Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim_A
It weighs in at a shade under 5,500kg empty, so should max out at about 6,400kgs once I've loaded it up and with all water (250L) and diesel tanks full. GVW is 7 tonnes so I'm well within that.
My concern now is the Euro 3, 4 cylinder 2,143cc engine was struggling on long inclines but I'm looking into mild ECU remapping for more torque - nothing major, nothing which will overstress the engine, which is available in several road cars tuned to much higher torque and power outputs than in the Sprinter.
|
Caution! What works in a sedan that virtually never uses full output for a sustained time may indeed overstress the engine and especially the cooling system on a 7 ton turck with an extra driven axle and increased air resistance. On inclines you WILL use full output for sustained periods, increased output tuning or not.
There is a good reason why mfgs rate the same motor lower in trucks than in passenger sedans.
I have an "uptuned" 3.0L 6cyl diesel in my BMW X5. It has 10% more hp and 15% more torque. I use that extra power for about 10 seconds per day, accelerating to expressway speed or trying to make a green light after a right turn. I have a stock 6.4L 906LA in my Unimog. I use full output for up to minutes at a time on inclines, since the truck weighs 12 tons and has a 3.6m high camper box roof. Which is why I have NOT "uptuned" the engine, considering possible reliability decrease in the places I tend to go (last summer to Mongolia, 3/4 of the way around the planet at 50 deg latitude from my home).
Your camper build is admirable.
Charlie
__________________
Unimog U500 w/Unicat
|