Thread: My first drive in a Unimog. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed...

Originally Posted by spudboy

What did you think was better? I have take a quick look at an Isuzu 4x4 NPS series light truck that the National Parks people and Electricity utilities use. Leaf springs though, so not hugely comfortable. And, drum brakes all round. And, they feel very 'Japanese' inside with not a huge impression of quality.

Mack

They are phenomenal off road but there is only one thing worse than driving a UNIMOG on a long road trip......
Being a passenger in one!
The world's worst LHD to RHD conversion leaves no room for knees.

Yeah - I had a look at one in the local Army base, and it is basically just a chain system (much like a bike chain) that allows a steering wheel on the RHS to rotate the original steering column on the LHS. Whack on a cover, shift the speedo & instruments & pedals, and you have a RHD conversion!

Originally Posted by spudboy

Yeah - I had a look at one in the local Army base, and it is basically just a chain system (much like a bike chain) that allows a steering wheel on the RHS to rotate the original steering column on the LHS. Whack on a cover, shift the speedo & instruments & pedals, and you have a RHD conversion!

Not entirely correct.
I'm doing a RHD conversion currently. The setup uses two right angle drive Boxes and a shaft with uni joints to relay the steering across the dash. The wiring harness needs to be lengthen. The Air brake lines need to be lengthened. Clutch lines. The floor shift plate needs to be change or modified to bring the gear stick over to the RH side (otherwise you can use the bent stick setup). The wipers need the be moved from Left to right. The widscreen wiper motor set-up need moving over to the right hand side. RHD hand throttle installed. RHD Accelerator installed, RHD pedal assembly installed. Seats. etc etc etc

Hi Ben - How's it going? Has your U1250 arrived from the US?

I didn't make a study of the RHD conversion, but that's what it looked like with a quick 10 minute sit in the cabin!

How is is it actually done?

Cheers
David

Originally Posted by spudboy

Hi Ben - How's it going? Has your U1250 arrived from the US?

I didn't make a study of the RHD conversion, but that's what it looked like with a quick 10 minute sit in the cabin!

How is is it actually done?

Cheers
David

I'm well Spudboy, the U1250 has made it into Australia and is in very good condition. I will document the whole LHD to RHD conversion and keep detailed drawings/photos for my own records in case i do another one. Basically it is as stated in my last post, however there are a number of brackets that need fabricating, and positions of things that need to be measured in order to maintain factory spec and not some ad hoc conversion. I have another RHD cab that i am using as a template, not a cheap option but it will save time and ensure accuracy.

Happy trails.