We Want It And We Want It Bad: This FLU419 Small Emplacement Excavator Is Awesome If Not Totally Practical


We Want It And We Want It Bad: This FLU419 Small Emplacement Excavator Is Awesome If Not Totally Practical

At the end of the day, all military vehicles are tools, right? Designed to suit a job or purpose they help fighting men and women get the job done. That being said, there are LOTS of cool tools out there and the FLU419 small emplacement excavator is close to the top of the heap on my list. Thanks to BangShifter Mike C. we got notified of this one that’s for sale in Wisconsin. Based off of a Unimog, the trucks have a front bucket that can list 3,300lbs and a Case backhoe. That backhoe unit is the same as one that would be found on a Case 580D tractor. The coolest stuff that it can do is not readily seen, though.

There’s a robust hydraulic system on the rig and because of that there are cool attachments that these trucks used like a jackhammer, a chainsaw, and a sandbag filling system. All of those are hydraulically powered. Because the truck is essentially a unimog it is powered by a 110hp Mercedes diesel and because it is basically a four wheel drive tractor, it can run about 40mph with the attachments on it and 52 stripped down and in “race mode”.

I am sure it is horribly uncomfortable. I am sure the operation of the thing is not all that comfortable. I am sure that there are other rigs that can do the job better but I am also sure that this damned thing is so cool that I would look past all of it. I say would because there’s not an extra $14,800 laying around in the Lohnes household general fund. Hopefully it goes to a good home!

Craigslist Link: This FLU419 small emplacement excavator is awesome!


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5 thoughts on “We Want It And We Want It Bad: This FLU419 Small Emplacement Excavator Is Awesome If Not Totally Practical

  1. Coffeejoe

    These were standard Marine Corps issue to Engineer Support Battalions in the 80’s and 90’s. Better than what you see is all the attachments that come with it…hydraulic powered everything from chain saw to wrecking hammer!

    But, you are correct, they were load and damned uncomfortable to drive around in.

  2. ANGRYJOE

    Brian, if you buy it can I borrow it? I have a massive ammount of cactus I need to clear from my property. This would be ideal!

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