes it useable. And outfitted in a way that would be similar to a custom van, it would be a reasonable recreational vehicle, while still being the same size as a typical SUV, so it would easily fit into a standard parking space at the mall or grocery store. The 6x6 Pinz is narrower than a Chevy Suburban, slighly taller, and about the same length. The 4x4 version is about the same length/width as a Mini-van, but taller.

But the 4x4 or 6x6 configuration would take it out to the sand dunes or into the snow where no other family van could go (and still get back from under its own power).

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

Bob you aren't crazy. Everyman wants a toy like that - well every normal man that is.

I'd love to have a Unimog but this volvo is pretty cool too. Heck, I'd be happy with an original Hummer 1.

You have my permission - go forth and buy some heavy equipment. I will live vicariously through you.

 

[Ice Queen]

Some points need clearing up here!

Bob, no 1 it is UGLY!

You want something to make sure you have parking space amongst the soccer mums in the school parking lot - think slightly bigger - no Mith, not a Scammell (though I do have a couple of those and they are quite useful for parking lots too), but a Foden FH70 gun tractor. This is 30 foot and 1 inch long (why the one inch?), it is normally crewed by eleven soldiers, so plenty of room for the family. Takes three in the cab and eight in the 'wendy house', plenty of room to store beer, see the large cabinet on the rear and even has a winch and a crane to get the beer on board! You want accommodation to live in, that is no problem either - it tows a military trailer without noticing it is there, this is fully equiped with three beds (can be made more if neccessary), wardrobe, fridge, cooker, sink, loo, cocktail cabinet and plenty of storage space! It is six wheel drive, with diff. locks on each axle so the Foden is pretty much 'go anywhere, do anything' .

Re the 'circus' wagon, it is a showmans wagon (ex fairground) and I am sorry, but it already has a 'taker', so it will be rebuilt in due course. He plans to 'flat pack' it for taking it home to restore! Will take photos of this when it happens and keep you posted.

Bonehead, that too, is a seriously UGLY machine, you can have very practical machines that do not have to be ugly!

WHY SHOULD YOU BOYS HAVE ALL THE TOYS?

 

[Melensdad]

Anita, beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder, but I like this one:

 

[BoneheadNW]

IQ- that is one awesome ve-hicle! I would love to show up at work with that puppy and use the crane to lift and move one of the other guys polished 4x4 full size pickups! Side note: on Friday we had a crane show up at the station to lift a new HVAC unit up onto the roof. Several of us offered the operator $100 to put the medic's new Ford 4x4 pickup onto the roof but he turned us down.
Bonehead

 

[Ice Queen]

Bonehead, I'll come to the party at Bob's place even if he does wear Hawaiian undies and has blocked drains etc! You come to my place and you can drive the ve-hicle (Foden). Shame about the medic, he obviously has no sense of humour.

 

[Melensdad]

Does anyone know what the TOWING capacity of a Pinzgauer 710K?

I'm wondering if I could pull the tractors or the Snow Trac?

 

[DaveNay]

Does anyone know what the TOWING capacity of a Pinzgauer 710K?

I'm wondering if I could pull the tractors or the Snow Trac?

5 tons

 

[Dargo]

Does anyone know what the TOWING capacity of a Pinzgauer 710K?

I'm wondering if I could pull the tractors or the Snow Trac?

Bob, Bob, Bob!!!! If you get one, I have the perfect testing grounds for it!!!! C'mon Bob, buy me, er...oops, one so I can have a reason to visit.

 

[Melensdad]

Dave . . . Where do you see that? I see payload, but not towing. I might be blind but point me in the right direction . . . pretty please!

 

[DaveNay]

Dave . . . Where do you see that? I see payload, but not towing. I might be blind but point me in the right direction . . . pretty please!

Here....

 

[Melensdad]

Thanks Dave, I guess I need to wear my glasses when I read!

Bob, Bob, Bob!!!! If you get one, I have the perfect testing grounds for it!!!! C'mon Bob, buy me, er...oops, one so I can have a reason to visit.

You only like me for my toys!

 

[DAP]

Bob .. brings back memories .. remember Von and his gorgeous 'Mogs' ?????

 

[Melensdad]

Bob .. brings back memories .. remember Von and his gorgeous 'Mogs' ?????

Yup, we also have a member here (gordon robertson) who is a Snow Trac owner who has a UniMog. He doesn't post much, but we trade emails. Mogs are pretty darn cool, but you can park a Pinz in a regular parking spot in the grade school parking lot or at the grocery store . . . and then drive through a river while you take the scenic way home

 

[beds]

If you're planning on taking it to the beach, you MUST get some wood panelling on the sides.

 

[Melensdad]

If you're planning on taking it to the beach, you MUST get some wood panelling on the sides.

You know I am really torn on this thing and just don't know what the heck to do, it comes in an open top/soft top version and a hard top. It strikes me that the hard top version would be far more practical most times of the year, but the soft top version would be a blast in the summer and would make a decent pick-up truck too!

Hard top 710K, sort of an extreme 4x4 mini van, drop in a DVD player, plasma display and the kids will be quite while driving through the woods and streams and over rocks!

Soft top 710M, this would be great decked out as a SURF BUGGY with a couple real wood long boards! The soft top removes completely if you want it gone, the bench seats fold down to form a flat cargo bed so it is a viable pick up truck too.

Oh, and then there is the very special "Kristi" version of the Pinzgauer, I think only one is known to exist and it is made of plastic and only for sale to a guy named BIG AL for use at his mountain retreat

 

[Melensdad]

Apparently I was wrong about the BIG AL version suggesting that there is only one in existance. Apprently there are TWO.

Dargo's son owns this one, but Dargo keeps confusing it with a box turtle and tries to feed it lettuce

 

[beds]

That would be the coolest surfmobile going.

It scares me that Bob's grown-up toys are based on actual toys. I remember playing war as a child with model B-17 flying fortresses and Lancaster night bombers and I am kind of fascinated with owning an older war plane...

 

[Melensdad]

That would be the coolest surfmobile going.

It scares me that Bob's grown-up toys are based on actual toys. . . I am kind of fascinated with owning an older war plane...

Well I have not talked to the lovely Mrs_B yet, but I have contacted 2 dealers who specialize in importing these vehicles. I'm leaning strongly toward the Volvo C303. Unfortunately I can find no C303's here in the US that are for sale right now. Fortunately, one of the dealers is arranging to bring over several of them right now, in various configurations, they should be available in about 2 months (after they clear customs, get inspected/upgraded, etc). What surprises me is how modest the price is. Perhaps I just figured they should cost more? Heck, I might have to get two so Dargo can play too

By the way, here is an interesting size comparision that really puts these things into perspective. It compares the Pinzgauer to a Land Rover 90 and a Land Rover 120. A Pinzgauer and a Volvo C303 are virtually identical in size/shape.
[FONT=times new roman,times,serif]
In the first photo you can see the Pinzgauer is slightly longer than a Landrover 90, its wheelbase is however ever so slightly shorter! The space inside a Pinzgauer is much bigger because of the cab-forward design. Approach angles are similar with the Landrover just beating the Pinzgauer.[/FONT]

In the second photo [FONT=times new roman,times,serif]the Pinzgauer is much shorter than a 110 Landrover, however it still has a longer load area. Here the approach angles of the Pinzgauer win.

The Pinzgauer can wade deeper, 700mm v 500mm for the Landrover.
The Pinzgauer has the best breakover angle at 135 degrees (141 degrees LR 90/ 152 degrees LR 110)
The Pinzgauer has a greater load capacity 1000kg v 895kg Landrover 110 Stationwagon

[/FONT]

These photos & the above comparision data came from a member of a Pinz/C303 forum where I am also a member, my thanks to "ScottishPinz" for these.
​