WCMatt Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Well like the title of this thread reads: Does anyone on the HMVF own one? Here's an image for those who were curious. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I was curious..........but I ws expecting something rather larger:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCMatt Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 I actually thought the same thing (larger vehicle). A fellow on another site has one for sale and after googling images of it, I was curious to know what owners thought of them. They look kind of cool. Like a larger M274 mule. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I've only ever heard of these called by the name 'Kraka', which is presumably an abbreviation of the full name? - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCMatt Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 I would assume that is the case, Mike. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 KRAKA = Kraftkarren. (Strong Carrier) Used by Bundeswher Para units only. The Photo on the original post is an early version. Later a large storage box was added to each side. I have owned many Ex Mil Vehicles including Armour. But I have to say, this vehicle is one of best I have owned. Just for the fun factor of driving it! Are there ANY other UK owners here on the forum?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 I'd never seen or heard of one before, but now I want one! I love wacky vehicles and this thing is pretty much up there. It also folds up! Cheers, Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 (edited) :embarrassed: They only built 640 of them Terry. & they don't come up for sale too often sadly. I got mine from Germany, where they were manufactured originally. BMW 900 M/C engine, the same as in the Isetta Bubble Car. Chain driven to each Rear wheel. Easy to work on, as the rear cargo decking lifts off. & you can get to Everything! From what I can gather, as well as my own Kraka. There are possibly only one or two Other's in the UK. But I cannot state that as a certainty. Hence my original post on another thread. Wanting to contact/ link up with fellow Owners in the UK. This is my own Kraka at W&PR Show this July, 2017. Edited September 29, 2017 by ferretfixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Could you do a vehicle walk around video and post it on youtube? There isn't much out there. It'd be cool if you could go into detail about its controls and mechanicals and show the folding mechanism and process. Cheers, Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 (edited) Could you do a vehicle walk around video and post it on youtube? There isn't much out there. It'd be cool if you could go into detail about its controls and mechanicals and show the folding mechanism and process. Cheers, Terry Possibly one day next year Terry. Mine is preserved up & sheeted over for the winter now. Also time is in VERY Short supply for Me! As I am a Fulltime carer for my Wife, who is now severely disabled. The W&PR Show is my 'Holiday/ Respite' each year. As I have to put Her in Respite Care for 2 weeks then. Boy, do I make the most of that show/ Time!..... There are a number of video's of KRAKAs on youtube. One in particular shows German Bundeswehr Para's Folding The KRAKA. As well as explaining what heavy weapons were carried/ mounted on some of them. (In German Language) The question remains unanswered. Are there ANY other KRAKA owners here in the UK?.......... Edited September 30, 2017 by ferretfixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Sorry to hear about your wife. I've seen a few on YouTube, the one with the Bundeswehr is probably the best and there is another where a guy is thrashing one around, trying his hardest to roll it over that's amusing. Cheers, Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 (edited) Hi Terry, Thanks for your kind words. Yes indeed, MS is an Evil & indiscriminating Disease!..... I have viewed just about everything there is to see on YouTube. Involving KRAKA's. As you might expect! I know what you mean about the guy 'Thrashing' his example about on there! These Machined do have a very low centre of gravity, & that is probably why He could do what He did with his. Personally, I wouldn't want to drive mine like that! They are just the most enormous fun to drive about on, 'Normally'. They are not fast! Top speed is only about 30 MPH flat out. But although fully equipped to drive on the road. They were primarily designed for cross country use, but fully capable of road use. If you don't mind holding up the traffic behind you! I saw my first KRAKA whilst serving in B.A.O.R Germany. It was approx. 1975 in the summer. I was Then a vehicle Mechanic, & was working outside. On Ferret Scout cars in the L.A.D Vehicle park. I heard this throb, throb sound coming towards me from above. & a Chinook Helicopter flew over & landed about 400 Yards away outside our camp. To the rear of this camp was a Bundeswher open training area. To which the public had full access to if they wished. The rear tailgate of the Chinook was lowered down, & three KRAKA's SHOT out the back. One by one! I mean REALLY shot out!.....These fast moving machines made an immediate positive impression on Me then. Which has stayed with Me to this day! A couple of weeks later, I was again working in the vehicle park, when I heard this strange whirring sound! I looked up, & coming down the side of the camps chain-link fencing. Was a Column of KRAKA's! FANTASTIC sight, I have to say! Fully laden with 2 x extra troops on each vehicle. & a load in the rear load cage areas. The whirring noise is a distinctive sound from these, as they are as I said previously. Chain driven to both rear wheels. The chain is typically German over engineered for reliability. 1" Inch wide links!!! FAR more than you need, but it 'Aint gonna snap on you!.... Those memories I carried in the back of my mind. & just like the three Ferret Scout Cars I have owned over the years. I never in a million Sunday's. Ever thought I would own an example of this very interesting little 'Tin Horse'! I couldn't afford one either, as well as locating an example to purchase here in the UK. It was last year, I had a sum of money that was owed to Me. That came to fruition, & put me in a position to be able to afford a KRAKA........ I looked & looked on Ebay Germany. But couldn't afford an example then. At what they were selling for in Auction! However......I put a request out here on the forum, again last year. & a smashing member from Belgium put THREE links up with examples for sale, would you believe?.....Yes, just like buss's, you wait for ages for one to come along. & then THREE turn up at the same time!!! LOL. That was the largest amount of KRAKA's I have ever seen for sale. as they do NOT come up for grabs very often! So I got in contact with the owner of one, obviously at the cheapest price!.....a fair bit of communication passed between us. But as is typical of most German vehicle owners. He was a man of Honour, & helped Me a fair bit with the purchase. You wouldn't believe the amount of paperwork involved on the German side of things (Typical again!) to sell an 'Old timer' vintage vehicle????....But it all came to me in dribs & drabs in the post. Once the funds had been transferred, I had the dilemma of how to collect this vehicle?.......The obvious solution was to hire a trailer, & drive over to Germany. & bring it back myself! However......At such short notice (& would incur extra expense) How could I drive there without making provision for my Wife at the same time? it was a non starter that way!...... The Little KRAKA was located in a Town almost touching the Polish Border, it couldn't have been any Dammed further over, could it?...... So, I contacted a firm on Facbook, who ran a mini bus weekly. To Poland & back, bringing workers to & from the UK & their respective luggage. A VERY helpful & Friendly English end of things Chap I spoke to. Assured Me that they had also hauled cars to the UK as well. so, we agreed a VERY fair price. Half the price was paid as a deposit & to show good faith. The Kraka arrived at 07.00 Hrs on Saturday Morning last year in August. & BOY, was I excited when we peeled the sheet off of it! The two Polish Guys were most helpful & polite. & showed a keen interest in this unusual vehicle. They even took snaps with us all posing in front of it, on the trailer! I have added a few items of Bundy equipment & a dummy 'load' of various items needed on exercise in the field. As can be seen in the photo's above. My Display, represents 'Battalion 273 of the Bundeswher Fallschirmjager Regiment. Stationed in Iserlohn, North Rhine West Fallia during the 1980's. The same time that I was Stationed there, during that time frame in my Career. This unit was disbanded in 1994 & their camp is now a Museum. For, would you believe. All things connected with the Town Council's Waste disposal & cleaning service/ equipment????? There are on display,Various restored vehicles & equipment for that task. Yes If you are technically minded I suppose. it might be interesting from a collectors point of view. But to Me personally, having sank many a Beer with my German contemporaries in that camp. A very sad & ignominious end, to which was also a wartime German Barracks..... Edited October 1, 2017 by ferretfixer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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