It's not common be occasionally I get a Unimog to move, for those who are unfamiliar with the type it's a Mercedes 4x4 utility vehicle. Kind of a cross between an agricultural tractor, Land Rover and and a 7.5t truck. They are usually ag-spec with tractor style linkages and run as a tractor on red diesel. However they are good for 40 odd mph and can pull a helluva weight on a drawbar trailer.
Whilst they are capable of being road driven some distance they generally aren't and I occasionally collect or deliver one for a local specialist dealer. (who incidentally has got one there that has been driven overland from Kazakhstan)
Today I had to trundle off to a farm near Uxbridge to get this one from a forestry contractor, he met me outside and handed me the keys explaining that he'd be back shortly. It's been a while since I've driven a 'Mog but I fired the old girl up and engaged gear and reverse, it took a couple of shunts to get it clear enough to turn and I start to make my way across the yard.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmm, Clank, BANG..................WTF........
With a hiss of air from the brake I promptly stopped and looked at the owner who was now walking over to me.
He shrugs and says " Well now you know why it's going back to Essex"
There seems to be some fairly serious mechanical drivetrain issue here, so I decide that it'd be best for him to load it in case it suffers a catastrophic failure at my hand.
Thankfully we got it loadd and secured and transported back without incident, although the dealer assures me that it ain't gonna be cheap to fix.
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