International 7400 Unicat Video

[Nitromethane43]

Here's a video walk through of the Unicat's Amerigo International expedition vehicle, I just thought you guys might be interested in.

http://www.dezerttv.com/dztvplayer.php?vidid=1128757435&type=1

[charlieaarons]

It's a video of some guys driving too fast thru the desert, nothing to do with Unicat.

Charlie

[Maddmatt]

It's a video of some guys driving too fast thru the desert, nothing to do with Unicat.

Charlie

You have to watch through that, after the desert racing footage it starts.

[Nitromethane43]

It's a video of some guys driving too fast thru the desert, nothing to do with Unicat.

Charlie

There is a few seconds of commercials, if you can be patient enough to sit through that there is a unicat video.

[Gold Boy]

that camper is very cool, but it would look better on a mitsu fg :D

[Robthebrit]

I would prefer a mitsu too but I don't think a fuso would carry that monster! I am not too keen on the international truck, its very unproven for expedition use. The inside was very nice and it had pretty much everything you would ever need.

The bit where he reverses up the hill at the end is a little embarassing, its a simple hill and there is a lot of wheels spinning, I hope it was in 2wd.

Rob

[Gold Boy]

I would prefer a mitsu too but I don't think a fuso would carry that monster! I am not too keen on the international truck, its very unproven for expedition use. The inside was very nice and it had pretty much everything you would ever need.

The bit where he reverses up the hill at the end is a little embarassing, its a simple hill and there is a lot of wheels spinning, I hope it was in 2wd.

Rob


x2

:26_7_2:

[LandCruiserPhil]

Im almost positive thats the Stairs obstacle at Hollister Hills (50 miles from UnicatAmerica). Its man made and is designed to test/stop long and short base vehicle. Maybe me, but I didnt see any wheel spin. It not as easy as it looks and you can bet its in 4WD.

Another Youtube View
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cw16Ef72srQ


.

[Robthebrit]

You don't see the front wheels slipping but the dust beign kicked up is definately from the rears slipping. You can kind of tell how truck moves that its spinning. Does that unicat have diff locks?

I am not sure if its the steps at Hollister, but those steps are not terrible. I have not driven the camper mog up (its never been to Hollister) them but I have driven the 416 doka up and down them without any issues.

Rob

[Doin_It]

Couldn't it also be dust blowing up from all the exhaust hitting the ground?

[Scott Brady]

That was just exhaust blowing out dust on the last climb. I would be curious to know why they elected to climb the obstacle in reverse.

The fast footage through the desert is played a 1.5x speed (or similar). I have seen the original footage. Most of it is from northern Africa.

[Christian P.]

Im almost positive thats the Stairs obstacle at Hollister Hills (50 miles from UnicatAmerica). Its man made and is designed to test/stop long and short base vehicle. Maybe me, but I didnt see any wheel spin. It not as easy as it looks and you can bet its in 4WD.


.

yes these are the stairs. I have done them with my Vanagon Camper Syncro. Lot of fun.

[Gold Boy]

looked like dust blowing up from the on board air system.

i'm not convinced that international truck is the best choice of platform, for unicat.:Mechanic: <<<< ;)

[Robthebrit]

I don't think its air unless its leaking, they sneeze once in a while to release or equalize pressure but thats about it.

I don't think its the exhaust, there are lots of other sections with the truck driving in soft sand and dirt and there is no cloud behind it - there are other videos of it on the web too. He may be gassing it really hard but I don't think the movement of the truck doesn't go along with that - unless the wheels are spinning. Watching the video carefully, the front wheels don't look as if they are contributing anything to the movement.

I agree on the international not being a proven platform but I guess they needed a US truck and there is not much to choose from in the US 4x4 medium duty truck market.

Rob

[charlieaarons]

I agree on the international not being a proven platform but I guess they needed a US truck and there is not much to choose from in the US 4x4 medium duty truck market.

Rob

That's exactly it. Avi and I got the Unicat bug at the same time but unbeknownst to each other. I ended up with the U500 as my chassis solution, he wanted a 7400.

Charlie

[Blair G]

I agree on the international not being a proven platform but I guess they needed a US truck and there is not much to choose from in the US 4x4 medium duty truck market.

Rob

So far I have really liked out 7400. We have the DT570 so power is not an issue. We are in the process of getting some better tires as the stock tires suck. Being so heavily reliant on the electrics to make this truck run would certainly make me concerned about leaving the country. So far so good though.

Blair

[mog]

Im almost positive thats the Stairs obstacle at Hollister Hills (50 miles from UnicatAmerica). Its man made and is designed to test/stop long and short base vehicle. Maybe me, but I didnt see any wheel spin. It not as easy as it looks and you can bet its in 4WD.
Yes that is the stairs at Hollister Hills. A 'nice' obstacle since they have pre-made winch anchor points on either side.


That was just exhaust blowing out dust on the last climb. I would be curious to know why they elected to climb the obstacle in reverse.
The steps are a LOT steeper then they look in the video. I'd guess they did not want the chance of a rear endo going up forward. Sure the engine is heavy, but the steepness and the fact you hit a good bump at each 'step' could cause an embarrassing moment.

[charlieaarons]

My weight distribution is about 37-63. With a 154" wheelbase that puts the CG ~56" forwards of the rear axle. With a CG height of ~51-52" that gives a rear tip over angle of only 50 degrees or so, so that is a concern with my truck and I believe Avi's as well.
On the other hand, 50 deg is very steep.

Charlie

[oonimog]

That's not tire spin, it's the exhaust. You can imagine the throttle needed to haul that beast up the stairs. I expect that he backed up the stairs because he wanted to avoid the break over angle at the top and preferred backing up as opposed to backing down. Of more concern is that with an auto gearbox and transfer box gears that aren't low enough, he came down standing on the brakes. Not really the best technique...:oops:

[Redline]

Looks like exhaust to me. At the end of the video the camera shoots the total length under the truck. The position of the downturned muffler is about where all the dust was emanating from. Sounded like he was using plenty of throttle too (exhaust).

All leaf spring suspension, no air?

James

[DavidG]

Unicat Amerigo International article and video...

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/video-unicat-amerigo-international-4x4-rv-guided-tour/

[Offtrack]

Hi all

That is exhaust for sure. I had a Int. 4800 4x4 bought it new for my private fire service. I traveled many miles of back roads with it on patrols and large fires on and off road. With that darn down turned exhaust you get quite a dust cloud going doing just what he was doing. Keep in mind your talking a heavy truck and when in low range your engine is running at points where the turbo is near or at full boost along with near road speed rpms and your only moving very slow, enter big dust cloud. When I was climbing a steep grade like that what the Unicat was or even steeper you could not see the back half of the truck at times. That climb he did is a very good demo of what it can do but I know it will do much more.

My 4800 came in at 25K with 850 gallons on board. We had it a few times on grades where the front started to seek a bit so we backed off. Also many times in deep sand, large rocks, lava rock fields, high water, and mud.

For the International as a EXC, I think its very strong platform and very proven. They have proven to be very good in the wildland fire service and that is much more hard on a truck. What I have taken my truck into and got back out with it along with the many miles I ran it I know that it would make a great EXC.

Now that said I would make some changes and for sure keep some spare parts on board and for sure at the least the normal know heavy wear parts.

A few little things I would change.

1. have some kind of bypass for the anti-lock/slip system on the Engine brake. Not sure if they have noticed or changed that on the 7400 or not but its a real pain when that system turns off your engine brake when your going down a steep hill in low range and a wheel hops on a rock. Its easy to react to it but its not what most folks would want to do going down a steep hill. I found when it did that just to give it a little tap on the throttle and that would turn your engine brake back on.

2. For sure get the exhaust into a stack or off to the side if it can be done. One reason is the dust issue. But the worst is the build up of exhaust under the truck when your idle, It gets very bad and on a cold day even worst.

Many more little things but over all my direct experience with the all wheel drive international was a good one. I did have some issues with it but it never did leave me walking.

Very Very good things to see that they put temp monitors for the transfer case and axles. When your in 110F heat that transfer case gets hot...Very hot and you start to have input and output seals leave you if you push it too much. This was a fabco on my truck I think they no longer use that case.

Also for folks wanting to go more than around 60 MPH all the time. You might want to rethink your camper idea. The big all wheel drives and the tires keep you around the 60 mph range. It can go faster but not really safe and good on your truck to run for long times above 60 mph. If you try to spec the truck for faster speeds you will loose all your low end for the bad roads.
I had a max of 72 and would run at 60 to 62 most all the time. At times rolling to fires we would do runs up to the max but it was rare.

I also found that high range was used mainly on good roads and nothing too steep. When it got steep muddy or sandy we would go to low range right off. I was not packing the power that the Unicat 7400 has. I only had the DT 466E at 215 hp it was set up for fire service in the computer and had good high torque.

Long time Unicat fan here and I hope it works out well for Avi here in the USA. I dream of getting one some day.

Have a great day all

[jayshapiro]

I can't comment on the great exhaust vs. spinning debate, but I have heard Avi say before that he reverses up tough obstacles because his reverse gear is even lower Than his low 1st gear. Not an easy truck to turn around on the trail though...

As for the International option, we considered it for the EcoRoamer but rejected it in favor of the F650. The main reasons were the ULSD issue outside the states (Avi says the engine can be modified, Intentional insists it cannot) and the broader international (pardon the pun) dealer support network for the Cat engine.

We both have the same Meritor axles, and same options for wheels / tires.

Haven't tried the steps in my truck, I suspect my maximum departure angle is less Than my truck's!

Jay.

[egn]

Here is a link to a video where you can see how the Unicats are build in Germany:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Km1ArLbdA

[lowenbrau]

I was quite impressed with the footage of him reversing up that obstical. I generally think of the live front axle in these large rigs as a 'front wheel assist'. The fact that you can move that heavy a rig up that kind of hill in reverse is impressive to me. I'd like to see some testing with the steering at full lock. That would be a sure recipe for a broken axle. There is no question that the dust is exhaust generated. I have cursed my side dumping exhaust when in that area for the dust it creates.

[DavidG]

Here is a link to a video where you can see how the Unicats are build in Germany:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Km1ArLbdA

The amount of flex the chassis is designed to allow is impressive.