Jeep vs Kübelwagen

Which was better?


"The Kübelwagen was better than the Jeep ?

In 1945, among occupying troops (who after all were the end-users), the going rate of exchange was of two Jeeps for one Kubel ! The independant-arms suspension of the Kübel and its lighter steering made it much more confortable than the Jeep, its fuel consumption was much lower, and with off-road capacities that were more or less equivalent, the limited slip- differential and higher ground-clearance making-up for the absence of four-wheel drive."

http://personales.conexion.com.py/~rolgiati/kubel/kfaqse.html

[ 21. October 2003, 10:21 PM: Message edited by: KnightMove ]

 

Oh, it's right down the middle with this one. I voted with the Jeep simply because it was amazing in almost every circumstance it was in. I definetly think the Allies had it right with that one. Eisenhower also loved the jeep and couldn't stop talking about it.

 

I voted for the Jeep. No question that the Kubelwagen was technically superior but I get the impression that it may have been less rugged/reliable. If it were that good, strange that the Germans did not put it to more adaptable uses.

Somehow, you just can't imagine an SAS Kubelwagen...

 

The SAS is a point for you, but the Germans put it to *many* adaptable uses. And the Schwimmwagen was definitely better than the amphibious jeep.

 

But surely the Kubelwagen must have escaped the notice of PK photographers - I just don't recall seeing pics of equivalent armed Kubels, casualty evac Kubels, recce squadron Kubels, etc ? No argument about the Schwimmwagen but it looks to be quite heavily modified from the original....

 

It is really unfair to compare the Jeep and Kubelwagen. To a great degree, the two are not in the same vehicle category. The Kubelwagen was designed as a light passenger vehicle whereas the Jeep is really a very light truck.
The difference in performance gives virtually every advantage to the jeep. The jeep has an 800 lb payload and a 1000 lb towing capacity, about double that of the kubelwagen. The jeep has 54 hp to the KW's 25. The jeep has 4 wheel drive and better angles of entry and departure (meaning it can get over obstacles better) than the KW.
The jeep came equipped to take a radio and had a pintle mount base plate for a .30 or .50 machine gun standard. There was also a standard desertization kit for use in hot and dry conditions.
In an emergency the jeep was rated as capable of towing a 155mm howitzer on level ground at 20 mph.
The same can be said for the comparison of the SEEP and schwimmwagen. The schwimmwagen is not even equipped for towing. The amphibious jeep can operate in light surf unlike the schwimmwagen. Switching to propeller propulsion is done from the driver's seat and a rudder was provided. It also had standard boat equipment including a 3500 lb rated capstain, deck cleats and chocks for lifting and tying up while afloat.
The Germans were building light passenger vehicles with the Kubelwagen and Schwimmwagen. The US built very light utility trucks capable of considerably more versitility. This is why you don't see the KW regularly armed, used as a stretcher carrier, radio car, armed reconnissance vehicle, etc. It really didn't have the room, equipment or, payload to perform those functions. It was a reliable, easy to fix, passenger vehicle.

 

Kübelwagen all the way or maybe the even more kickass version.. the mighty Scwimmwagen

 

I went with the Jeep simply because I'm more familiar with it.

Yours,
Paul

 

Wonder if you and me are gonna see eye to eye on anything paul

 

Jeep, by far.

Why did the Kübelwagen consume less petrol than the Jeep? Perhaps because the former had a much larger and more powerful engine? Because it was more reliable and certainly, more versatile and could carry a lot more weight than the Kübelwagen. Besides, the Germans didn't produce that many thousands Kübelwagens...

The Jeep was the most appreciated vehicle by the Red Army given to them by Lend & Lease.

 

My vote is for the Jeep. Dont get me wrong I love the Kubel and am a huge fan of Volkswagen, but the Jeep has a better reputation amongst other nations, not just the U.S Forces. The British used them and raved about them, and did the Russians under the lend lease program. I have read several places where the Germans would use captured Jeeps off both the Eastern and Western Fronts because they found them superior to thier own Kubelwagens.

 

At least after the posting of T. A. I had realized that this site quoted states nonsense, and thus is my poll. But I can't delete it anymore...