Reaching new heights with Unimog

Not afraid of heights.

Anthony and his brother Simon established Fletcher Access 20 years ago. Their Worcester-based company undertakes a range of overhead assignments including tree work, roof maintenance, and cleaning, while also offering a range of powered access equipment for hire.

Access-all-areas Unimog.

Anthony is also the main driver of their first all-terrain Mercedes-Benz Unimog, which has replaced the 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego and two Sprinter vans that previously performed the same roles.

The 15.5-tonne U530 model is the largest and, at 220 kW (299 hp) most powerful, of the Mercedes-Benz implement carriers. Like all Unimogs, it offers outstanding cross-country capability, but will also cruise happily at 56 mph on the road.

A real head-turner.

“As well as improving efficiency by replacing three other vehicles, the Unimog offers the multi-role flexibility which ensures that whatever the job, we can use it every day,” says Anthony. “It’s also great fun to drive and attracts lots of attention wherever we go.”

He continues: “You sit high up in the Unimog, and have an excellent view of what’s around you. In terms of its footprint it’s not a lot bigger than the 5.0-tonne Sprinter van we’ve retained, yet it can carry so much more.”

- Anthony Fletcher

No stuck-in-the-mud.

“The truck’s all-terrain capability is an obvious benefit. As well as having to cross rough ground sometimes to reach the trees that we’re working on, we regularly venture down narrow lanes to deliver our machines – its all-wheel drive system means we’ll never get stuck on a verge or the edge of a field.”

“What’s really surprised me, though, is its on-road performance. The Unimog simply flies up the hills no problem. The engine brake also saves wear and tear on the trailer brakes, as well as those of the truck itself, which is another advantage.”

A multitude of uses.

The Unimog came with a factory-fitted Scattolini tipping body for which Fletcher Access commissioned a high-sided box with lockable rear doors. Using a front-mounted wood chipper driven by the truck’s PTO, Fletcher Access can load chippings through four ‘doors’ in the roof.

The vehicle also carries up to four baffled, 1,000-litre (one tonne) demountable tanks of harvested and purified rain water, together with the power washers, ground protection boards, and other equipment Fletcher Access uses for high-reach cleaning services.

A VBG drawbar coupling, meanwhile, allows it to tow a tandem-axle trailer at up to 26 tonnes GCW. The trailer transports the company’s tracked access platforms, the biggest of which has a 42-metre reach and tips the scales at seven tonnes!

The Unimog really can do everything!

Thanks Anthony!

We really enjoyed spending a day with Anthony to find out about his vehicle, plus we got some great photos along the way. Would you like to meet the RoadStars team and feature your vehicle in a future article? Or perhaps you know someone who would? Let us know in the comment section below!