A ten-strong expedition team led by Matthias Jeschke has climbed the highest volcano in the world, the Ojos del Salado in Chile with two Unimog U 5023 Mercedes Benz off-road trucks.
The team was tasked to install four emergency radio units on selected high altitude points on the volcanic mountain.
These four radio units will be used as backup units in times of distress to relay radio signals to other three base camps a measure to improve safety for mountaineers and scientific researchers.
The Ojos del Salado volcanic mountain measures a staggering 6893 meters, the tallest active volcano on our planet. The volcano is part of the Atacama Desert one of the driest places on earth and part of the notorious Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Unimog U 5023 truck is a celebrated vehicle with a 70-year track record of withstanding extreme conditions in all places and climatic conditions.
The expedition team completed the 6100-meter challenge at Amistad high-altitude camp by installing a radio unit and set about achieving another milestone by pushing the Unimog truck to an altitude of 6694 meters. Never before had vehicles climbed to such heights anywhere around the world.
The Unimog U 5023 is the latest generation of special trucks from Mercedes Benz equipped with special tyres and a body with a variable centre of gravity. This vehicle will carry expedition teams and their equipment to extreme altitudes almost effortlessly.
The Unimog U 5023 is a predecessor to the U 5000 and is more environmentally acceptable, efficient and stronger.
It is fitted with the new four-cylinder BlueEfficiency Power BlueTec 6 engine with an output of 170 kW (230 hp) and a strong torque of 900 Nm.
The Unimog transmission has been improved and upgraded so that the gear changing times are shorter with an increased life span.
In future, according to Daimler, the gears will be changed using the pitman arm on the steering column and this also includes the electronic quick reverse function (EQR).
For now, there are eight forward and six reverse gears available as well as the optional crawler gears for off-road use with a speed range between 2.5-35 km/h.
Extreme Events company proprietor, Matthias Jeschke, and his team didn't just beat their own record with a Mercedes-Benz Zetros in 2014, they also set the absolute world record for a wheeled vehicle driving at a high altitude.
Quoting a jubilant Jeschke, “both vehicles mastered the extremely steep and rocky passages thanks to a combination of the best, reliable technology, a balanced centre of gravity and amazing tyre technology.”
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