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NEWS
Unimog Kruiser coming
‘Cheap’ Unimog-based expedition vehicle launching next monthIt could be the best of both worlds: the body and interior fit-out of one of Australia’s best-equipped off-road caravans, mounted to one of Germany’s toughest 4x4 trucks. And all for an ‘affordable’ price tag of just over $200,000…
Best known for its range of
cutting-edge camper trailers and off-road caravans,
Ballina, NSW-based Kimberley Kampers is in the final stages of adapting the body of a Kimberley Kruiser S-Class to fit on the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz Unimog for extreme self-contained remote area exploration.
cutting-edge camper trailers and off-road caravans,
Ballina, NSW-based Kimberley Kampers is in the final stages of adapting the body of a Kimberley Kruiser S-Class to fit on the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz Unimog for extreme self-contained remote area exploration.
Gold Coast-based Unidan Engineering, which specialises in converting Unimogs into extreme off-road motorhomes, is taking care of the base truck, sub-frame and underbody compartments.
“It’s going to be pretty nice but it’s also going to be very affordable compared to most (off-road) motorhomes,” said Unidan boss Daniel Mavin. “$220,000 isn’t cheap for a motorhome but it’s cheap for a Unimog motorhome.
“Over the years we’ve always built custom bodies, but it always without fail ends up $350-$450,000 plus, because everything is custom built.“
He said the Unimog Kruiser Combo will be a more affordable option for those lusting after a Unimog-based motorhome.
“It will still be a very nice product with a lot of gear in it.
“You’re going to get a brand new body with a truck that looks brand new but is an older ADF (Australian Defence Force) truck. It will also go on a brand new latest 5023 Unimog if you want it to.
“We’ve been working with their CAD drawing and our CAD drawings. We’ll send the sub-frame to (Kimberley) and they’ll add the body and then we’ll just drop it on the Unimog,” he said.
The body will only fit single-cab Unimogs and the completed vehicle will be capable of towing up to 14 tonnes.
Mavin said the first demo vehicle should be finished by mid-September, in time for display at the Big Boys Toys Expo on the Gold Coast (September 30-October 1).
Established in 2012, Unidan is also working on other motorhome projects including bodies for the latest Iveco Eurocargo and Daily 4x4, and is about to tackle for the first time a motorhome conversion of a Land Rover 6x6, ex-Army ambulance.
“A customer brought it in and obviously (the final product) is going to depend on how much he has to spend,” he said.
“It’s going to be a full paint job, bigger tyres, new interior in the back including a couple of bunk beds and an internal kitchen, but to what extent I’m not sure.
“It won’t be like one of our normal million dollar projects but it should turn out pretty nice.”
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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