MAN / VW 8.136 FAE - anyone know anything?
 

Hi Guys, first post so go easy!

As part of my search for a base vehicle I've come across these MAN/VW ex-military 4x4 8 tonners (GVW). 8.136 or 8.150 FAE or FAL.
Does anybody know anything about them? Reliability?
Cheers,
Steve.

Truck
 

Hi Steve, sorry i cant help you with any info about the truck, but i can understand your plight as i was in the same position not so long ago myself. I was trying to gather information about various trucks that i could use as the base for an expediton vehicle. I eventually settled on an ex army bedford MJ 4x4 as this suited me well. The truck is a low milage (18000) example and they are of a simple construction, have a great reputation for reliability and are prety robust machines and best of all are quite inexpensive to buy, the fuel consumption is also not to bad 15mpg on tarmac is achievable. The down side is they are basic in the cab with few comforts, are really quite slow so long motorway miles would be a chore. anyway i thought i`d just say Hi and wish you well..........Marty
P.S. let us know how you get on.
P.P.S. take a look at this site for help/advice on the camper build
http://www.sbmcc.co.uk/

Thanks Marty.
My thinking so far revolves around four base vehicles, two of which I have eliminated (I think :biggrin: )

1) Bedford MJ - Eliminated because of the cab and lack of power steering. It's a planned 3 year full time trip with 3 of us up front so comfort is important).Power steering essential for my wife.

2) Man 8.224 (newish) as used by Unicat - my preference really but eliminated because of the scarcity of used examples (that I can find) and the exorbitant fees for carnets on such an expensive vehicle.

3) Man/Vw 8.136/8.150 - basically the forerunner to the new Man 8.224 above but lots of examples and can be had for about £5,000 upwards. Downside, geared for 87kmh max speed and about 10mpg. Still in the running though.

4) Leyland/Daf 45/150 4x4 as used as the military general sevice 4 tonner (10 ton+/- GVW). Exellent examples from military storage but despite the fact that they are very common I am struggling to get second opinions or decent drawings/specifications. Still in the running so will keep trying.

Anything that cannot accomodate permanant beds, shower & toilet is ruled out. I don't want to circle the globe but lose a family!

Any ideas folks?

Steve

If you want three in the cab The bedford is no use to you, might squeeze a seat in but it`s never gona be comfy. Out of curiosity what age is the yougster ? my yougest is still at school so we plan to wait a few years (3) so he can take some time out of education then travel with us if he wants to, but there are so many variables that it`s real hard to make definate plans. Have a look at this site http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=1103&Overide=1 this is a unimog but they also supply daf and bedford trucks all ex military
regards........marty.

I visited Withams the week before last Marty. Excellent Leyland with only 13,000kms but I missed it. I also saw that Unimog 'in the flesh' there. Again it's lack of cab comfort that knocks the 'Mog out.
Our daughter is seven now and we need to be done for when she starts senior school at 11 so we have to decide on the vehicle & get on with this.
Steve.

that leaves you with a few years of lea way with the youngster to have your adventures, hope it all works out for you steve. When you get your truck send me a message and keep me posted, i`d be intrested to hear from you.
cheers.............marty.

I knew someone who drove a daf from NL to uganda with no problems.

Have you thought about Iveco cargo 4x4

Graeme

Gissa truck, mate
 

Hello Steve, I've been having these considerations for years now, and they go round and round.
Congrats on deciding to actually do it, that's a big step in itself.
I don't want to discourage you, but don't underestimate the time it takes to get a truck ready; Rob, a member of this forum who's gone to ground, built a lovely camper on an MJ but it took him much longer than he initially imagined.

The choice of base vehicle and the configuration of the vehicle depend on lots of factors, some of which are completely contradictory.

Fuel consumption: if that's a worry go smaller or get a new truck with a common rail engine. Most people cry NO to electronics but I know a family who have been travelling (Africa & now eastwards) since early 2003 in a nice new MAN without any electronic troubles.

Looking at the cost of a newer vehicle to reduce consumption:
If you compare a 10 MPG 8.136 with the 13 MPG 8.224 (what my friends run)...
At this stage I have to go metric: you save 7 litres per 100 km, if you saved 5000 pounds at purchase you have to drive nearly 143000km before the trucks have cost you the same amount of money. Do that sum with a spanking new truck and you've done a RTW before they cost the same (of course, reduced cab noise and aircon could be reasons to go newer, but they can be added)

Cruising speeds: improved by putting the biggest tyres that will fit, or going and hammering hard on a dealer (How are you getting on with that, Quintin?). And anyway only a problem in Europe, and once you're on the trip why are you on a motorway anyway? (Convoying with a TLC/LR can cause tensions sometimes)

Of your four candidates, as a (British educated) mechanical engineer I have developed a deep down mistrust of British manufacturing and build quality (remember the Leyland years? it took BMW a lot of work to get the LRs back up to standard) so for me the MJ and the Leyland are non-starters (sometimes literally ;-)
Have you considered Magirus? There are some inexpensive ex-fire trucks available in Germany and you'll find similar sized Magirus air cooled engines (& spares) all over the world (mostly in static generators). I presume you've combed Philipp Aus Dem thingy and mobile.de?

Going a little lighter I was intrigued by some of the ads I found at http://www.dimensioneavventura.org/vendo.htm (there's a class A motorhome on a Daily4x4 chassis and a rare 4 berth Mog with cab & body rigidly joined)
and also http://www.lt-4x4.de/ all mod cons in a less "in your face" package that's cheaper to run.

Big disadvantage of class A motorhome config: if ever you RoRo your truck unaccompanied, you need to block off access to the living area or risk losing the contents. Solution: take a cruise with the truck, you're on holiday after all (Grimaldi allow this, others?)

If my wife weren't hammering sense into me (and my weekends weren't filled with tiling/plumbing/roofing etc.) I'd probably already be mounting a recent(ish) MAN/MERC/RENAULT engine into a Tatra 813. Available in the Czeck republic for as little as 3500 EUROS, tougher just doesn't exist! A Renault Magnum 380 or equiv. with 1Mkm costs around 6000Euros and has all the plumbing necessary. (I'm told they get around 9MPG at 40 tonnes MGVW, the Tatra weighs 12T empty...)

Finding the space and lifting gear is another story.

I like Tatras! There, I've come out with it! Rigid chassis (= cheaper body mounts), protected transmission, 100T towing capacity (= tough transmission) independant suspension (= more stable on rough terrain), low CoG, I could go on.

She's right though, it would be very, very noticeable.

Oops! Lunchbreak over.
Let us know how you get on, what you decide etc.
Happy daydreams
er, sorry, preparations
Luke

Agree about the tatra,very sturdy indeed. But disagree about MJ (ok i`ve got one) brittish army have used these for decades and are still in service, others have come and gone the daf being one and there about to cahnge the ivecos but are still using old bedfords (not for much longer though) That speaks volumes about the truck. At the end of the day you pays your money and makes your choice. Any half decent truck, looked after will take you on your travels. Don`t get bogged down with the truck and camper build,after all it is only a means to an end, it`s the trip that counts.
marty

I have to agree with luke on the build quality of british stuff being quite poor. a friend of mine who was in the british army said when they went anywhere they had enough spares in the convoy to build another one, adding that the army doesnt care what it costs to run/maintain its fleet. you on the other hand wont have the back up of mr blair and our taxes!. look and ask some of the overland companies what they use. another friend of mine worked for dragoman and they use two wheel drive Mercs. Have you ever considered two wheel drive with a diff lock?

Graeme

Actually Dragoman generally now tend to use 6x6 and 4x4 Mercs but that's a small point however they use Mercs not Bedford TMs or other cheap ex-mod vehicles; presumeably because of reliablity and spares availablity issues. Generally though this is a tough call because modern trucks are astonishingly reliable, need precious little servicing, but are impossible to fix when they go wrong. A mate of mine was driving a newish Scania to one of the 'Stans when the starter motor died in Ukraine. He only got sorted because some kind soul he met took his old starter to a bus depot and 'swapped it' with one in a serviceable bus! On the other hand, trucks like Marty's MJ are dead easy to fix just about anywhere and by just about anyone. The problem is that you can only get 2 in the cab and they're slow, noisy and pretty basic. I have to agree with Luke though that there is much to be said for those old air-cooled Magrius trucks. Not only are there plenty for sale in Germany but they are cheap and very reliable. In the end though it comes down to money. If you can afford a nice newish MAN it'll be so much more comfortable, easier to drive etc, etc

Luke I (finally) got the axles done this week. Only taken a year! Couldn't find any second hand crown wheel and pinions and had to spend £2,500 on new ones. Merc truck spares are ludicrously pricey and my experiences of local Merc dealers here is unprintable. However it's sorted. The top speed is a tad higher (90km/hr max) but the main thing is that I can go at 70-80 without constantly worrying about red-lining the motor...and I've discovered first gear! Very pleased....but rather skint

Q

Hi Q, you better hope your new kit does`nt go wrong on the road ! £2.5k and a year to get it sorted. That 2.5k represents a fair chunk of the total price of my full rig ! But your right, if money were no object i`d also go for somthing more modern and the MAN trucks have got a good reputation, unfortuatley i live in the real world where compromises must be made, which takes me back to my earlier post, the travel is what i want to do, i just happen to want to do it in a truck because it suits my needs. For me it`s not about the truck. Everyone will make their choice of vehicle based on their own like/dislikes and buget I suppose. What about these http://www.russiantruck.co.uk/index.html Russian trucks, most of them are petrol but you can also get diesel versions. The zil and ural 6x6 trucks look awsome. Does any one have the lowdown on these ? could be an option for you Steve .
regards......marty

I travelled with a mate who had an old '63 maguirus air cooled 6 cyl 7ltr. anyway it was realiable, but noisy and uncomfortable. very basic, his wife and kids travelled in my merc when they wanted a break from the noise!

Why not go to main dealers and ask which models have not got loads of electrics and management gizmos. they will be older but as long as its a good one who cares.

Graeme

Hello again chaps,
Thank you very much indeed for all the useful posts - keep em coming :clap:

Sorry I didn't respond to your posts yesterday - I was away looking at trucks!
Nothing of interest as it turns out - saw a Leyland/Daf 45/150 ex council gritter but although it was 4x4 as described it had merely been converted to 4x4 by adding a transfer box and extra shaft. Suspension etc. was as per the standard road spec. Ho hum.
I agree with the points on both engineering and the length of time for fit out, but I'm also an (ex) professional engineer and owned a boatbuilding company so I am going in eyes wide open.
To be honest, my preference would be a newish Man with a Unicat type body. I can match (exceed) that standard but it comes down to the rediculus cost of Carnets and the possibility (likelyhood) that at some time we will have to leave the vehicle in storage for a month or two whilst we return home to check on the business etc.

At your suggestion(s), I've added the Iveco Cargo & Mercs to the list but old 60's Eastern block types are a non starter on comfort, noise & spares grounds. We will have a Uk contact for spares but I want to keep it as simple as poss' for them.

I still like the looks of the Man/Vw 8.136 as per my original question but despite the fact that there are hundreds available, I've yet to find anybody who has driven one. I reminds me of my old Mercedes GWagon which we regulary offroaded in Morocco.

The new Iveco Cargo 4x4 with up to 220 bhp looks tempting though! I suppose it will come down to what I see on the day I'm really in the mood. :biggrin:
The absolute latest for having the vehicle ready to fit out is Easter 2007, but I would rather have something purchased in the next month or two so that I can do detailed plans for the fit out rather than the general ones I have.
Steve

Hi Steve,

That's what most 4x4 trucks end up being. A spring being a boingy thing the manufacturers often simply downrate the max load on the 4x4 version. It's the shocks and their mounts that receive the most attention and are upgraded.
And the cab mounts. I know MAN have a specific Africa spec cab pivot/mount to deal with the extra vibration.

Wow, you could be a handy person to know :-)
Now you're out of boats have you considered trucks? The very existence of Unicat, Action Mobil, Langer & Boch etc. etc. proves that there's a market at the top end of the price bracket. There must be a mid range market too, at the moment virtually anything below the prices of the big firms is a self build.
The absence of base vehicles is of course a problem.

The amount you deposit depends on the value you declare, it bears no relation to how much the vehicle cost you, or for how much you have insured it for. The insurers don't compare notes with the RAC (about that, at least)
Within reason, of course. The purchase price of the truck (if 2nd hand) is acceptable, that way if the RAC ask for proof it's only worth that, you've got a receipt. You could add the coachbuilders price for the box, but if you start costing up your own time spent fitting it out, you soon reach Unicat values.

I'm going to leap to the defence of my dream truck, It's an emotional thing.

The model I want (need?) was built 1978 - 1984 (or around there).
Comfort & noise: the seats can be changed and one can add layers of sound proofing. I haven't looked at the relative cost versus a more modern truck. Obviously it'll never be as plush as a modern rig.
Spares: it would be arrogant to say that Tatras just don't break, but as an example the 6wd support truck from the Loprais team is about to start its 14th (I think) Dakar next year on its original engine, chassis and transmission.
The race truck has been pushed to 850 hp for a production spec of 350, not the best example.

More practically, Tatra has recently been bought by Terex, who have since sold hundreds (thousands?) to the US military under the American Truck Corporation brand (with cummins engine and Allison auto box - nice)
This means that not only can you get spares wherever the USSR had gone and meddled, but now also wherever the US has sent "advisors" (usually a marine corps contingent)
And that covers pretty much the entire world these days.
Anyway that's an aside, really

Sorry I can't tell you more about the 8.136 except that it'll do the job, just not at 130 km/h on the motorway.

The EuroCargo 4x4/Eurotrakker are super, but remember the carnet if you buy new!

For your detailed plans I think you'll find that you can bolt a 4-5m box onto most of the trucks you're looking at.

Marty is right in a way, sometimes it's better just to get out there and not worry so much about the truck. I've lived in a van in the past, but I'm not the only one who's going to be living in our truck, and in the interests of family harmony there has to be the shower, the permanant bed, a decent kitchen, the aircon/heating and (discovered during 7 months around WA) an automatic washing machine.
That's no problem with a HGV

It must be old age creeping up on us, to "need" all those comforts, when we plan on going where there just aren't any.

Happy plans
Luke

Steve i found this site http://www.padh.de/html/fahrzeuge_neu.html looks like there are a few MAN 8.136 trucks for sale along with a few other intresting looking trucks.........marty

Hi Steve,

I still like the looks of the Man/Vw 8.136 as per my original question but despite the fact that there are hundreds available, I've yet to find anybody who has

As it happens I bought me one and I'm nipping up on Wednesday to check it out again - now with an MoT. From the specs and price it suits me just fine. If it goes well we may convert it into a camper as a project (ideally by just buying a camper box and slapping it on the back...). A lot to learn there.

Not much yet to say at:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/MAN

For a palette on wheels it felt amazingly comfy to drive. But all I can compare it to is a near-forgotten diesel 101 and lately a gnarly MAN 19/240 which pulled dunes to shreads but got through as barrel of fuel every 200kms.

If you find any other 136 owners let us know.

Chris S

Thanks for the link Marty - I've now got a list of half a dozen or so dealers so it's just a question of visiting & choosing now. If I have to I'll go for the 8.136 short wheelbase (3.1 mtr) but I'm still holding out for the bigger 8.150 (150bhp) engine with the longer 3.5mtr wheelbase - not many about though.

Chris, great that another English speaker has got one - I've had 4 weeks on German / Danish sites - friendly but hard work.

Let me know how you get on. I'm reckoning on 80kph cruising (road) but would be interested to hear your thoughts on that. What about cab noise? I've now got plenty of links to other owners' sites (mainly German) if you havn't already got them.

Steve

Hello Steve, I've been having these considerations for years now, and they go round and round.

Yep, I know that feeling Luke! In the end you just have to point and shoot.

I've had 4 weeks on German / Danish sites - friendly but hard work.

No need to go abroad IMO, although we may have got lucky at http://www.leavesley-international.co.uk/ - it was cheap, down the road and in great nick. But he only had a couple left. Never seen an 8150 for sale but I think you may like the extra space (is it still classed as a 7.5 tonner for a UK car license?)

Let me know how you get on. I'm reckoning on 80kph cruising (road) but would be interested to hear your thoughts on that.

Can't say I've done any cruising yet - off to Alg in Feb but 80kph should be normal, esp with bigger XZs.

What about cab noise?
Nothing from this era or type is going to sound like a Micra on tickover - you'll have to spend 5 times as much to get something more modern: common rail TD. To be honest if it's a 3 year trip you're planning I would get the very best and comfiest you can afford. Plenty of other great lorries out there - Ivecos look good, or Mercs of course. I like the 136 coz it's small. Maybe even forget a cumbersome lorry and get a really good big van? It's going to be your home for years not just a toy...

I've now got plenty of links to other owners' sites (mainly German) if you havn't already got them
Haven't found any - just unintelligible forums so let's have em! thanks

Ch

Put em up!
 

Steve, as Chris says, why don't you put the sites up here for all to see.
I know of Besko in Holland, Aigner and Philipp in Germany.
Then there's mobile.de, where you can do a search for 4x4 LKW's
and truckscout24, also German, which seems to be almost monopolised by Philipp. And of course the English sites.

What else have you got?

Mega busy getting the business sorted for Chrimbo folks, will post links asap :thumbup1:

Made me think.....
 

Reading all the above has made me think - the age old quandry:

Land rover/Land Cruiser or 4x4 van or Truck

have had these thoughts before, but Cruiser for reliability and general ease of use, van for being the best all rounder or the truck for space....................

mmmmmmmmmmm

Keep thinking.....

Met up with a couple in Africa in one of the wm40.10 Iveco ambulance's - built for the Mod trials, must say it was a real quality vehicle and the quality of the conversion work - alot of which was done by Frogs Island - was absolutely superb.

However, we now have two young kids - 2 & 4, so looks like it will probably be a truck with double cab - thinking Unimg or MAN.

Any thoughts

Chris

How much noise do the kids make?
 

If you don't want to hear them, there are some excellent low mileage ex fire service twin cab Magirus Deutz trucks going cheap in Germany.
The engine noise will drown them out nicely.

There are plenty of after market soundproofing products you could put around them (or the engine if they're not too noisy ;-)

And there are always those Tatras (sorry, I can't help it)

I'm in the same place as you, Chris. My beloved 2 berth Iveco has to go in favour of something with more seats/beds.

Unfortunately as you go bigger, if you stick to the all wheel drive vehicles, they get slower.
But we're all in too much of a hurry anyway these days.

Edit: Does anyone know if the twincab Maggies are tilt cabs?

Does anybody know what options there are for crew cab / 4+ seater trucks. I would really like a newer unimog but you get a huge crew cab area at the expense of a fairly small area for the cabin. Wondering if there are any other options which have a better balance between cab space and space for the cabin. Remember seeing a MAN in Africa which had 4 seats / 2 doors although didn't get to see inside the cab to see the exact configuration.

Not looking for a £500k truck but at the same time, looking for something fairly modern / not that old. Don't want to be cruising at 40mph down the motorways and constantly repairing it.

Any ideas?

The old quandry has me too..

Am selling my 80 because of it!

But it has to be a truck now- have tried everything else.

How are you getting on with the MAN Chris?
I have just read your bit about the tail lift- an excellent idea. I was on the Tuareg Rallye earlier this year and a Dutch crew had one, it made a fantastic work area for fixing bikes and sitting around. David Lambeths truck was well sorted but getting the bikes up and down the ramp was an added danger..

Whats the truck like to drive? I am torn between a mog1300 and the MAN.

The mog mainly due to familiarity as I use them for work, but the MAN is a lot cheaper. Can I ask what you paid for yours?
One more question.. what was the back like till you stripped it out?

And then there is the camper conversion to look at..

Any sites on conversions?
Check this one..
www.unimog.org.uk

How are you getting on with the MAN Chris?

Im there right now cleaning down the gloop for painting - well Matt is, Im hiding in the office 'checking important emails...'

I have just read your bit about the tail lift- an excellent idea.

Yes it is, as long as it does not shake to bits on the corrugations. But it was cheap\and easy.

I was on the Tuareg Rallye earlier this year and a Dutch crew had one, it made a fantastic work area for fixing bikes and sitting around. David Lambeths truck was well sorted but getting the bikes up and down the ramp was an added danger..

Yes eventually a bike will get you, or get damaged.

Whats the truck like to drive? I am torn between a mog1300 and the MAN.

Cant recall driving a Mog but this one is very FC which suits me fine. It will be a slow dog but what truck isnt at that price? matt who knows says its just like any 7.5 t lorry but slower

The mog mainly due to familiarity as I use them for work, but the MAN is a lot cheaper. Can I ask what you paid for yours?
6500 quid + vat. and probably another grand to be it ready for Alg
Just got\ it reg'd today which was unnervingly easy (full details on my MAN page soon)

One more question.. what was the back like till you stripped it out?
prety good actually - could almost live in it with the thermal tarp as it is and no body but a bit dark. a very powerfrul diesel heater - all the 'command post' junk incl table we've dumped. plenty of room for a sofa and a kettle but the more i think about, getting in and out of the back 4-5 feet off the grounb might get a chore.

And then there is the camper conversion to look at..

we've\locaqted heavy army cabins in DK but we'll see yet. there must be somnething cheap in the UK to nail down and get wallpapered

Any sites on conversions?
only self build\motorhomes so far and plenty of guys doing incredible jobs. I'm way too lazy for that

Check this one..
www.unimog.org.uk

think i know that one - amazing job some people do - andthis guy actually used it too!

better get back to work

Ch

I've also just read you're section about the tail lift and it raised a few questions I've been puzzeling over for some time too.

I'm in the detailed planning stage of a conversion me and my wife will start some time in the next year. We are going to fit a truck (probably a fair bit larger than yours, approximately 6 or 7m) with the front 3/4 being living space and the back being a garage area for sound system equipment. Now my ampracks way around 150Kg and while it's not as heavy as your bikes there is no way that I'll be lifting that into the box. Once the torsion free mounting frame has been bolted to the chassis rails the box will be at least 1.5m off the ground.

The main problem I'm having is how to avoid hurting departure angle and ground clearnace, as most of our off road action is mountainous rather than desert. I'm not worried either about the platform reaching the floor, we have lifted the equipment into box vans with no problems for years. I expect the rear overhang on my truck to be slightly larger than yous and so the rails hanging down from the back of the body will significantly reduce the departure angle. 2 years ago in czech a friend of mine was trying to go up am access path to a field and the rails on his truck dug into the tarmac, 3 hours were spent trying to free the truck and we ended up having to angle-grind the rails off leaving a mangled tail lift and holes about 6 inches deep torn into the tarmac. The two options I've been looking at are:

1. custom built cantilever design. If I can get the supporting bar near the back axle along the line to the bottom of the back of the box it shouldn't affect departure angle too much. Might be a logistical nightmare though. As below but with less overhang at the rear
http://www.rsg.co.uk/images/rs10anim.gif

2. A coulumn lift like yours but so that the rails that the platform slide down on extend when in use.

I don't suppose you know anyone who makes anything like I described? or know of a company who specialised in tail-lifts/lifting solutions for 4x4 trucks? Had you considered the effect on departure angle on your truck?

thanks,

Nick

Hi Nick. The departure angle for this vehicle is not affected, see pics at http://www.overlanders-handbook.com/MAN/index1.htm

The cantilever tail lifts do require a bit of messing around with the rear chassis, and I think it would be a lot of work.
You could look at much smaller tail lifts, like the ones for wheel chairs? Search on ebay you'll find them.

But I can see your problem about departure angle, and I don't think there is an easy solution. But anything is possible if you have the money!!

Cheers,
Matt Savage

Thanks for all the help in choosing a truck chaps - after pestering you for information on the Man/Vw 8.136, and after travelling over 3,000 miles during the Xmas break to view all posssibilities, I finally bought a Mercedes 917 just up the road in Oxford!

9 tonner, 170hp, permanent 4wd with diff locks, and it's a 4 speed AUTOMATIC! - very quiet (less noise than my old 609 Merc van), and the missus can drive it. 60,000Km ex fire brigade rapid response vehicle. Will post progress.

Thanks once again chaps :thumbup1:

Congrats on your new lorry. If it's what I think it is it's a metre longer in the body which will be better for you. And automatic too, whatever next!
Check out this pdf full of info - in German alas.

http://www.desert-info.org/fileadmin...rcedes_914.pdf

Ch

[QUOTE=ClassicCruiser]Thanks for all the help in choosing a truck chaps - after pestering you for information on the Man/Vw 8.136, and after travelling over 3,000 miles during the Xmas break to view all posssibilities, I finally bought a Mercedes 917 just up the road in Oxford!

9 tonner, 170hp, permanent 4wd with diff locks, and it's a 4 speed AUTOMATIC! - very quiet (less noise than my old 609 Merc van), and the missus can drive it. 60,000Km ex fire brigade rapid response vehicle. Will post progress.

Thanks once again chaps :thumbup1:[/QUOTE

Steve this is the truck I have though mine started out life as a bus in Germany. After 18 months of ownership and quite a lot of work I've come to know a fair bit about them so if need any info etc send me a pm with a contact number.

Good choice; though I hope you've got longer axle ratios than mine had!

Q

Hi Quintin, pm sent with phone number :thumbup1:

What about.............
 

Hi Quintin

what about some info on the work you have done and maybe some photos - before, during and after/now

What/where do intend taking the truck ??

Chris

Saw this link on ebay. Depending on condition, could be a good base for an expedition vehicle. One of the lighter duty mogs but should be more than capable of anything on an expedition.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIMOG-100L-19...QQcmdZViewItem

now thats the daddy!!

Mercedes 917
 

Hi Chris
Haven't got any photos of the work I've done and anyway I'm hopeless at re-sizing piccies to fit the site's attachment size. Help gratefully received!

When I got the truck (which used to be a bus in East Germany) the main problem was that it was geared to run at 70km/hr before hitting the red line on the rev counter. Anyway, after much searching for advice/technical help (and that I got here from Luke amongst others was far better than Mercedes could provide) I ended up changing the axle ratios at a cost of about £3,500-outrageous. This has improved the mpg from 13 on a run to about 16 but it's also made the truck much quieter and easier to drive. I've put on a 450 litre fuel tank (from a DAF truck) and I've also completely rewired the leisure side (no fuses), fitted a 120W solar panel, 2x170a/hr batteries,Sterling battery:battery charger etc etc. I've also installed a 2kw generator mounted on, bizarrely, the back bumper and covered in a thief-proof stainless steel cover, installed a purpose built additional stainless water tank under the entrance steps (total capacity now about 300 Litres). I've built a spare wheel carrier between the back axle and the rear bumper which is hinged about the front edge so that it can be hoisted up and out of the way-neat design by the way-and I'm about to fit a further spare wheel on a box frame which runs up from the rear end of the chassis to the top of the box. The wheel is raised and lowered using a small detachable electric winch mounted on the top of the box. I also use this to raise and lower the Solex moped (!)we have on the back.

The truck was very well equipped (shower, Truma hot water/hot air system, gas oven, fridge etc) when we got it and for surprisingly little money but the layout wasn't very well thought out. We've changed quite a bit inside but without ripping everythig out and starting again there's nothing more we can do about that. The inside is rather like a shrine to pine-think IKEA/Swedish sauna-but at least it's light and airy. I'm in the process of putting netting on the windows that open and am installing some Seitz roof vents as I reckon it will get very hot inside once we get down into Africa. The truck is known in the familly as Group 4 for the simple reason that with 4 windows down each side it looks like a prison van!! Sadly without a decent 3-point body mount it can't do serious off-road work though.

The plan is we're off to West Africa in October for 3 months with no particular agenda or fixed plans though we'd like to get back to Mali to see old friends and maybe get to Niger where there are some musican buddies I'd like to catch up with again.

If someone can tell me how to re-size attachments I'll post a photo of the little dear

All the best

Q

vw 8136
 

[quote=ClassicCruiser;116416]Hi Guys, first post so go easy!

hi the place to get these 4x4 vw man trucks is in germany ,they come from a company called vebeg they are on the internet

man on man action
 

Seems a very popular thread this, so some may be interested in impressions, pix and movies following 10,000kms in my 8.136:
http://www.overlanders-handbook.com/MAN/index3.htm

Saw a 9.150 FAE down in Djanet also being used for bike tour support. Around a metre longer, spare tyre underneath and full height in the back, but matey said there are only 10 in Germany. 8.136s are easy to find as we know.

Chris S

Excellent write up Chris, glad it all worked out ok. Impressive fuel consumption! I'd better get on and make/fit the living mobile back to my merc ready for the autumn.
Steve :thumbup1:

Chris,

Enjoyed the trucklette write up very much and am now thinking that I too may buy one and use the back to live in for more extended trips! Much more space than a Defender , cheaper than rebuilding one but with the downside of higher fuel costs (in the UK) and not so good for nipping down to the shops or chippy. How do you think it would cope with bigger dunes?? Can you get spares like shocks etc fairly easily?

I work in HGV transport and MAN's in their larger incarnations (16-44 tons) always struck me as having superior build quality over other makes such as Merc (esp later Mercs) and DAF/Volvo/Iveco. This was borne out by the fact that even at 900,000 km everything worked as original and nothing had fallen off. They all had very smooth and free revving engines. Actually we used to use 30 foot 3 axle 24 tonners for going to the chippy so as a standby runabout a small 7.5t truck could be a goer.

Will be interested to see the future camper body mod.

Presumably a truck like this would be ideal for something like the Gilf trip...?



Andrew.

Hi Andrew, glad the report was useful.

How do you think it would cope with bigger dunes??
At a bar and a half no worse than a regular 4WD but it's a bit more work to dig out unless you can reverse out. The Admer crossing is a pretty long and steep and it managed fine once I worked it out. Later on were worked our way through smaller, 20m-high dunes in the Taghera region to make a short cut. Getting stuck to the axles on a downslope here was frustrating (the 80 did too) but all you can do is dig, deflate and keep sandplating. Or better still, walk ahead to mark a firm route as we eventually did.

Can you get spares like shocks etc fairly easily?
Depends where you are I suppose - dont know the RTW range of MANs. As you read, I got a 15 year old clutch seal in Hassi M by just reaching out my arm and in the UK Matt has no trouble getting the usual wear-out bits just down the road, including a new slave cylinder. Shocks look pretty standard and anyway dont work hard coz the leaves do.

.... and MAN's always struck me as having superior build quality over other makes such as Merc (esp later Mercs) and DAF/Volvo/Iveco.
That's what I hear too but I'm coming from a knowledge base of zero. In Algeria any HG smuggler worth his salt runs a MAN.

Actually we used to use 30 foot 3 axle 24 tonners for going to the chippy so as a standby runabout a small 7.5t truck could be a goer.
It will be a doddle to park but still carries a lot of chips. Which reminds me, must get down to Macro for a pallet's worth of veggy oil.

Will be interested to see the future camper body mod.
We only have a back-of-fag-packet design and I've been looking at all sorts of designs on the web and have a good idea what will work best. IMO to live in an 8136 you need more space than the flatbed floor offers so moving the spare and all that stuff there needs to be done to extend the body forward - and then a bevel angling up off the back about a metre will add 4 feet all up. My plan is to have the module demountable like Thunderbird 2 so in between trips you can return it to flatbed mode to take a cow to market or do a bike tour.

Presumably a truck like this would be ideal for something like the Gilf trip...?
Apart from the getting there, yes, if not a bit OTT. A regular 4WD is absolutely maxed out on a typical 2200km Gilf run. For my 2008 tour I'll probably run mine in flatbed mode with no sheet and a couple of oil drums in the back; the payload won't be any more than I carried for the bikes in Alg. The problem might be the other cars will think it's a general purpose load carrier and tow truck!
And with a truck, the good thing in the Gilf is that it's so arid there are no oueds or run-off channels to speak of which makes cross country progress comparatively agreeable compared to oued-riddled central Sahara. And I'm already taking bets I'll get up the Aqaba Pass in one go!

Chris S

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply. I've been hunting around for an 8.136, Leavesleys have run out and maybe having some in soon, and Jacksons have loads but a price. They also have loads of spares apparently and offered to make me up packs...Found Lots in Germany/Denmark etc but prefer to get one from here. I like the demountable idea, makes good use of the truck when not in desert mode, no doubt people will want things shifted, dumped etc so it can justify it's keep more.

We parked next to a German 8.150 camper in Carrefour Algeciras. It looked like one of these ex mil jobbies with the mil type bumperettes and cab roof rack, and has a camper body as you described - about 3 foot taller than the cab, swept back at the front and kicked up at the rear with about a 3 foot rear overhang. On the back there's a frame with an off road bike and 2 canoes/kayaks. Has the 14 inch wide tyres you mentioned and a 450 litre fuel tank... Does look big and top heavy though in contrast to yours and probably not a demountable. Did you say that yours came with a thermal tarp??

Just found pics of this truck on their website:

Startseite



Andrew.

... and Jacksons have loads but a price.
Which says it all. I am sure they quoted me 12k for one on the road last year!

They also have loads of spares apparently and offered to make me up packs...
Handy to know.

Found Lots in Germany/Denmark etc but prefer to get one from here.
I think by the time you get there, look at it and bring it back it must be £1000. Much easier for rego too if it's been brought in to the UK already with VAT paid. The price as we know can be the same as in Europe.

We parked next to a German 8.150 camper in Carrefour Algeciras. It looked like one of these ex mil jobbies with the mil type bumperettes and cab roof rack, and has a camper body as you described -
The FAEs are all ex-mil, no?
Yes, that what I have in mind, but starting from above their red side bits - just a box sat on the bed. I wonder if they built a whole new back chassis to lower it.

Has the 14 inch wide tyres you mentioned...
Actually, to be precise I'm told the tyres needed could be 14.5 R20 (but definitely 365/80 R20) - a smidge bigger than the 12.50s but it ought to turn them. Its got to be that exact size - even .../85 is much bigger.

Did you say that yours came with a thermal tarp
Yes

Ch

4x4 Vehicle Assistance Request - South Africa
 

Hi..I hve read a number of the posts re vehciles that people have been trying to buy etc.
I am from Cape Town , South Africa. I am a disaster management volunteer fighting the large blazes we have in the informal settlements, peri-urban areas and large nature reserves. I urgently need assistance with securing an off-road fire / resucue vehicle (preferably sponsored by someone)- if anyone can help or point us in the right direction this would be apprecited.
Thanks
davin
davinc@icon.co.za

Too late I'm afraid, but take a look at:

http://man.lauerbach.de/wiki/view.do?page=Galerien

Hi is anyone on the forum using the vw-man 8.136 i am interested if anyone has built a camper body for one and running costs as a camper tax/fuel insurance and cost of the base vehicle if bought in the uk ......thanks

David

hi

I now have Chris Scotts MAN and am converting it to a camper.

I am keeping the insulated tarp and just having a basic set up inside and using the tial lift chris put on as a bike rack.

~Its just got thru the mot with no problems.

It drives nicely- Have just put 385/80/20 XZLs on so it should help fuel. Took a photo of them next to the 12.5s and they are much bigger. Its revving less for the same speed so will see how much better they are. They have also improved the ride considerably.

I think its the perfect size and everyone i speak to rates the MANs in every respect.

Will gladly help with any info you require

Hi stan thanks for the info when you get it out on the road with the new tyres on it could you let me know what mpg your getting i am looking to buy a vw-man but still havent made my mind up what to do. still looking for loads of info as what they are like to run and live with i am still trying to work out what is a good price for one and what to expect for my money ..

I have seen loads of good examples in Europe but think i would prefer to buy in the uk if the price was right ....i am looking to see how much work it would be to buy/build a camper back for one ....keep us posted on how your getting on with the truck and any pictures of the work your doing to it .....cheers David

Like minded, and only down the road!
 

Stan, I've recently sold my old Iveco 4x4 van/camper and am looking to upgrade to a large truck....... I saw your MAN in the wood yard when I went on a Woodsmoke course near Coniston last September...

As I only live in Cockermouth (north west lakes), I'd like to meet up to discuss and get ideas from you if I may. I've tracked down a Leyland DAF 45 (ex MOD) with rear box bodyto buy and it would be good to see what you've done.

Give me a bell on my mobile 07714234733 or home number 01900 825859 and hopefully we can sort out a time.

Cheers, josh

Mb 911
 

hi we just got a mercedes 911 its got 20000 miles on the clock and full service history from the german police. its a cold war border radio wagon so comes with 12v 24v 220v in the back, we see these all around the world as we travel so spare parts are no probs, 4x4 and diff locks they are about 10000 pounds and they sell quite fast in europe. there are a few going rtw now, easy merc engine to work on.:thumbup1:

I have a 1417 4x4 ex MoD with rear box for sale in DK if anyone interested
(pics here)

If cab comfort is desired in a Unimog check out the red U5000 for sale at Unimog, 4x4, Spezialfahrzeuge,Geländefahrzeuge, militärfahrzeuge und v.m.-MEREX Autovertrieb GmbH ; it has CTIS, electroautomatic shifting, etc. The latest Mogs are comparable to a newish MAN, etc. in cab amenities.
I can say from experience a U500 makes a very nice chassis for a 4.8m camper.

Charlie