Driving to 21,962 feet above sea level

[Jim]

A truck built by (Mercedes-Benz) has apparently set a new altitude record for wheeled vehicles, after climbing up a Chilean volcano to 21,962 feet above sea level.

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/mercedes-benz-truck-volcano-high-altitude-driving-record

[Max]

https://jalopnik.com/badass-mercedes-unimog-trucks-set-new-world-altitude-re-1841267841

Pretty light on the video. Why only 42 seconds?


https://youtu.be/PqdTNH0F3rI

[Max]

I don't get how the record was only broken by 20 feet according to that Fox News website. Did they go up a different peak? Was someone's altimeter set wrong? Did they drive just a few more fee up the mountain? It doesn't make sense.

[Jim]

They had to stack some rocks - and they didn't put'm back when they were done. :lmao:

[Jim]

I like the Suzuki story better - low budget, on your own - get it done.

https://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/27/chileans-top-jeep-altitude-record-with-modded-suzuki-samurai/

[Java]

After the erection of 2 shelters in 2017 on the highest volcano in the world, the Ojos del Salado / Chile, we wanted to make a further contribution together with our partners to improve the safety of mountaineers.The High Altitude Truck Expedition 2019 pursued several goals: The installation of emergency radio units in the 4 high camps of the Ojos del Salado used by mountaineers, the scientific cooperation with the University of Atacama, vehicle altitude testing for further rescue and altitude operations, and improvement the high altitude record for trucks set in 2014.The Extrem Events team on site succeeded to connect via solar-powered radio units the “Refugio Murray” (4,500m), “Refugio Apatechta” / “Camp Atacama” (5,300m), “Refugio Tejos” (5,850m) and “Refugio Amistad” (6,100m) . This created a possibility for direct communication between the high-altitude camps, which saves valuable time when requesting help in emergency situations.With two Unimog´s the Extrem Events team also managed to break the high altitude world record for trucks set in 2014 . And even more: With one of the Unimog´s, a new mark was set for the absolute high altitude record for all motorized vehicles, at 6,694m. No other vehicle in the world has driven higher than the Unimog U 5023 did on the Ojos del Salado, on December 13, 2019!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2z4y8WZhw


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpRWPQ2T89I


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThjoZezLDCM