Unimog v 101FC

[07DefenderSeb]

My mate Toby - who is due to join MC - does some work over xmas cutting trees, holly and mistletoe in serious quantities.

Until now he has been using a '95 Td5 Discovery pulling an Ifor Williams. This works fine in the fields of Worcestershire & Herefordshire, but the quantity he can carry is limited.

I keep telling him to buy a Unimog (not easy, as I hate Mercs in general and am a dedicated LR man) but he insists a 101 would be better.

Help me out...

SB

[thermidorthelobster]

101s are pretty capable and unstoppable.  You get a good sized wheelbase, excellent departure and rampover angles, nice big tyres to give you plenty of ground clearance, etc (41" on mine).  They're definitely a force to be reckoned with.

The Mogs are a level above that, with their portal axles etc, and would probably go places a 101 would get stuck, but there aren't too many of those places.  But, you're looking at an industrial-strength unit, which is why they're pretty damned expensive for a decent one, but you're gonna be able to fit a lot of wood in the back of one.

I'd say a 101 would probably make a better daily runaround, and it would go most places a Unimog would go.  If your friend is determined to access every last ditch in a forest, and is prepared to spend a lot of money and wants something on an industrial scale, then a Unimog is a nice bit of kit.

[LandRoger]

Got to be the MOG anyday-just so strong and made for the job,
people i know who work in MOD workshops tell me that all FC models have a poor saftey record within the services due to thier proneness to
tipping over, it seems they dont like side slopes ,and are after all a dinosoar-better a tractor/trailer, :twisted:  :lol:  :lol:

[thermidorthelobster]

people i know who work in MOD workshops tell me that all FC models have a poor saftey record within the services due to thier proneness to tipping over

I think this would be news to the 101FC Club.  The weight in a 101 is all low down, and I've never heard of people having any problems with tipping.  I've had mine on some pretty ferocious side slopes and had no issues, and mine has more weight high-up than most.  Are you sure you're not thinking of the stories of them being tipped over when they were originally trialled with the powered trailers back in the 70s?

Apparently the Military documentation states 45deg as the side angle roll point on a 101 Ambulance.  The GS will have a lower CoG so will if anything have a greater roll point.

If anything I'd have said a Mog with portal axles is going to have more problems with side slopes than a 101.

[Henry Webster]

No contest I'm afraid - if he can afford a proper Mog then that has to be the way to go!  As much as I love 101s a Mog is proper job.

WRT 101s tipping over, I don't suppose they were squaddy proof.  I've trialled a 101 and had the rear wheels three or four foot off the deck without tipping, but it is fair to say they are not as stable as a std LR.  I think some of their reputation came from the powered trailers that they were originally designed to work with, they had a tendancy to push them over at the bottom of steep hills.

101 Ambulances have a much higher c of g too and I've heard of a few of those going over.

H

[LandRoger]

Having not driven a 101 -i cant argue about any issues they may have good or bad, i was only repeating what i have been told about them,i dont think that anything is squaddie proof :roll: ,i must say that the lobster mobile looks very immpresive and up to the job , 8)  8)

[landroverkeith]

 go for the best of both worlds... buy one of each then sell the 101 to me cheep  8)  hehe

[winchman]

Must go for the MOG.
How many 101s do you see working the forests?
My brother once towed a 40 ton trailer with a mog, it was slow but did it.
Not cheap but hold the price well

[Steve ray]

I've driven plenty of tractors (farmers son) and 4x4's over the years, probably have to say that for shear industrial strength, then the UNIMOG would win - but probably at a price, but is likely to be more reliable.

As for 101 FC's - never driven one, but been out several times on Cannock Chase with one - cracking motor. Can't see how they'd tip up easily though - all the weight on them is low down in the chassis and runnign gear.

[freeagent]

if he's got plenty of money, its got to be a Mog, but financially, the sky is the limit, up to 100K for a new one, or less than 1k for a 'project'....

they are the real deal, but very expensive to repair when they go wrong..

a 101 would work, but if he's serious about moving up to a bigger truck, he needs to go Mog.

my dads next door neighbour has one, and its used daily to tow an 16T 360 digger on a 40" trailer... Mogs come in different sizes, from little ones, not much bigger than a 101, to absolute monsters, like our mate runs, which require an HGV licence (weighs 6T unladen)

[Lucy1978]

101's will tip over



I know of a few people who've used 101's for tree surgery, and heard of quite a few who've upgraded to Mogs.

Remember 101's were built in very limited quantities, so parts are getting more scarce, also that they're V8's so THIRSTY, you can get a diesel converted one, but make sure it's done properly.  

Mogs are the business, but pricey and heavy.  What's the budget? THat's the overiding factor.

Just had a quick scan on Eblag, and seen 2 mogs, one for £15k+vat and another for £25K+vat
On the 101club site there's a GS, ex tree surgeon for £2.5K and another for just under £5K.  let his wallet decide

[Cyberprog]

101's will tip over



I know of a few people who've used 101's for tree surgery, and heard of quite a few who've upgraded to Mogs.

Remember 101's were built in very limited quantities, so parts are getting more scarce, also that they're V8's so THIRSTY, you can get a diesel converted one, but make sure it's done properly.  

Mogs are the business, but pricey and heavy.  What's the budget? THat's the overiding factor.

Just had a quick scan on Eblag, and seen 2 mogs, one for £15k+vat and another for £25K+vat
On the 101club site there's a GS, ex tree surgeon for £2.5K and another for just under £5K.  let his wallet decide

The ex tree surgeon one lives down the road from me, know the chap from when he's worked on our trees :)

[Lucy1978]

I've got his old steering box in my shed too