List of specifications for my vehicle

Once I knew I wanted a 4x4 camper, next step was to decide its minimum characteristics.
=> The vehicle was to be a real camper/motor home: a vehicle that you can live in, not beside.

Vehicle would have to be:

1/ Bigger than a long wheel base Land-Cruiser/Rover to be sufficiently comfortable for long overland trips.

2/ Bigger by one “notch”! NOT at a big 10-12 ton truck that would be impossible to rescue when stuck in mud/sand. Hence it would be a big van or small truck.

3/ A true “off-road” vehicle, not simply to have four wheel drive. “Tout-terrain” and not “Tout-chemin”. This would mean having big wheels, decent ground clearance and good approach & departure angles.

3/ Turbo Diesel powered (for power at high elevation) and have NO electronics for simplicity and reliability.

4/ If it was a truck (as opposed to a van) it would need to have doors (or walk through) between cab and camper. Must be able to park the vehicle anywhere and discreetly get into the camper without going “outside”.

5/ The camper part would have to have:

• No “pop-up roof”; one big box, roomy enough to stand-up inside
• Beds that were always "made-up" (no finagling every night before going to sleep)
• A side entrance (back doors get too dusty) and awning
• Seating for 3/4 people around the table
• A sink, cooker, fridge
• A proper toilet and a shower
• A heater.

In summary, the vehicle was to be as independent as possible, that it, it should NOT need to plug into power, water, or sewage every night. The specific goal was to be able to go three days at full motorhome comfort without shore power/water, sunshine, or engine run. Longer if you conserve water, etc.

"The focus when modifying a vehicle for overlanding should be on comfort and every day usability. You want to be dry when it is raining, warm when it is snowing or ice cold, cool in a heat wave, protected from the wind with the ability to store and prepare food under all those conditions, and sleep well at night, safe from bugs and predators—both two and four legged."

Graeme BELL What’s the Difference Between Off-Roader and Overlander?

Because I wanted no electronics, it would mean buying an old truck/van as all “modern” vehicles have electronics in order to comply to current emission control regulations.

With these characteristics in mind I looked at the following vehicles:

1/ Panel vans:

• Iveco Daily 4x4 (older generation, high roof version): + Compact, - Weak front suspension and body
• Mercedes Vario 4x4: + Reliability, - Not an off-roader
• VW LT 4 x4: + Size, - Not an off-roader

2/ Cab-forward trucks:

• Mercedes Unimog: + The king of off-roaders, - A bit too big
• MAN FAE 8-136: + Reliabiliy, - A bit too big
• Renault TRM 2000: + Good clearance, - A bit too big

3/ Anything I would have not thought-off!

Discovered on internet ...

During summer 2007, looking for a suitable expedition vehicle on 4x4 web pages, I see this add:

A VENDRE - Un Brimont Brutt 4x4

Cabine 2 places, basculante. Moteur Turbo Diesel.

Equipement : Cellule en matériaux composites, montée en 3 points élastiques "type Unimog". 

La cellule est découplée du chassis pour ne pas subir de contraintes de déformation. 

Un escalier basculant sur toute la largeur arrière, 2 demi-portes battantes arrières.

Projet à terminer. Visible sur Paris. Date de 1ère mise en circulation: 1 Juillet 1992.

I must confess that I had never heard of a Brimont Brutt!

Technical specifications of the Brimont Brutt

Quoting from: www.janes-defence-weekly.com
Appearing in Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics, Publication date March 22, 1996

Brimont Brutt (France) - 4x4 2,225 kg Truck

The Brimont Brutt (4 × 4) 2,225 kg truck was developed to meet a number of military and commercial roles that vary from front-line cargo carrier and ambulance to forestry and fire fighting. The BRUTT has a forward control cab with a horizontal wedge front profile. Seating is provided in the cab for the driver and one passenger and the cab can be tilted forward for maintenance. The cab may have a hard or soft top with the hard top version having provision to fit a roof hatch for access to a light machine gun mounting.

The cargo area to the rear can be provided with side bench seating to carry up to 10 men and is covered by a canvas tilt stretched over bows. The rear area can also be used to accommodate a light weapon such as a 12.7 mm machine gun in a ring mounting. The payload for the open-backed version is 2,225 kg; if the full canvas cover and bows are installed this is reduced to 1,770 kg. The chassis frame is constructed from high stress steel with two box-sections and cross members, all precoated with a special anti-corrosion finish.

The axles are of the Brimont rigid type with optional lockable differentials. Coil springs are used for the front suspension and spring leaves at the rear. Anti-roll bars are fitted front and rear. Various forms of gearbox can be fitted. The standard manual gearbox is supplied by ZF, although a Peugeot gearbox will permit higher speeds. If the vehicle is to be used for towing light weapons, such as a 105 mm howitzer or 120 mm mortar, it is recommended

Cab seating: 1 + 1 (up to 10 in rear). Configuration: 4 × 4. Weight: empty 2,275 kg; loaded 4,500 kg. Max load: 2,225 kg. Towed load: braked 8,000 kg; unbraked 5,250 kg. Length: 5.275 m. Width: 1.95 m. Height: (top of cab) 2.48 m. Ground clearance: 0.275 m. Track: 1.5 m. Wheelbase: 2.78 m. Angle of approach/departure: 44º/43ºMax speed: 96.4 km/h. Range: 430 km. Fuel capacity: 90 l + 2 jerricans. Max gradient: 58%Fording: up to 0.9 m.

Engine: Peugeot XD 3 T 2.5 l 4-cylinder diesel developing (DIN) 95 hp at 4,150 rpm and 210 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Gearbox: ZF manual with 5 forward and 1 reverse gears. Clutch: single dry plate. Transfer box: 2-speed with differential lock. Steering: worm and ball, power-assist. Turning radius: 6.4 m. Suspension: front coil springs with shock-absorbers and anti-roll bar; rear leaf springs with shock-absorbers and anti-roll bar. Tyres: 10.5 × 20 MPT. Brakes: main servo-assisted, disc front, drum rear; parking mechanical on transmission. Electrical system: 24 V. Batteries: 2 × 12 V, 100 Ah. Alternator: 70 A

Back to Home page!

Obviously, I searched the web about "Brimont" & "Brutt"

"Le BRUTT est un utilitaire 4x4 léger, construit par la société Brimont au début des années 90.

L'Armée de l'Air en a acheté en assez grand nombre pour l'équipement des unités de défense sol-air

et des escadrons de protection."

Technical specifications of the Brimont Brutt -

Quoting from: www.janes-defence-weekly.com
Appearing in Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics, Publication date March 22, 1996

Brimont Brutt (France) - 4x4 2,225 kg Truck

The Brimont Brutt (4 × 4) 2,225 kg truck was developed to meet a number of military and commercial roles that vary from front-line cargo carrier and ambulance to forestry and fire fighting. The BRUTT has a forward control cab with a horizontal wedge front profile. Seating is provided in the cab for the driver and one passenger and the cab can be tilted forward for maintenance. The cab may have a hard or soft top with the hard top version having provision to fit a roof hatch for access to a light machine gun mounting.

The cargo area to the rear can be provided with side bench seating to carry up to 10 men and is covered by a canvas tilt stretched over bows. The rear area can also be used to accommodate a light weapon such as a 12.7 mm machine gun in a ring mounting. The payload for the open-backed version is 2,225 kg; if the full canvas cover and bows are installed this is reduced to 1,770 kg. The chassis frame is constructed from high stress steel with two box-sections and cross members, all precoated with a special anti-corrosion finish.

The axles are of the Brimont rigid type with optional lockable differentials. Coil springs are used for the front suspension and spring leaves at the rear. Anti-roll bars are fitted front and rear. Various forms of gearbox can be fitted. The standard manual gearbox is supplied by ZF, although a Peugeot gearbox will permit higher speeds. If the vehicle is to be used for towing light weapons, such as a 105 mm howitzer or 120 mm mortar, it is recommended

Cab seating: 1 + 1 (up to 10 in rear). Configuration: 4 × 4. Weight: empty 2,275 kg; loaded 4,500 kg. Max load: 2,225 kg. Towed load: braked 8,000 kg; unbraked 5,250 kg. Length: 5.275 m. Width: 1.95 m. Height: (top of cab) 2.48 m. Ground clearance: 0.275 m. Track: 1.5 m. Wheelbase: 2.78 m. Angle of approach/departure: 44º/43ºMax speed: 96.4 km/h. Range: 430 km. Fuel capacity: 90 l + 2 jerricans. Max gradient: 58%Fording: up to 0.9 m.

Engine: Peugeot XD 3 T 2.5 l 4-cylinder diesel developing (DIN) 95 hp at 4,150 rpm and 210 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Gearbox: ZF manual with 5 forward and 1 reverse gears. Clutch: single dry plate. Transfer box: 2-speed with differential lock. Steering: worm and ball, power-assist. Turning radius: 6.4 m. Suspension: front coil springs with shock-absorbers and anti-roll bar; rear leaf springs with shock-absorbers and anti-roll bar. Tyres: 10.5 × 20 MPT. Brakes: main servo-assisted, disc front, drum rear; parking mechanical on transmission. Electrical system: 24 V. Batteries: 2 × 12 V, 100 Ah. Alternator: 70 A

Discovering the Brutt

During October 2007, I had to go to Paris and organized to see this vehicle.

Surprisingly, it was parked in a "normal" street of Paris!



Had a good look and took lots of pictures...

I really liked the ruggedness of its design and construction: 
- a REAL "off-road" vehicle  (big wheels, good ground celarance, excellent angles, etc. 
- everything was "heavy duty"
=> All this was exactly what I wanted!

The price was too high, I wasn't interested.

=> Then the owner lowered his price.

Now it started to make sense...

History of the Brimont Brutt

BRUTT     =     Brimont

Routier

Utilitaire

Tout

Terrain

1983 – Brimont plans to build a light 4x4 truck – The Brutt.

1985 – First trial of a Brutt, 3.5 t version, by the French Army: there are many shortcomings.

1986 – New 4.5 t version released.  The new version is tested by the French army.

At end of 1986, Brimont states that approximately 20 Brutts have been manufactured.

1987 – New 5.5 t version is released.

1988 – New intercooler civilian version released, Peugeot XDTE, 110 Hp.

1990 – First order from the French Army and Air Force, for the 5.5 t version.

1992 – End of production. Only (approximately) 400 Brutt will have been built!!!

==========
Original sales brochure:

Historique de BRIMONT SA

1960 - Fondation par Marcel Brimont, maréchal-ferrant spécialisée dans le machinisme agricole – bennes  et remorques de Brimont SA, implantée à Rethel, Ardennes, France.

En septembre 1974, la société LATIL-BATIGNOLLES rétrocède la fabrication et la commercialisation des tracteurs LATIL à la société BRIMONT.

Un mois après l'accord de cession, BRIMONT sort le premier tracteur LATIL des chaînes de montage des usines de Reims-Prunay.

Brimont assemble également des séries de camions : Brimont ETR, Appache dès 1978,
Les mécaniques sont 100 % françaises.

Durant les années 1980, PPM construit aussi des gros camions 4x4.

Le plus gros camion Brimont sera l'Apache. Ici dans sa version "CCFS" - Camion Citerne Feux Forêts Spécialisé.

L'Apache est un camion citerne "feux de forêt" lourd, mis au point par Brimont, PPM et Camiva.

Sa citerne de 6.000 litres est surbaissée et cloisonnée pour lui garantir une bonne stabilité "hors route". Il a été, de longues années durant, le matériel emblématique des UIISC.

A l'époque l'Apache est déjà doté d'une direction assistée permettant au conducteur une conduite plus aisée. La cabine est renforcée et comprend 4 places frontales. L'Apache est doté d'un refroidissement de la cabine et des pneus par aspertion d'eau. 

Sur le plan technique et en quelques chiffres: 

- Poids en charge: 17 Tonnes 

- A vide: 10,5 tonnes 

- PTAC: 19 Tonnes 

Les dimensions: 

- Hauteur: 3m 

- Largeur: 2,5m 

- Longueur: 7,5m 

Sur le plan mécanique: 

- 4 roues directrices et motrices 

- vitesse max 85 km/h 

- Rampe 50% en continu 

- Dévers 20% en continu 

- RVI suralimenté (double turbo) 

- Puissance maxi: 274 cv 

- 6 vitesses avant 

- 3 vitesses arrière 

- système de décrabotage du pont avant 

- blocage des différentiels avant et arrière 

- suspensions avant et arrière par amortisseurs et ressorts à lames 

- roues avant assistées 

- roues arrière hydraulique par vérins commandé électriquement au tableau de bord et indépendant du volant et permettant des braquages courts et la marche en crabe. 

- cabine 4 places et insonorisée 

- siège conducteur suspendu et réglable en hauteur 

- grille et arceaux assurant la protection de la cabine et des roues par aspertion d'eau 

- treuil de halage d'une longueur de 50 m et d'un diamètre de 16 mm commandé électriquement depuis le tableau de bord pour une meilleure sécurité. Commande mécaniquede secours sur le châssis 

Equipement Incendie: 

- capacité citerne eau 6 000L. Forme spéciale enveloppant le châssis permettant de rabaisser le centre de gravité et composé de cloisons anti-ballant. 

- pompe 1000 L/min, pression 15 bars, amorçage automatique 

- canon télécommandé de l'intérieur de la cabine par un boîtier de commande 

Dans les années 1970, Brimont va aussi construire des engins de Génie civil, notamment une benne articulée, la BB9

Au faîte de sa gloire, près de 400 personnes travaillaient pour Brimont.

En 1987, Brimont passe sous le contrôle de Bergerat-Monnoyeur.

• Pour information : En 1967 Potain & Poclain associent leurs technologies de levage et hydrauliques et forment PPM : « Potain, Poclain Manutention ».

• Pour information : En 1988, Rachat de PPM par le groupe « Legris Industries »

En mars 1989, Reprise de Brimont par PPM, l’entreprise s’appelle dès lors « Brimont PM »

En 1992, c'est une chute importante (50 % de moins par rapport à 1991) des marchés d'Etat (armée et sapeurs-pompiers) qui va entraîner un plan de licenciement au sein de la société ardennaise Brimont PPM division engins.

Fin de la production de véhicules 4x4 en 1993.

La division Brimont agraire, spécialisée dans les remorques agricoles n'est pas touchée.

Depuis juillet 2009, Brimont - qui ne fabrique que des remorques, fait partie du groupe Arden Vérins.

Road testing and buying the Brutt

The seller then lowered his price...

Now it was worth to test drive the beast and see what it was all about.

Well... the drive was convincing, and I decided to buy it!

Driving back from Paris to St-Cergue

On 13 November 2007, I drove the Brutt back from Paris.

We had a real blizzard and by the time I arrived in St-Cergue the truck was covered with snow.

=> Scroll down, there is more to discover...

=> In a hurry? Click here to read about my intended Route

Importing the truck into Switzerland

For various reasons, in 2012, it was time to officially "import" the truck into Switzerland.
It had to go through customs at a major border to get all the paperwork done.

Because the truck was not insurred, altogether it was easiest to do this process on a trailer.

On 19 September 2012, I drove the truck onto the trailer and the tow Land-Cruiser + truck on top of trailer  made their way to the border  - I love those mighty Land-Cruisers...

Everything had been prepared ahead of time and it took half an hour to get the customs paper done: out of France and into Switzerland.

 Notice the difference in size of wheels: Land Roamer vs trailer...

A few days later I had to surrender the French plates and car documents to the Swiss vehicle registry office.

When the truck will be ready, it will have to be checked by Swiss inspectors to make sure of it's "road worthiness" before getting Swiss registration plates.

For lovers of archeological sites... i.e."old stones"

 1/ Mystras

Located five kilometers west of Sparta, at the foot of Mount Taygetos, Mystras is considered to be one of the most important historical sites in the Peloponnese. The site boasts a rich history that stretches from the 13th to the 19th century, being an important political, religious, intellectual, and financial center. 

Mystras, the best preserved example of medieval walled town in the Greek region, is today a standing ghost city that fascinates the modern traveler with its castle, churches and the palatial complex of the ruling Byzantine dynasty, bearing witness to its bygone greatness. The 13th to early 15th centuries frescoes of Mystras churches represent the peak that the Byzantine religious painting had reached. 

In 1448, the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaeologos, was crowned there.

The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Church of Hagios Demetrios, the earliest of the surviving churches of Mystras, is the metropolitan church built in the second half of the 13th century as a wooden-roofed basilica.

2/ Tiryns

Tiryns is a Mycenaean archaeological site in Argolis in the Peloponnese, and the location from which mythical hero Heracles performed his Twelve Labours.

Tiryns was a hill fort with occupation ranging back seven thousand years, from before the beginning of the Bronze Age. It reached its height between 1400 and 1200 BC, when it was one of the most important centers of the Mycenaean world, and in particular in Argolis. Its most notable features were its palace, its Cyclopean tunnels and especially its walls, which gave the city its Homeric epithet of "mighty walled Tiryns". Tiryns is linked with the myths surrounding Heracles, as the city was the residence of the hero during his labors, and some sources even cite it as his birthplace.

The famous megaron of the palace of Tiryns has a large reception hall, the main room of which had a throne placed against the right wall and a central hearth bordered by four Minoan-style wooden columns that served as supports for the roof. Two of the three walls of the megaron were incorporated into an archaic temple of Hera.

Tiryns is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3/ Mycenae

Mycenae is an archaeological site near Mykines in Argolis, north-eastern Peloponnese.

In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades and parts of southwest Anatolia. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares. 

Mycenae is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4/ Island of Delos

The island of Delos, near Mykonos, is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. 

According to Greek mythology, Apollo was born on this tiny island in the Cyclades archipelago. Apollo's sanctuary attracted pilgrims from all over Greece and Delos was a prosperous trading port. The island bears traces of the succeeding civilizations in the Aegean world, from the 3rd millennium B.C. to the palaeochristian era. The archaeological site is exceptionally extensive and rich and conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port.

Delos was attacked and looted twice: in 88 BC by Mithridates, the King of Pontus, an enemy of the Romans, and later, in 69 BC, by the pirates of Athenodorus, an ally of Mithridates. Since then, the island fell rapidly into decline and was gradually abandoned.

The actual ruins consist of four areas which are the Maritime Quarter next to the harbour, the Lion District, the Theatre District, Apollo's Sanctuary which are all spread along the coast.

The entire island of Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue your journey

       - On the road and in town, drink and food, campsites is here