Classic Unimogs - Frequently Asked Questions about our 1977 Unimog 416 DoKa Camper for Sale.

About our 1977 Unimog 416 DoKa Camper - SOLD

This page is intended to provide additional information about the Unimog camper. Generally speaking, Unimog campers are rare. Mercedes Benz never made original Unimog campers, so all of them are conversions of some kind. The 416 DoKa camper we are offering is very unique. You can seat 4 passengers up front, as it has the extended-height DoKa cab. It also has a large step-through to the camper box. It sleeps four comfortably.

The 416 DoKa is original. Mercedes Benz built it for the Netherlands train authority. It was converted to a camper in 1995. It has had one other owner, and he drove it about 2,000 kilometers. We've put $2,500 into it since we bought it for servicing and parts. It runs very well. It has a comfortable highway cruising speed of 58-60 miles per hour. All of the interior appliances work well.

There is a lot of literature for whoever buys the vehicle, for example, appliance manuals, original drawings of the conversion, and the 416 operator's manual. There is also a videotape demonstrating all of the camper's features, although it is a PAL tape and it is in German.

Below are answers to previous questions we have received that may be of interest to prospective buyers:
1. What is the exact vehicle model?
416 DoKa Wohnmobil (as stated in the Fahrzeugbrief)
2. What is the date of first registration?
Tag der ersten Zulassung 01.07.77
3. Does it have a catalytic converter?
No, it does not. Diesels did not have catalytic converters in the 1970s and earlier. But it also does not need one, as the vehicle is from model year 1977 and is therefore Smog and EPA exempt.
4. Does the Unimog or its camper leak any of its oil or other fluids?
The vehicle does not leak any fluids. Recently, a differential seal was replaced. Overall, we can say that the ground is dry under this Mog :-)
5. Does the camper body attach like the 404 radio box, where it is independent of the frame twisting action?
Yes. It is also a quick disconnect. You put the four stand posts out, and then drive the Unimog out from under the camper body.
6. Does it have portal axles?
It only has the portal axle in the front. The rear has a standard type full-floating axle with an auto-locking differential. The rear axle is rated at a minimum of 6 tons, and is built by NAF, a German company that specializes in axles. It needed to have this heavy of a rating, as the whole vehicle's weight is almost 7 tons. The ground clearance of the rear axle is 16 inches.
7. What needs fixing to make it roadworthy and reliable?
Nothing! The vehicle has just been serviced. We put $2,500 into it for brake work, head gaskets, exhaust gasket, oil and fuel filters, etc.
8. Is the raised cab a factory job?
Yes it is factory. It was custom built by Mercedes Benz for the Netherlands train co. It is built out of aluminum with sliding doors.
9. Is the vehicle any quieter (or noisier) than a normal 416?
It is much quieter than a regular 416, because the whole vehicle, especially the cab, has been sound deadened. You can actually hear the radio while you are driving. :-)
10. What is the cabin made of and how is it insulated?
The cab and camper are both made out of aluminum and are insulated with a neoprene-type insulating material.
11. What is the object hanging down in front of the center windshield in photo 2 on page 1?
It is an instrument console, which holds a CB radio, Blaupunkt stereo cassette player, outside temperature gauge, inside temperature gauge, plus switches, like the starter button.
12. How much rust is there, and what is the condition of the paint?
There is no rust and the paint is in good condition.
13. What kind of tires does it have?
The tire size is 15 x 22.5. The tires are Michelin sand tires in like-new condition.
14. Do the sand tires need to be changed to another type, if the vehicle will be on pavement, (because they would wear fast or are noisy)?
Sand tires are for soft sand and have a smooth, large footprint, almost the same as street tires, therefore, the wear is minimal. They handle great and are very quiet on the street. The tires you are referring to are mud or agricultural tires, which wear quickly on the street and are very noisy, but work great in muddy terrain.
15. Is there a source of air on the vehicle that one would use to pump the tires back up if you wanted less-than-highway pressure for sand or other off-road surfaces?
There are two places on the vehicle to connect the tire filler hose, which is supplied with the vehicle. There is also an air connection on the vehicle, with a quick coupler to run air tools.
16. What is a comfortable highway cruising speed?
A comfortable cruising speed on this vehicle is 58-60 miles per hour.
17. What is the gearing like on the Unimog camper?
It has 8 forward speeds, with which you can you can down shift to a crawl. It also has 4 reverse gears. This gearing gives it great street and off road capability. It also has 4-wheel drive, with locking differentials front and rear.
18. What kind of fuel consumption does it have?
We assume between 20-25 liters per 100 kilometers. It has tanks to carry 535 liters of fuel.
19. Does it have hot water? How much does the boiler hold?
The hot water boiler runs on propane tanks. It is a run-through type boiler. The water runs through it and heats instantly. It works as long as there is water and gas. There is no specific gallon limit.
20. Are there waste water holding tanks? How big are they?
Yes, there are two 40-liter wastewater tanks.
21. How is the cabin heated? How is the refrigerator powered?
The cabin is heated by a propane heater, mounted centrally in the rear camper. The refrigerator is a compressor type and runs off of 12-volt electricity.
22. Photo 5 on page 2 suggests that you'd hit your head on the bathroom sink if you sat on the toilet?
The sink is designed to fold up, so one can sit on the toilet. (Or if you are lazy, you can just lean forward :-)
23. How big is the camper?
The total length is 7.1 meters. The width is 2.12 meters, and the height is 3.2 meters. You can easily stand up inside. For shipping purposes, the vehicle is about 49 square meters.
24. Is there any provision for a rear trailer hitch, and are there any external storage compartments?
Yes, it has a heavy-duty trailer hitch, pintle type. There are external storage compartments. There is a large 4-compartment toolbox and 2 other large storage boxes. They are all lockable with keys. The vehicle also has a built-in safe under the passenger's seat, which is built from 1/4 inch steel and has a special vault lock.
25. What is the black bar running at a 45 degree angle along the lower back of the cabin (outside) in photo 6 on page 1? Is this the tow bar?
It is a solid steel mounting base. The previous owner had a motorcycle rack mounted to it. The tow bar, by the way, is stowed underneath. It is used to tow a vehicle.
26. Is there anything shown in the pictures, for example, the sand ladders, that won't be included with the vehicle?
No, everything you see in the photos is included. There is also an American-made high--lift jack, which custom mounts on the left rear of the vehicle. It is not pictured, but is now installed and comes with the vehicle. There is also a 2-foot-wide stairway, which installs on the side door of the motor home. It is custom made for the vehicle out of aluminum. It folds away in its storage space inside the camper.
27. There is a ladder on the back that allows access to the roof. Does this imply people can wander around up there without damaging it?
Yes. It is made for that. It's a good view from up there.
28. How does one get the spare tire off the roof? In fact, can one change a tire on a vehicle this size, or do you need heavy-duty help?
There is a hoist on the roof, which lifts the spare tire off. And there is also a heavy-duty tire wrench and a hydraulic jack with the vehicle, so you can do it yourself. It is set up for that.
29. How do you raise the weight of the cabin off the bed to get the truck out from under it?
Most campers are permanently fixed. This is a nice extra. This is how it works: You put the stand posts in and then let some air out of the tires, which raises it up just enough to drive the vehicle out from under. The vehicle will have just the frame rails on it. One could fashion a makeshift flatbed out of steel and plywood.
30. What are the interior walls and ceiling covered with?
In the camper, the walls and ceiling have wood panelling. The floor has a special camper carpet in black/dark gray. The cab is covered entirely with the special camper carpet in a medium gray.
31. Are the bug screens a separate pop-in/pop-out item or are they integrated with the windows?
They are integrated in the windows, as are the self-retracting blinds.
32. Are there any safety belts for the cab seats?
Yes. There is a set of seat belts for the two font seats, but they are not installed at the moment.
33. Regarding the electrical system, does the generator run off diesel or propane? Does it power the cabin lights directly, or does it charge house batteries? Is there a shore power connection for a campground?
The 12 volt generator runs off the engine, which powers two deep-cycle gel cells, and then everything in the camper runs off of those gel cells. When you are at a campsite, you have a connection to your 110 supply, which then recharges the gel cells via a transformer. At the moment, it has two German 220 connectors, which would have to be changed to 110.

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