This Mercedes-Benz Unimog Is The Greatest Fire Truck Ever

For the most part, fire trucks are slow, unattractive, and not all that good in difficult terrain. This one, however, is a little different.

In the town of Kirchzarten in southwestern Germany, the volunteer fire brigade uses a custom Unimog U 5023, optimized as the perfect tool to battle fires in the dense Black Forest. The fire truck has an incredible 17.7-inches (45 cm) of ground clearance, rolls on a set of huge off-road wheels and tires, and features an advanced four-wheel drive system.

Although the front of the truck and most of the cabin remains typical for a Unimog, the rest of the vehicle has been transformed for its fire-fighting duties. Consequently, there is a huge water tank in the rear that can hold 1,056 gallons (4,000 liters) of water and 132 gallons (500 liters) of foam. A powerful Ziegler pump allows it to fire out up to 793 gallons (3000 liters) of water per minute.

Powering the capable fire truck is a four-cylinder BlueTec 6 diesel engine pumping out 231 hp and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. That monumental torque figure ensures the Unimog can conquer the most difficult terrain without breaking a sweat.

All things considered, the Unimog fire truck is simply the coolest, and in all likelihood the most capable, we’ve ever seen.