Unimog U 20 Special - Mercedes Benz

14 MUNICIPAL WORKS • UNIMOG 1 • 2010
Julius Spital vineyard, Würzburg
STEEP SLOPES with narrow, snaking paths are the working
environment of the U 20 operated by the Julius Spital vineyard in
Würzburg. The vineyard employs the all-wheel drive unit both for
pulling duties and as an implement carrier. Fleet manager Lothar
Flösser likes the Unimog, and is “very pleased” with its handling
and comfort on the road and on the difficult terrain. “When working
in a vineyard, compact size is key,” he explains. “So a truck or a
big Unimog would be no good to us – which is why we have been
using compact Unimog models for decades now.” In addition to the
engineering quality, the fleet manager appreciates the high standards
of service and expertise of his Unimog partner, who “carries
out all service and maintenance work utterly reliably”. The U 20
is used as a tractor unit to pull up to two trailers full of vines into
District of Gilching
THE DISTRICT of Gilching in Bavaria began using the U 20 back in
2008, and now has a second in service. Because the vehicles are
often loaded by hand, the Gilching U 20 is equipped with a special
loading platform, set about 100 mm lower, from manufacturer
Söder. One vehicle also features a Söder cutter which the local
authority uses to trim the borders of the district’s many rural pathways.
Gilching also uses the U 20 in Winter: for towing purposes
and for drain cleaning.
“The U 20 is unmatched in our view,” states fleet manager Anton
Promoli. “Of course, a truck would be cheaper, and a Unimog U 300
could do more. But for our purposes the U 20 is a low-cost alter -
native which satisfactorily handles all the jobs expected of it.”
City of Chemnitz
THE CITY OF CHEMNITZ deploys a U 20 all year round, fitted
respectively with a Mulag mower and with a Winter service combination
unit. Its driver is René Rösler, who has been operating
Uni mogs for many years and is an enthusiastic devotee. “It was not
easy at all to get a new Unimog,” René reports in relation to the
city’s latest acquisition. “Even though the Unimog is capable of
much more, local authorities are having to keep a tight rein on
their finances. We did ultimately succeed in getting the requisition
through – primarily because of our good experience with the
predecessor unit, a U 90.”
René Rösler cites the advantages of the U 20 over that
prede cessor as being, among others, its higher payload. “And the
Würzburg and also
within the vineyard
itself to spread compost
or to apply plant
protection in conjunction
with a built-on
sprayer unit. “For crop-spraying, it is advantageous that we can run
the U 20 at low speed using the off-road reduction gear.”
Like many other users, Lothar Flösser also highlights the adequately
sized cab, the good engine performance and the high-grade
look and feel of the interior. “And an even more vital aspect is that
the U 20 has to date never broken down – reliability is of great
importance to us!” r
Advantages he highlights
include the high
level of comfort and
the user-friendly gearshift,
which drivers
particularly appreciate.
“We are also very
pleased with our Unimog service partner. And the fact that we are
pleased with the vehicle, and regard it as the way forward in meeting
our needs, is also reflected by our recent acquisition of a second
one,” Promoli affirms. r
U 20 is more powerful
too.” The municipal
works specialist
describes his job
as challenging and
demanding high quality. He also has some experience with competitor
products, and considers them adequately suited for a variety of
road work. “But in Winter service the U 20 is quite simply the
better alternative in terms of performance and handling.”
Features which René particularly likes include the efficient air-conditioning
system, the extra freedom of movement inside the cab, the
clear instrument panel layout, and the partially automated gearbox. r