Overland U1350 Unimog project

Posted on Tuesday, 12 November, 2019 by Paul

Elliot & Cindy are experienced Overland travellers in conventional motorhomes as well as a Unicat converted MAN.

They wanted to keep things simple with this build and were keen to work with a single supplier who could cope with all aspects of the build. When they approached Atkinson Vos we were happy to help.

The ex-military U1350 was sourced from Belgium and it was shipped over to us. Our experience of importing and registering vehicles meant that the IVA & other paperwork was dealt with quickly and after some minor repairs to make the Mog roadworthy it flew through its MOT test.

Once all the paperwork and testing was complete, we could get on with the exciting upgrades including an Overdrive kit, 265 litre ali tank, engine blanket, hub venting kit and one or our new soundproofing kits and a compact exhaust system to maximise available space on the chassis for storage and fuel.

Along with our standard accessories, we also fabricated a spare wheel bracket to sit on the front of the Mog which incorporated a hand winch for easy removal of the wheel.

The owner sourced an ex-military Zeppelin body so we designed a bespoke torsion free subframe incorporating twist lock mountings to suit the Zeppelin box. The design was optimised and we were able to achieve a weight saving of over 200KG compared to the original subframe.

To enable emergency access from the cab to the box we created a pass through with a special rubber seal to prevent dust and water ingress.

The Unimog is now back with its owners who plan to do the interior work themselves. They have a trip through the USA planned in the not too distant future.

What Our Customers Say

“ ”

I couldn't recommend Simon and the team highly enough, they sorted all transportation and took all the stress out of the situation. A1 service guys, thank you

Nick & Martin

Apex Tree Surgeons

"Atkinson Vos know what they are talking about and offer great advice whenever you need it. They are always ready to help at the end of a phone line too."

Gerard Bredenoord

"Brilliant company to deal with and a really helpful group of people who know what they are talking about."

Ben Mauger

"First contact with Atkinson Vos became a success, smooth ordering parts, great prices, great support. Fully satisfied customer from Sweden."

Lars-Erik Bammis Ohlsson

When I bought my U1000 “Rustbucket” , Simon gave me a fair & frank appraisal of its condition. The mog was cleaned and shipped professionally with no issues upon landing here in Australia. Since then, AV has provided me with excellent spares support and the occasional bit of advice. Posting was always prompt and economical via Royal Mail – this has taken a lot of the pain out of restoration. Highly recommended.

Pieter

Atkinson Vos not only supplied my Unimog some years ago but they have been ever present when I needed any advice or assistance. My Unimog recently underwent a full refurbishment in their workshop and I have to say the result has been nothing short of superb. My Moggy is not only in great mechanical shape but it looks great too. Top marks Atkinson Vos.

James Mc Donnell, Ireland

Whenever I drive my MOG on to their yard, I have a feeling of excitement about the opportunities for upgrade and improvement that Atkinson Vos offers. Anything is possible, and everything is done to a very high standard!. Atkinson Vos prepared my Unimog to an excellent standard. Their aftersales service is great too.

Roelf

Hi Simon, The shims arrived last week. My unimog is now running perfectly! Thank you a lot for the excellent service, I really appreciate it!

Casper Hanekamp

We have been using Atkinson Vos for a number of years now, they have carried out some upgrades and all servicing and repairs, their staff are friendly and always willing to help. The workshop guys always offer advice and easy fix solutions over the phone and on the odd occasion visited our workshop to view and inspect the vehicle. I would not hesitate to recommend the company, Thanks to all the staff.

Chris Brayne

Super Rod Ltd

I have waited many years to start my expedition RV project and the team at Atkinson Vos has helped to bring this to fruition. Appreciated the quick responses to the myriad of questions I had additionally the support from build to delivery state side. Many thanks to the entire team at AV.

Mike Greenberg

"We have always prided ourselves with finding the best qualified people available, be they doctors, lawyers, engineers, or whomever. We applied the same process to finding our dream Mog Expedition Camper and have not been disappointed with Atkinson Vos. Paul and Emma both have done superb jobs answering our many questions and leading us through the purchasing / export / import process. Based on their performance to date, we are confident Atkinson Vos support will be there in the future where ever our travels may take us.”

Mary & J R Argo

"Atkinson Vos are the absolute experts on UNIMOGS in my opinion. They offer wonderful advice apart from sourcing spares and thereby make things so much easier" "I would go to them rather than any German supplier for my UNIMOGS. All put together, it's the best package deal." "Simon and Frank are passionate in what they do and men of their word. That's what I think sets them apart. They have literally turned me into a Unimog addict."

Solomon Benjamin

"We first met with with Atkinson Vos at the Adventure Overland Show in Stratford-upon-Avon. Frank and Paul had really impressed us as hosts and as a result we were determined to travel to the headquarters in Bentham. After a smooth discussion with Simon and Frank, we were certain that we found the partner to upgrade our Unimog. Two weeks later work had already started! We have too many kind words for Simon, Emma, Paul, Mark and the rest of the team to fit in this testimonial! Their knowledge and expertise in Unimogs made us feel assured. We were helped and cared for throughout the whole process, They are a phenomenal team, and we enjoyed the time we spend with them, Thanks guys! Souren and Kati"

Souren and Kati

"The inspection of my Unimog was executed thoroughly and the itemized repair quote was reasonable. In short my Unimog is a testament to the fantastic work delivered by Atkinson Vos. This is a compliment coming from someone who appreciates quality work and has an eye for detail."

Joe Dos Santos

After taking on bigger tree work as my business grew, I knew I needed a Unimog. After doing my research on different commercial vehicles sold in the UK i found Atkinson Vos and I felt I was in good hands. The quality of service, care and reliability from Simon and his team has been a really good experience. The team have built my Unimog to the exact spec of what I needed. I'm over the moon with it. I'm getting lots of feedback from customers and passers by that are impressed by the green machine. I would highly recommend Atkinson Vos to anyone that specialises in Arboriculture.

Jon Welfare

All Seasons Tree Care

“Thank you for sorting out the Unimog parts. Well chuffed at the minimal corrosion and the quality of the bits. Thank the boys from the workshop for me. They were brilliant helping us load up. “

Tim Richardson

County Construction & Development

"Mark has done a fantastic job and in poor weather conditions too, he resolved an unexpected pump failure and replaced it in time for us to use the Unimog almost immediately after he finished. Our unimog has been on some high profile jobs since Mark left and has impressed all who have seen it in action"

Jim

Forth Logistics

"As a company owner Great British sports cars in the automotive sector, I know how important it is to have a team that offers great customer service but also has the depth of technical knowledge of their products, this has been especially helpful with a personal project of mine restoring an 1969 Unimog 416 were finding people that really know there stuff has been invaluable."

Richard Hall

Great British Sports Cars

We own an expedition camper, built on a 1990 Mercedes Benz 4WD truck. While the mileage was low, we were worried about parts that might have suffered from age. Atkinson Vos gave the truck a comprehensive survey and then performed a week’s worth of repairs and upgrades. The result is like having a new truck. Wonderful to work with people who really understand this type of vehicle. Our highest recommendation.

FREDERICK COOK

Emma and Paul, Just a quick message to let you know the Mog was delivered on time and very professionally this morning. Thank you for arranging the transport quickly after our haulier let us down a couple of times. I hope to use Atkinson Vos again in the future as the Mog has exceeded all expectations, the paint finish, and the overall cleanliness of the machine is second to none. Many thanks again to both of you for a smooth sale and for keeping us updated throughout the process.

Bradley Moncrieff

Landpro Contractors Ltd