As the smallest model in Mercedes-Benz’s renowned Unimog off-road truck series, the U20 small fire truck has always played the role of the “little one” in the Unimog family.
As a widely applicable specialized chassis for modifications, the U20 has a maximum permissible gross weight ranging from 7.5 to 9.3 tons. Its compact size makes it particularly well-suited for urban use.
The first time you see the U20, a big question may pop into your mind: Is this a Unimog? The cab, resembling that of a flat-front light truck, offers very few visual highlights. In Europe, light truck cabs typically adopt a semi-bonnet (short-hood) design, and this flat-front cab doesn’t follow the German style. So where did it come from? Take a closer look—it’s quite similar to the Mitsubishi FUSO Canter light truck series.
The cab has a high ground clearance. To make it easier to clean the front end, 2 ladder-style steps extend directly from beneath the full-steel front bumper, giving the vehicle a rugged, wild appearance. An American-made Akron front-mounted water cannon is installed in the center of the bumper, with a maximum flow rate of 475 liters per minute, and is operated by a lever inside the cab. The headlights and turn signals are protected by wire mesh guards.
Ziegler is a well-known German manufacturer of fire trucks and fire pumps. The company was founded by Albert Ziegler in 1862 and originally focused on the production of fire hoses and equipment. Today, Ziegler is headquartered in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany, occupying about 80,000 square meters and employing approximately 1,000 people. Since it began producing fire trucks, the company has delivered more than 20,000 units of various tonnages to fire departments around the world.
Although it’s the smallest Unimog model, the U20‘s chassis is by no means inferior. As a member of the Unimog family, it proudly carries on the tradition: portal axles and torque tube drive shaft technology. For safety, the U20 features all-around disc brakes.
The suspension uses coil springs throughout.
Unimog’s body-mounting design is also extremely robust. Because the Unimog chassis can twist independently, the body mounted on it remains unaffected by that twisting. In other words, the chassis and the body can be treated as 2 separate components. This design reduces the impact on the upper body compared to conventional non-load-bearing structures.
Due to the U20’s highly compact chassis, the space between axles is almost filled with components such as the fuel tank, urea tank, and brake fluid reservoir.
The equipment compartments built by Ziegler are made of aluminum, effectively reducing the overall weight. The neatly organized compartments are designated for storing fire hoses, quick attack systems, and other firefighting tools.
The rear of the vehicle is where the fire pump system is housed, in typical European fire truck fashion. The pump control system is provided by Ziegler. Since this model is specifically designed for forest fire response, it carries 2,450 liters of water and 100 liters of foam.
The tires are specialized off-road tires made by Michelin, with a size of 335/80 R22.5.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Emission Standard | Euro V (indicated by “BlueTec5” badge) |
| Engine Model | OM904LA |
| Engine Displacement | 4.25 liters |
| Maximum Power | 177 horsepower |
| Peak Torque | 610 N·m |
| Transmission | Mercedes-Benz 8-speed manual-automatic transmission |
The iconic 3-pointed star in the center of the steering wheel constantly reminds the driver: This is a Mercedes-Benz!
