MB Trac
Encyclopedia
The MB-trac is a tractor
developed by Mercedes-Benz
which was based on their Unimog
platform. It was built by Mercedes-Benz between the years 1973 and 1991. At its time its design and concept was revolutionary, featuring four identical wheels, high road speeds and powerful engines.
Some offshoots have been manufactured since Mercedes-Benz left the agricultural business - several companies incorporated the technology in their own products, like the WF Trac by Werner Forst- und Industrietechnik (Werner foresting and industrial technology) in Trier
, Germany.
was quite successful, except as originally intended as an agricultural platform. Daimler-Benz
produced a new vehicle in 1972, the MB-trac, to be more oriented to larger scale mechanical farming. The new tractor crossed the Unimog
technology of all-wheel drive and a power transmission to four large equal-sized wheels, with the appearance of a tractor: slim hood, behind it an angular, highly rising driver cab. In contrast to conventional tractors, the cab is situated between the axles, similar to large "four wheel drive" wheel loader - however, the steering is realized not by an articulated front and rear, but with a normal steerable front axle.
From the initial MB-trac 65 and MB-trac 70 (later MB-trac 700), a broad platform developed to the heavy duty MB-trac 1500 within a few years, culminating in the MB-trac 1800 intercooler shortly before production ceased. The MB-trac was reasonably successful on the market, though it did not meet the high expectations Mercedes-Benz had set on it. Daimler-Benz
later merged the MB-trac with the agricultural machinery activities of Deutz AG
. The manufacturing of the MB-trac series ended in 1991, when the production line was taken over by the Werner company. 41,000 vehicles were produced of the original MB-trac, 30,000 of which are still in service today.
, the company UCA started converting MB-trac and WF-trac machines for rail shunting purposes in 1981. Nowadays, UCA produces the UCA-TRAC, rail/road vehicles based on the chassis of a JCB
Load-All (UCA-TRAC B) and JCB Fastrac
(UCA-TRAC F). The UCA-TRAC provides traction through its rubber wheels.
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
developed by Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
which was based on their Unimog
Unimog
Unimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
platform. It was built by Mercedes-Benz between the years 1973 and 1991. At its time its design and concept was revolutionary, featuring four identical wheels, high road speeds and powerful engines.
Some offshoots have been manufactured since Mercedes-Benz left the agricultural business - several companies incorporated the technology in their own products, like the WF Trac by Werner Forst- und Industrietechnik (Werner foresting and industrial technology) in Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
, Germany.
History
The UnimogUnimog
Unimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
was quite successful, except as originally intended as an agricultural platform. Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
produced a new vehicle in 1972, the MB-trac, to be more oriented to larger scale mechanical farming. The new tractor crossed the Unimog
Unimog
Unimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
technology of all-wheel drive and a power transmission to four large equal-sized wheels, with the appearance of a tractor: slim hood, behind it an angular, highly rising driver cab. In contrast to conventional tractors, the cab is situated between the axles, similar to large "four wheel drive" wheel loader - however, the steering is realized not by an articulated front and rear, but with a normal steerable front axle.
From the initial MB-trac 65 and MB-trac 70 (later MB-trac 700), a broad platform developed to the heavy duty MB-trac 1500 within a few years, culminating in the MB-trac 1800 intercooler shortly before production ceased. The MB-trac was reasonably successful on the market, though it did not meet the high expectations Mercedes-Benz had set on it. Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
later merged the MB-trac with the agricultural machinery activities of Deutz AG
Deutz AG
Deutz AG is an engine manufacturer, based in Cologne, Germany.-History:The company was founded by Nikolaus Otto, inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine, in 1864 as N. A...
. The manufacturing of the MB-trac series ended in 1991, when the production line was taken over by the Werner company. 41,000 vehicles were produced of the original MB-trac, 30,000 of which are still in service today.
Multiple Uses
In BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the company UCA started converting MB-trac and WF-trac machines for rail shunting purposes in 1981. Nowadays, UCA produces the UCA-TRAC, rail/road vehicles based on the chassis of a JCB
J. C. Bamford
JCB is a global construction, demolition and agricultural equipment company headquartered in Rocester, United Kingdom. It is the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer. It produces over 300 types of machines, including diggers , excavators, tractors and diesel engines...
Load-All (UCA-TRAC B) and JCB Fastrac
JCB Fastrac
The Fastrac is a high speed agricultural tractor series manufactured by JCB Landpower, part of the J. C. Bamford group of companies.Production began in 1991, with continual development to the present day...
(UCA-TRAC F). The UCA-TRAC provides traction through its rubber wheels.
Mercedes-Benz
| Type 440: | |
| MB Trac 65/70 | (65 hp) |
| MB Trac 700 | (68 hp) |
| MB Trac 700 S/K | (65 hp) |
| MB Trac 700 / K | (68/80 hp) |
| MB Trac 800 | (72/75/78 hp) |
| MB Trac 900 | (85 hp) |
| MB Trac 900 turbo | (85/90 hp) |
| Type 441: | |
| MB Trac 1000 | (95/100 hp) |
| MB Trac 1100 | (110 hp) |
| Type 442: | |
| MB Trac 1100 | (110 hp) |
| Type 443: | |
| MB Trac 1100 | (110 hp) |
| MB Trac 1300 | (125 hp) |
| MB Trac 1300 turbo | (125 hp) |
| MB Trac 1400 turbo | (136 hp) |
| MB Trac 1500 | (150 hp) |
| MB Trac 1600 turbo | (156 hp) |
| MB Trac 1800 intercooler | (180 hp) |
External links
- Werner GmbH official website of the Werner company