Out go the Perenties, in come the Gelandewagens

[MICHELINXMS244]

Seen on Kings Way today...

[Mr Rover]

I wish I had G-Wagons, it's been so long since I did the course that when I eventually do go to a unit that has them I won't even remember the button to push that starts it...

[DeeJay]

Interesting that they are heading South out of Melbourne. The few I've seen on transporters are on their way North...I wonder what their destination is? - Maybe a body getting fitted at Dandenong?

[slug_burner]

Interesting that they are heading South out of Melbourne. The few I've seen on transporters are on their way North...I wonder what their destination is? - Maybe a body getting fitted at Dandenong?

Mulgrave

Mercedes-Benz Australia
Address: 44 Lexia Pl, Mulgrave VIC 3170

The photo is probably on the way from the port to Mulgrave. As you can see they don't have a tray on the 4x4 single cab, that has to be put on before delivery to the ADF.

[MICHELINXMS244]

There were two transporters and 6 G-Wagens heading south that day.

Second was the cab chassis already posted.

Here's the first truck.

You can see the camouflage paint scheme is applied very uniformly at the factory. Austrian precision.

Same stencil combination over and over.

Perentie camouflage seems far more variable by contrast...

[MICHELINXMS244]

And here's the original army press photo colour scheme for comparison purposes with the production run final design.

[78RRman]

No Offence to my puma whome I love to bits but man I want a G wagon they're like a range rover with the rugged good looks of the fender. Too bad about the price tag on the civies.

[4x4 MORE]

How good are the G wagon's off road compared to the Landrovers :confused:..Really...

Just curious

[Homestar]

How good are the G wagon's off road compared to the Landrovers :confused:..Really...

Just curious

Pretty good by all accounts. They have front, centre and rear diff locks as standard.

[101RRS]

As standard, the G wagens would be better because of the diff locks but equip the Defenders with front and rear diff locks and offroad performance would be line ball.

garry

[snowbound]

I'm not military, but I saw some of these in convoy here in Canberra last week. I wonderd what they were!

[Barefoot Dave]

There is a member here who is a military driving instructor who will disagree somewhat.
Apples and apples (even just a rear locker), the 110is better.

[scarry]

Seen heaps around here,many different body styles.
Noticed today even the trailers have BFG A/T's on them.

[Bearman]

There is a member here who is a military driving instructor who will disagree somewhat.
Apples and apples (even just a rear locker), the 110is better.


Agreed Dave, Mechanically and electrically simpler as well. Can you push start a Gbanger without a battery and then keep driving it? you can with a Perentie. But I guess time will be the decider. It will be interesting to see the reviews in 1,2 or 3 years or so. I know which one I would rather have!

[Barefoot Dave]

Not wrong, Brian.
Hmm, decisions, decisions
Hybrid 12/ 24volt elec system
Elctronically controlled, air over hydraulic braking system
Automatic trans
Sensitive common rail diesel with DPF and comp controlled filter burn off
Drive by wire
De-energiser switch for alternator that requires engine off to re-energise
Stiffer suspension to cope with the larger GVM
OR
easily push or jump started
Runs on kero or some other muck
Heavy suspension, but better articulation

With care, a mallet can do as good a job as a small ball pein. The reverse is not true.

[solmanic]

My 2c...

My G Wagen goes everywhere the Defender did. I haven't had to use the lockers in anger yet, but it's nice knowing they're there.

Slightly less ground clearance than the Defender, but more standard underbody protection. Also less interior cargo space and I imagine this may be a total deal breaker for many wishing to fit one out as a long distance tourer. The tow bar also hangs a lot lower which really just makes it more like every other 4WD.

The biggest plus for me both around town & off-road is the tighter turning circle and lower roof height. The engine also produces enough torque to alter the earth's rotation.

There has been an incident reported on the G-Wagen forum of a member being stranded by their Ad-blue sensor thinking they were out of the stuff and shutting the engine down. Turned out the dealer failed to reset it when it was serviced and the total lack of knowledgeable dealers in the top end forced the vehicle to be flat-bedded to Melbourne!!! I like to think if we ever got the G-Professional here (civilian version of the military spec one) this wouldn't be a problem, but I heard DPF is going to be a standard requirement on new vehicles so there goes that theory.

[Will Wallace]

No where near as capable in an all round sense as the Perentie.

Will.

[copba]

I saw one of these new G Wagens parked in town last Friday night, looked like an FFR variation or something, as it had two large aerials and mounts on the front guards, and another two on the roof at the back. It did look tough all kitted out. :cool: But what surprised me was how small it was,:eek: looked about a 1/2 a metre shorter than my 110, (i'm sure they're not that much) similar height overall but less clearance and 4 bucket seats inside.



Also less interior cargo space and I imagine this may be a total deal breaker for many wishing to fit one out as a long distance tourer.
.

[4x4 MORE]

Not wrong, Brian.
Hmm, decisions, decisions
Hybrid 12/ 24volt elec system
Elctronically controlled, air over hydraulic braking system
Automatic trans
Sensitive common rail diesel with DPF and comp controlled filter burn off
Drive by wire
De-energiser switch for alternator that requires engine off to re-energise
Stiffer suspension to cope with the larger GVM
OR
easily push or jump started
Runs on kero or some other muck
Heavy suspension, but better articulation

With care, a mallet can do as good a job as a small ball pein. The reverse is not true.


What are they?:confused:

[Disco Muppet]

I saw one of the G wagons at the local show a while back. Had a good sticky beak of it.
So small! We fit 15 people in a Perentie once....Show me that in a 4X4 G wagon! :D
Had a good sniff around the rest of it, does look solid. Already had a red sticker, something about the dash storage locker being broken. Don't have that problem on the Perentie, what dash storage locker? :p
Reservist said they had a bit more power and were nicer to drive. Offered no comment on capability off the tarmac, but something about him told me he wouldn't know anyway....

[geckos]

Not wrong, Brian.
Hmm, decisions, decisions
Hybrid 12/ 24volt elec system
Elctronically controlled, air over hydraulic braking system
Automatic trans
Sensitive common rail diesel with DPF and comp controlled filter burn off
Drive by wire
De-energiser switch for alternator that requires engine off to re-energise
Stiffer suspension to cope with the larger GVM
OR
easily push or jump started
Runs on kero or some other muck
Heavy suspension, but better articulation

With care, a mallet can do as good a job as a small ball pein. The reverse is not true.
No air over hydraulic system. Normal hydraulic system like any other 4x4. Air over hydraulic system in the unimog though.

[101RRS]

Certainly with is a thread about comparing the new incoming vehicles with the old outgoing vehicles it does need to be kept in mind that the G wagen as a model is even older than the Perenti and its civilian 110 equivalent.

Contrary to popular opinion the vehicle started life as a Steyr Puch replacement for the Haflinger. Shortly after Mercedes Benz became involved and was rebadged as a MB. These early models were powered by Merc diesels and petrols and if one of these early diesels was compared to a Perenti then many of the issues related to engines would not be so relevant. The civilian petrol version was sold in Australia in the mid 80s and compared well against a petrol 110 of the same time.

Likewise if Landrover had tendered for the modern contract that the G wagen won then the vehicle - certainly engine wise would have many of the issues that people have raised about the complexity would also have applied.

The other aspect is that when the Perenti was built it followed the doctrine of taking these vehicles on war operations where we have now found that this is not a good idea for most of them and more armoured vehicles are needed. The G wagens of course will not be used in the same way the earlier Perenties were and will be used more as a behind the scenes vehicle support vehicle than a front line vehicle - there will always be exceptions of course.

So it it fair to compare the two vehicles when their roles in our military are subtly different.

Please pedantic people take note - these are general statements.

The G wagen and the base compnents of our military vehicles are still built by what was Steyr Puch (now Magna Steyr) at its old factory in Austria. While MB badged, they are really a SDP vehicle.

[4x4 MORE]

Interesting history there mate:)

[101RRS]

There is also a Peugot version with a different engine again.

[OneOneZero]

Interesting that they are heading South out of Melbourne. The few I've seen on transporters are on their way North...I wonder what their destination is? - Maybe a body getting fitted at Dandenong?



After they have arrived in Melb (Merc Head office) some are trucked up to Newcastle to get "modules" attached

[goingbush]

Things are looking up

Mercedes-Benz G-Professional hits Oz - motoring.com.au (http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2014/commercial/mercedes-benz/mercedes-benz-g-professional-hits-oz-46830)


How about a Group Buy ???


"If someone wanted to buy say 20 G-Professionals of the absolute same spec we could probably accommodate it, but for individual vehicles we simply don't have the capacity in the plant at the moment – but that's not to say it won't happen in the future."

[Bearman]

Nah, I'll stick with a Perentie, suits my style better.

[bent]

I just finished testing a civilian cab chassis G wagen. Fitted with road type tyres and alloy tray. We curretnly run Land Cruisers utes. The G wagen leaves the LC in its wake. Carries substantialy more load and does it more safely and easily, more stable, particulary on side slopes.

As for serious 4WDing, the Gbanger is just a capaable as a LC fitted with lockers but carries more load and as mentioned more stable on side slopes. The auto is excellent in general driving and up hills (torque is plentyfull), not as good down hill with the vehicle running away faster than an LC but manageble with a change in driving technique.

We had a few compaints about the ergonomics but being a Landy driver, much the same to me. Steering on the Wagen a bit too heavy. These things are no more complex than any new model vehicle the challenge is serivce, most bigger towns have a Toyota dealer, not so Merc.

In fact to compare the wagen to a LC or Land rover is unfair because the wagen is in a different class, its not a light 4wd, closer to a light truck but drives like a light 4WD.

All up the wagen out performs everything else out there for what we use our vehicles for, not for every one and the servicing issuie is still to be resolved but a verry impressive vehicle.

Cheers

[OneOneZero]

I just finished testing a civilian cab chassis G wagen. Fitted with road type tyres and alloy tray. We curretnly run Land Cruisers utes. The G wagen leaves the LC in its wake. Carries substantialy more load and does it more safely and easily, more stable, particulary on side slopes.

As for serious 4WDing, the Gbanger is just a capaable as a LC fitted with lockers but carries more load and as mentioned more stable on side slopes. The auto is excellent in general driving and up hills (torque is plentyfull), not as good down hill with the vehicle running away faster than an LC but manageble with a change in driving technique.

We had a few compaints about the ergonomics but being a Landy driver, much the same to me. Steering on the Wagen a bit too heavy. These things are no more complex than any new model vehicle the challenge is serivce, most bigger towns have a Toyota dealer, not so Merc.

In fact to compare the wagen to a LC or Land rover is unfair because the wagen is in a different class, its not a light 4wd, closer to a light truck but drives like a light 4WD.

All up the wagen out performs everything else out there for what we use our vehicles for, not for every one and the servicing issuie is still to be resolved but a verry impressive vehicle.

Cheers



Couldn't have said it better myself. I've driven the g350 (nice interior) and the G Professional. The professional is "the s**t" offroad. You honestly can't get them stuck if you have any 4wding experience. Plenty of grunt and transitions to the black stuff is easy as it is still a nice car on the road.
Maxtraks has a photo of a 6x6 Army G going around on their products at the moment, which is interesting because in all of the army testing they couldn't get it stuck in the sand (inside knowledge) so they gave up and placed maxtraks for a photo!


having a G would be great, would take one over a Sahara LC anyday. But in the mean time the perente will do me fine!


cheers.

[stealth]

Are there any soft top versions of the G wagen?

[OneOneZero]

yeah, there is a soft top version. Installed on the single Cab trays so they have a ability to be "flatpacked" into planes etc

[slug_burner]

Surveillance & Reconnaissance (Soft-Top),

Insert photo here

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/01/489.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/10/664.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/10/665.jpg


Overseas there have been older G bangers that are soft tops like the 110 perenties.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/10/666.jpg

[MBZ460]

Last G-Wagon handed over to Defence

Final G Wagon Sation Wagon Delivered To DefenceIssue 2 2014 | Defence Materiel Organisation (http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/NewsMedia/DMOBulletin/Final-G-Wagon-Sation-Wagon-Delivered-To-Defence)


During a visit to the company’s headquarters at Mulgrave in Victoria, Director General Land Vehicle Systems, Brigadier (BRIG) Haydn Kohl, accepted the final set of station-wagon keys from Chief Financial Officer for Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific, Mr Rüdiger Schrage.
The delivery marks the latest milestone for LAND 121 Phase 3A, the project responsible for rolling out 2146 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons and 1799 trailers to ADF units throughout the country.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/950.jpg

[MBZ460]

Here are some pictures of G's used in various armies and roles. They have been used as fighting machines in the past.

Here are some pictures of G's used in various armies and roles. They have been used as fighting machines in the past.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/1030.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/1031.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/1032.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/1033.jpg

[4x4 MORE]

Wow..they sure are popular over seas:eek::eek:

[juddy]

Last G-Wagon handed over to Defence

Final G Wagon Sation Wagon Delivered To DefenceIssue 2 2014 | Defence Materiel Organisation (http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/NewsMedia/DMOBulletin/Final-G-Wagon-Sation-Wagon-Delivered-To-Defence)



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/11/950.jpg

So they decided it should have keys this time.:p

[slug_burner]

So they decided it should have keys this time.:p

I am sure much to Army's displeasure, it is one of those things where you have to pay to get them taken out.

[eibocs]

How will it go with a shunt at 60 - 80 klm/PH up its arse?

[eibocs]

The Perentie did but needed 12k repairs as seen now. trop job. Well pleased.

[OneOneZero]

Welllll, like any modern 4WD, crumple zone etc etc. Probably not as well as the perente, but remember we have the technology to protect the occupants these days, cars are replaceable, a life isn't. back then your body took the shunt. it was lucky you weren't in your car.


Simple solution for the Army is park it in a barracks away from other retarded drivers distracted by mobile phones and modern life gadgets.


Cheers

[4x4 MORE]

The Perentie did but needed 12k repairs as seen now. trop job. Well pleased.

:confused::confused::confused:

What do you mean?

[303gunner]

He means this 12k repair:


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/coil-sprung-military-land-rovers/202017-built-perentie-tough.html

[4x4 MORE]

cheers mate

[4x4 MORE]

It's crazy how much the Goverment is speding on the 4wds alone!:eek:

The new G-Wagons, along with Australian-made trailers, are being rolled out to Army and Royal Australian Air Force units as part of LAND 121 ‘Project Overlander’, a $7.5 billion program delivering more than 7500 protected and unprotected vehicles to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over the next decade

[THE BOOGER]

They are replacing every thing, line haul trucks and tank transporters all trailers as well as all 4x4. Some nice shiny new stuff still on the way:)

[Barefoot Dave]

It's crazy how much the Goverment is speding on the 4wds alone!:eek:

The new G-Wagons, along with Australian-made trailers, are being rolled out to Army and Royal Australian Air Force units as part of LAND 121 ‘Project Overlander’, a $7.5 billion program delivering more than 7500 protected and unprotected vehicles to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over the next decade
Welcome to the world of the big boys, mate.
The bulk of the cost is in vehicles with a high survivability from IEDs/ light rockets.
I am glad to see a diggers life valued so highly.
the G Wagons are not intended for deployment though.

[TK_Co]

This might be a good place to ask, does anyone know about the merc 6x6 suspension? Does it have the same rocker beam like the perenties ? Or camelback or IRS or ..... I don't know?


Just catching the perentie bug.

• 1990 Perentie 6x6 Air Defence GS
•2013 Range Rover Sport

[4x4 MORE]

I too would like to know..

Also from the vids I have seen..they really do seem to lack any decent wheel travel!:eek::eek:

No wounder they need the diff lockers:p

[goingbush]

Agreed, they don't seem to have any more wheel travel than a D3-D4, pretty disappointing really considering they have live axles, but potential there for easy mods to increase travel.

[4x4 MORE]

Yeah you would think the G wagons would flex more with live axles.

I dare say a Series 1 Land rover would have way more wheel travel:D:D