I'm picking up a 1962 Swiss Unimog and will be using it for my build, it's in very good condition with about 6,000 orig miles. I went back and forth between a buggy and the stock Mog but the stock mog won, I dont want my shop tied up for a year or two with a buggy and tons of labor. I'll post photo's soon, right now I'm looking for a little input on tire choices, Here's the lineup:
37x12.50-20 BFG-MT
37X12.50-20 Yokahama Geo-lander MT
38X15.50-20 Yokohama Geo-lander MT, might be too big for stock rims?
Toyo 38x13.50-20 MT
Swamper Irok Radial 39x13.50-20
Has anyone been running any of these on their stock Mog and how do you like them? I'm located in SW Oregon and have tons of trails, mud, snow, sand riverbeds and steep terrain:D My complete build thoughts are: Full cage, power steering, coil over rears and relocating the gas tank and batteries to the rear. As you might be able to tell I'm very excited:smokin: I'm looking for any input on the power steering setup too, I've searched a bunch, and there's tons of information but was wondering if there were any "straight forward" solutions at this point. Thanks for any help or advice.
Steve

Hey,

As far as tires, 12.5's are about as wide as you'll want to go on the stock 9" wheels. If you are interested, the 11" 406 wheels are a bolt on if you can find some on the cheap.

For power steering, the easiest thing to do is bolt on a 406 PS Gearbox & find a pump to work on the motor. If you are up for a little more fab, a hydro assist can be done without too much trouble.

Best of luck!

Point of note.

If/when you add power steering you will probably kill your stock tie rod. This is usually easy enough to straighten on the trail if you just bring a tow strap but you should plan for this.

I ended up remaking my tie-rod out of 2" .250 wall square tube and haven't had any problems since. Of course now I am waiting to break steering arms but that is a different problem.:D

For a short time, I ran the 39.5x13.50x20 IROCS on my stock wheels. It worked fine for me. They're now are on some wider Stazworks but none the less, it worked. I went full hydro and would never turn back. When your dealing with painful amounts of lack of power, not being able to turn just pisses you off more. Definitely address your tie rod no matter what power steering add on you do. I have bent too many. Now I run a 1.75"x.250 dom without any issues.

Ok I have picked up My 404 about two weeks ago, and I have quit a few questions for this build. I never have deceided on tires yet but I'm going back and fourth between the Yokohamas MT and Continent MPT80.
I did go with a 406 power steeering setup, what is the best way to put a pully on the 404 engine to run the power steering pump, or should I remove the Idler and put the pump there?

And onto the suspension? I see Dan AKA goodtimes, here on the board is running Aerostar 3/4 rear springs but does not say what year they are, does anyone else know? I'm also considering if I should go coilovers, is this overkill for a Mog setup that only runs 5-30 MPH most of the time, Most of my wheeling is a bit of everthing rocks, woods and trail running with some road at times 20-30 miles, with a few longer trips about twice year.
Thanks for any help Steve.

This is a photo of my 404 that I'm doing the build on. I have the bed sold and will be starting the rear cage setup and putting a fuel cell and the batteries to the back.
Steve

Coilovers are nice if you can afford it. I tried areostar but could NOT find the 3/4 ton springs in my junk yard. Regular everyday Ford areostar are waaay too soft. I heard somewhere on here to move the stock rear springs minus the overloads up front. I did this and it works very well. In back after trying many, I have settled on bronco lifted springs, not sure what brand though. Heavy enough to carry all your camping gear (without sitting on your bumps) but soft enough to flex still.

As for the PS pump, I just made a bracket which put the pump to the right of the tensioner (standing in front of). The pic shows the location only, the bracket is not the same. Its cramped in there but possible.

Coilovers are nice if you can afford it. I tried areostar but could NOT find the 3/4 ton springs in my junk yard. Regular everyday Ford areostar are waaay too soft. I heard somewhere on here to move the stock rear springs minus the overloads up front. I did this and it works very well. In back after trying many, I have settled on bronco lifted springs, not sure what brand though. Heavy enough to carry all your camping gear (without sitting on your bumps) but soft enough to flex still.

As for the PS pump, I just made a bracket which put the pump to the right of the tensioner (standing in front of). The pic shows the location only, the bracket is not the same. Its cramped in there but possible.

Thanks for the replies. ? About mounting the pump, so is the tensioner still there? and are you running the new belt from the engine pully that the tesioner went to? I am going to call around about the rear springs today to see what I can find out. Goodtimes 404, sure looks like it workes great in his Rubicon video. Thanks Steve

I am now running 42" x 14.5 Krawlers on my stock 9" rims ( had to get 1.5" wheel spacers to clear the rear shock mounts ) I love the tires and would not go back. That said out of your list I would go with the 39" Iroks, 37 is less than the stock size tires. Like goodtimes rig I am using a very soft rear spring out of the Areostar and my front springs are progresive out of a vanagon and I get tons of flex but very little payload.
My next project is power steering also. I have a box out of a 406 and the pump from psp and the brakets from the mogshop. You are going to have to cut out the tube cross member that you stock box is bolted to and weld in the correct dia tube, the 406 box mounts on a smaller dia, I forget the size but you can find out if you have the new box. On a side note keep an eye out for a crawler box, well worth it.
.http://picasaweb.google.com/CapoValley4Wheelers/MogFest#
http://picasaweb.google.com/CapoValley4Wheelers/MogFest#5532211387057676866
YouTube - Unimog goes straight up. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R20uJeUYMAw)