Multi-purpose jeeps from South Africa – URI Desert Runner/Mining Vehicle

Breeding Angora goats in Windhoek, Namibia is clearly not an easy task. And such a painstaking process cannot be done without a reliable, hardy and, at the same time, unpretentious Transport. And it is very difficult to buy a good jeep here, and for residents of a poor region it is not always affordable.


So local farmer Evert Smith decided to get out of the situation on his own. After some hard work in the early 90s, he was able to design and build an all-terrain vehicle in 1995 using available components. truck.


It was quite suitable for exploitation in the local harsh conditions. That is why the author decided to give it the name URI. Perhaps, those who are older immediately remembered the charming criminal played by Karachentsev from "The Adventures of Electronics". But, do not rush to conclusions.

Launch of the "jump" into serial production

In fact, it has nothing to do with the African pickup truck. And the name of the latter, translated from Khoisan-nami, means "jump". Apparently, it was meant to refer to its successful jumps over small sand dunes in the African deserts.



In order to check the performance of the equipment in practice, tests were required on the areas of the famous Kalahari Desert. Very harsh local conditions demonstrated the viability of the Namibian jeep and immediately aroused the interest of many customers, who placed a pile of orders for the much-needed equipment. Among the first of them were:

✅ African agro-industrial enterprises
✅ local police
✅ mining industries, etc.

Representatives of the Ministry of War also showed interest in it. Such excitement around the brand led to the fact that it had to be brought to a higher level. The modest capabilities and technical base of Namibia, a state with most of its territory in the form of a huge desert, were clearly insufficient.

Therefore, the production of various versions of trucks passed from the original Uri-Automobiles under the jurisdiction of Uri International Vehicle & Equipment Marketing (Pty.) Ltd. (UVM). The new facilities were already located in one of the most industrially developed countries of the continent – ​​South Africa. Or, more precisely, in the suburbs of the capital of this country Pretoria (Waltloo).


What followed was a gradual development of the company, which led in 2008 to the status of a subsidiary of the South African Ivema. This continued for the next seven years, until the technological process was transferred under the patronage of another patron.

In 2015, it became Uri Purposely Built Vehicle (PTY) Ltd, also located in South Africa (Rustenburg). And its co-founders Andre and Raymond Squires bought out all the intellectual property at that time. In this form, the company has survived to this day.

Different uses of a truck

You understand that in the conditions of Africa such a serious project as the creation of a multidisciplinary car, it is simply impossible to implement from scratch. Basic elements were required, in the role of which were individual components from the Japanese company Toyota. The five-cylinder turbodiesel is also from this manufacturer.


Although the car has become so widespread in various industrial and security areas, its original purpose was entertainment. More precisely, participation in rally races. But very soon the creators came to the conclusion that it would be quite popular in mining, agriculture, etc. And they were absolutely right. Here are the physical parameters of the pickup:

✅ length - 4,45 m
✅ width - 1,68 m
✅ height - 1,86 m
✅ weight - 1,425 tons

Depending on the future purpose of the car, it is equipped with one of four types of power units. Among them, there are versions that run on different types of fuel:

✅ Toyota 2-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel
✅ 3-liter Toyota diesel
✅ 2,2-liter four-cylinder petrol engine
✅ 2,4-liter gasoline engine

Today, URI trucks are divided into two main lines: classic road and special, for the mining complex. They have 4x4 or 4x2 versions. Of course, mine transport stands apart, with which we will begin the presentation of the model.

URI mining machine

The underground version of the vehicle has significant differences in design, which is why it was named URI Mining Vehicle. The main one is the vehicle's low-profile cabin. It can be 1,8 meters high, or even lower by 40 cm - for the tightest workings.

The low version, supplied with a single cabin, has two seats and a removable awning. It is designed to transport various mining equipment. If necessary, it can be modified into a six-seater "underground minibus", with seats and safety devices for the safe transportation of mine management or visitors.


If desired, you can order a 4-seater version of the car, which received a double cabin. The higher model has similar types of execution, with the ability to adapt it for various underground uses. And recently the manufacturer presented another promising version.

This is the new URI Mark 2. As the company promises, it can be more comfortable and spacious than its predecessors. The car's powertrain will also improve. It will receive a full transmission of the Toyota Land Cruiser 75 and 79 series, with the option of choosing all the most powerful Land Cruiser engines:

✅ working volume – from 3,0 to 4,2 l
✅ maximum power – 130,5 l. With
✅ at 285 Nm of torque

The width of its body with an improved design is 200 cm. The car is designed for 8 seats. The manufacturer also has other versions of the SUV, suitable for a variety of uses.

For example, a special ambulance based on URI is equipped with a stretcher, a medical kit and an oxygen cylinder. At the customer's request, it can be equipped with additional medical equipment. It can safely transport only one patient.

Also for agriculture

The hardcore Desert Runner 4×4/4×2 is designed for use in the toughest African conditions. It is made of 3mm seamless steel tubes, which creates a very strong frame. The tailboard and doors can be completely removed for loading large items.

Zinc primers and topcoats provide reliable rust protection. Industrial polyurethane is used to treat the following structural elements to maintain their durability:

✅ all bottoms
✅ cargo compartment
✅ engine compartment
✅ salon

The optimal pickup for the village should also be easy to maintain and repair. Uri vehicles have a total weight of up to 1690 kg. Placing heavy drive components in the rear ensures optimal weight distribution, which reduces rolling and improves traction. This explains their excellent performance on gravel and other loose surfaces.

It has a long-travel suspension front and rear, providing high ground clearance, maneuverability and driving comfort. The vehicle is designed and built for economical transportation of people and goods on compact sand or asphalt roads.


The 2018 URI model passed the ROPS and FOPS tests (International Passive Safety Standards for Special Transport) more than successfully. The experts who conducted them said: "You managed to build your car strong enough. With a side impact of more than 6 tons, it only received a slight bending of the body."