The Mercedes-Benz Unimog at all times makes an impression. That turns into even more true when the stout-jawed U418 variant exhibits up painted in Rover inexperienced carrying what seems to be a truck-sized beer barrel or treasure chest beneath a rooftop tent. However what this wondrous creation truly is is a woody “micro-expedition car” with pop-up roof and sensible, totally related dwelling house meant to climb, crawl and wade via Mom Earth’s most treacherous earlier than burrowing down for an evening or extra.
Even in a 360-degree CMT balcony gallery loaded with excessive overland motorhomes and trailers, the Unimog “Puccino” (Hoo-ah!) from German expedition car builder 4Wheel24 stood out. Like, you could not even scooter or dash previous with out stopping useless in your tracks to verify your eyes hadn’t betrayed you. It is an arresting piece of engineering that mixes one of the vital visually rugged autos the world over with a singular pure wooden cabin.
Based mostly on the low, quick dimensions and unconventional supplies of its rear module, we thought for positive the Puccino was just a few type of agricultural transport truck or artsy present challenge after we first walked upon it. The pop-up on prime initially seemed to be a inventory Autohome two-person hardshell rooftop tent, probably simply bolted on to provide the 4-wheeler simply sufficient RV cred to look pure at one of many world’s largest camper exhibits.
However after we dug into the rig somewhat additional, we realized the outsized, steel-belted geometric beer barrel on again was truly a specifically developed motorhome module with a completely built-in electrical pop-up roof and a cosy however full dwelling house inside. It is actually fairly an fascinating different to the huge Action Mobils and Earthroamers of the world and a relatively out-there creation, even for an organization that makes a speciality of excessive fiberglass and wood-composite expedition autos like this child blue 6×6 bad-ass:
4Wheel24
In creating the one-off Puccino, 4Wheel24 strayed away from its common painted composite “Mox” motorhome development, showcasing the timeless energy of uncooked wooden and galvanized metal. It sought to match the traditional 1994 medium-duty Unimog 418 with a motorhome module providing life-sustaining necessities in a sufficiently small kind as to not diminish the car’s inherent all-terrain mastery.
The uncovered metal body provides energy and construction to the spruce physique whereas additionally tying the car’s look along with a inexperienced paint end matching the cabin. The actual shade of inexperienced was chosen as an homage to traditional Land Rovers, designed to lend an instantly recognizable off-road look whereas working as a clean, pure distinction to the wooden physique. 4Wheel24 even made positive to go along with matching inexperienced wheels and a white pop-up roof shell to finish the classic Land Rover Series/Defender styling.
Much more so than any Land Rover, the Unimog is a extremely succesful off-road machine constructed to go where most vehicles wouldn’t try. This explicit instance comes powered by a 315-hp 4.2-liter turbo-diesel and features a everlasting all-wheel drive system with locking entrance, heart and rear differentials. It spent its working life getting issues carried out for an electrical firm and is now welcoming some much-deserved world journey in retirement.
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As a substitute of tasking the ‘Mog with lugging round a big, luxury-loaded residence field, 4Wheel24 created a micro-sized motorhome optimized for retaining weight down, heart of gravity low, and car dimension compact and maneuverable. The unit sits near the peak of the cab in order to not seize and pull tree branches or scrape up in opposition to low overhanging rock that the cab clears with ease.
On condition that compact journey dimension, the pop-up roof turns into important for turning the low-riding wooden pod right into a livable house. The explanation it appeared like an Autohome rooftop tent upon first look is as a result of it’s – an extra-large Maggiolina hardshell tailored into an RV roof that is absolutely lighter and smoother to function than an enormous hunk of roof wooden. 4Wheel24 has added in an electrical motor system to automate your complete strategy of opening and shutting.
Curiously, whereas it makes use of a tent as the idea of its pop-top, 4Wheel24 has carried out away with the built-in mattress, utilizing the system to easily improve inside quantity and airflow whereas increasing standing top up over 2 m (6.6 ft). Not like its wedge-style Columbus collection, Autohome’s Maggiolina RTT lineup options roofs that open straight up, providing the complete quantity of a field. When transformed into roof kind, that extends standing top throughout the complete inside.
4Wheel24 notes that the motorhome can be utilized with the highest down, however actually only for sleeping at that time. Nonetheless, it is a good functionality to have for these instances you would possibly simply must seize a fast couple hours of sleep with out organising a full camp. The angled-in translucent polycarbonate panels alongside the higher sides present some pure gentle for this use case.
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The Puccino entry door opens up with the faucet of a fingerprint scanner, a system that additionally acknowledges an accompanying chip key. To keep away from the onslaught of backlash that might undoubtedly comply with from the “hold it easy, silly” overlanding hordes, 4Wheel24 makes positive to incorporate a backup onerous key system for no-fail redundancy. The corporate initially deliberate a drop-down hatch door with built-in steps however finally went with a primary swinging door and a step ladder for entry.
Inside, the tiny 2.6 x 2-m (8.5 x 6.6-ft) flooring plan is roughly half crammed out with the double mattress, making strategic house utilization important. The kitchen is positioned on the driving force’s aspect reverse the entry door, bringing alongside a Wallas diesel ceramic cooktop, countertop house and an under-counter 60-L compressor fridge. The vessel sink is positioned on the smaller block simply subsequent to the doorway and works with an extended sprayer that doubles because the bathe to be used atop the entryway bathe flooring.
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The wraparound privateness curtain helps shut off that bathe house when in use and likewise works with the bathroom, which slides out from below the sink. 4Wheel24 had initially deliberate on putting in an all-new Clesana X1, however since that wasn’t prepared in time for the construct, it used a special auto-wrapping dry rest room from LooSeal.
Cabin warmth comes by means of a 4-kW heating system, and the diesel cooktop delivers air heating as a backup choice. A Bluetti energy system with 6.3-kWh lithium battery, inverter and 480 watts of photo voltaic charging offers electrical energy, and a Flextronic Vanbase management system brings lighting and electronics management to at least one’s smartphone. In fact, there are additionally onerous switches. The rig carries as much as 250 liters of recent water from camp to camp.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
4Wheel24 introduced the finished Puccino to final month’s CMT present in Stuttgart, the place it decided to both promote it on the present flooring or take it again to HQ and maintain onto it indefinitely as an organization car. The rig wore a windshield sticker value of €189,000 (approx. US$223,000). Along with its work constructing the cabin, 4Wheel24 upgraded the driving force’s cab space with heated seats, upgraded upholstery and extra. It additionally added in an Atego entrance grille for a extra fashionable look and a tire stress system with air hoses on the corners.
Supply: 4Wheel24
