KBM Unimog general distributor shows what's possible during fire brigade off-road training.

No terrain too tough! – was the motto for around 40 firefighters from Rhineland-Palatinate during an intensive off-road training course that was demanding to say the least. At the Schmidtenhöhe training ground in Koblenz, four Unimog U 4023 vehicles were waiting to conquer the terrain together with the trainees. The ambitious goal of the KBM Unimog general distributor in Andernach was to showcase the enormous potential of the new multi-purpose transport vehicles.

Uniquely versatile.

The volunteer fire brigades of Mülheim-Kärlich, Bassenheim, Rheindörfer and the Weissenthurm unit from same district will not soon forget the five days they spent testing their new multi-purpose transport vehicles (MPV).

At first, the technical specifications don't even sound so thrilling:"The multi-purpose transport vehicle with loading aid (RP) is used in disaster relief applications and used as a supply vehicle to transport equipment and special extinguishing agents". But then comes the significant sentence: “For this purpose, the MPVs should be universally deployable”. It goes without saying that the universal motorised unit (Unimog) emerged as the truck of choice.

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Unimog fire service presentation.

These multifunctional Unimogs are well-equipped to protect the lushly forested state of Rhineland-Palatinate against forest and vegetation fires as well as against heavy rain and flooding. If necessary, the vehicles can also provide assistance across the entire country.

Equipped for any challenge.

The outstanding feature of these four off-road trucks is the removable cargo liftgate. They were equipped by bodybuilder Hensel following a call to tender by the North Rhine-Westphalian municipal agency.

Flexible use with or without a cargo liftgate

This concept, which is currently unique to the Rhineland-Palatinate, enables the vehicle to be used in a wide range of situations. For instance, the cargo liftgate can be replaced by a tailgate if necessary to cope with steeper gradients and create additional load capacity. The tarpaulin and bows body can also be removed when required, making the vehicle particularly versatile.

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The possible applications of the Unimog are as varied as its configuration options. It is perfectly prepared for firefighting operations with a heat protection package, tyre pressure control system and folding tail lights, specially designed by Hensel. The MPV can also carry IBC containers, water barrels and portable pumps for transporting and supplying water. In flood relief applications, the Unimog benefits from its fording capability of up to 1.2 m and double-sealed wheel hubs. So whether fighting fire or water, the Unimog is equal to the challenge.

From forest track to obstacle course.

"We first gave our participants some theoretical training and discussed the basic question: how do I use my vehicle and its tools?", explains Marcus Spies, expert at the KBM Unimog general distributor in Andernach and chief fire officer himself. Working with demonstration and instruction driver Timo Werner, he first let the firefighters get a feel for the vehicles during a practise session on forest tracks. For example, they practised switching between manual gears and AutomaticShift, which takes the strain off the drivers during shift-intensive operations.

Driving properly takes training.

Marcus Spies, Unimog & Municipal Engineering Sales Consultant, Unimog General Distributor KBM

And then things really got going: water-filled ditches, gravel tracks, uphill and downhill gradients and uneven sections requiring the Unimog's torsional flexibility. “Some of these obstacles sound easier than they are”, says Marcus Spies. “Nowadays, we have many electric assistants to support us, but it’s crucial to learn how to drive properly.”

On the obstacle course, the participants learned how to handle a range of different features. They tested the Sand, Mud, Snow and Emergency modes, used the tyre pressure control system and learned how to switch between the various all-wheel differential lock settings. The demanding off-road section confronted the drivers with mud, water and deep ruts, requiring them to learn completely new skills – a challenge that they mastered proficiently with the Unimog.

Universally applicable: Weissenthurm unitary authority's new MPV based on the Unimog U 4023

Ready for anything.

The last training unit included other complex exercises, such as vehicle recovery with two Unimogs connected in series, fitting anti-skid chains and a tyre change off-road. After five intense days, the participants went home braced by valuable practical experience and the knowledge that they are well prepared for emergencies. At the end of the course, the question of just how much the Unimog can do was answered with a resounding "Quite a lot!".