The Alpine Caretakers

With the first snowfall the older Unimog also reaches top form. After all, the veteran is fitted with a permanently mounted snow blower from Aebi Schmidt. And the problems that harsh winters bring simply melt away.

Especially during the snow chaos of the winter of 2018/19, construction projects in the town centre threatened to be delayed because snow storage areas in the densely populated lakeside area became scarce. Between mountain scenery and the lakeshore lie impressive houses, extensive recreational facilities and splendid hotels – pleasing to the eye, but leading to a shortage of storage space. But the Unimogs effortlessly brush such problems aside: in the town area they annually mill huge masses of snow onto trucks, which are then transported outside the town gates. At the largest collection point, around 20,000 m³ of snow were accumulated within a few days in the winter before last.

But even in the wider area the winter crews ensure clear roads – for example on the access roads to the Wallberg ski lifts. South of the resort the massif rises and, in the winter months, invites sledding and skiing. Fully equipped, the multi-purpose vehicles also clear the way there.

The Unimog U 427 is reliably efficient thanks to its hydrostatic drive, and its various attachments make it highly versatile: with a Kahlbacher snowplough, a Westa snow blower and a Gmeiner mounted spreader it defies and clears snow and ice – and alongside it the 1980s Unimog with its VF1-type snow blower. Fully equipped with snow chains, they clamber together to heights of up to 1,000 m and there clear the way for all winter sports enthusiasts.

The municipal depot staff can rely on the vehicles' ergonomic advantages in year-round service. But from an economic point of view the Unimog are also advantageous for those managing the municipal depot team: short downtimes result from the frequent demand for the talents of the young all-rounder, and are complemented by the long service intervals of the robust vehicles.

"The low maintenance costs play just as much a role as the fuel-saving consumption," Tobias Maurer calculates. In addition, they are in good hands for advice and service: with the Unimog general distributor Henne, decision-makers know they have a long-standing and reliable partner at their side. Thus the advantages add up to strong arguments for the multi-talents from Mercedes‑Benz – and that has been the case for over 50 years.

The Bavarian Unimog tradition has been built up over the years by the various vehicles through their multifunctionality and reliability. Whenever the summer sun reflects on Lake Tegernsee, the well-prepared hiking trails invite a walk, or a blanket of snow lies over the Wallberg – the Unimog of the municipality of Rottach-Egern are tirelessly at work to maintain and preserve the beauty of the Alpine idyll.