Precision work in viticulture.

At the Mainschleife near Volkach, Silvaner, the Franconian national grape, feels particularly at home. It is no coincidence, then, that Germany’s second-largest winery, the Juliusspital winery in Würzburg, can be found there.

The estate covers around 180 hectares of vineyards across the Franconian Triassic. Steep slopes, narrow switchbacks and closely planted vines make the terrain quite demanding — and the ideal place to deploy the versatile Unimog. To manage the property, the winery uses a Unimog U 20. The all-wheel-drive vehicle proves reliable in the vineyards in all weather. For example, it is used as a towing vehicle and carries up to two trailers full of grapes from the vineyard to Würzburg. In addition, the Unimog’s implement-carrier capabilities are particularly valuable in viticulture when combined with attachments and mounted equipment — for instance for spreading compost or, in combination with a mounted sprayer, for crop protection. It is a major advantage that, with low-range gearing, the Unimog can also be operated at low speeds.

Juliusspital fleet manager Lothar Flösser said in an interview with Transport Magazin several years ago that he was very satisfied with the driving characteristics and comfort of the Unimog on and off the road. In addition to the work with the plants, driving the Special Truck itself had become a little highlight for him.

In the meantime, the Unimog product portfolio has grown significantly. With the compact Unimog U 216 and U 218, there are worthy successor models to the well-proven U 20. After all, in viticulture, maneuvering between the closely spaced vines is real millimeter work.

With a very short wheelbase of 2,800 mm, these Unimog retain their manoeuvrability and agility even in extreme situations in the vineyard. The resulting car-like turning circle of 12.6 m makes the U 216 and U 218 models mobile companions that combine outstanding implement carrier capabilities in the tightest of spaces with high-torque engines and a high payload. On paved roads, speeds of up to 90 km/h are achieved. Thanks to all-wheel drive, the all-rounders also master rough terrain.

But the Unimog demonstrates its strengths not only during work operations such as the grape harvest or transport tasks. In many German vineyards, Unimog are also used for leisure activities. Whether vineyard tours, excursions or trips into nature reserves, the Unimog lives up to its reputation as an all-rounder even in wine-growing regions.