Bedford RL 4x4 Truck

[Wendelspanswick]

At the moment I have Renault Trafic van as my daily driver which I use for work and transporting building materials up a steep track to the barn I'm building but it's a struggle getting the van to the barn in the winter or when it's been really wet.
My job has also changed where I no longer need to transport so many tools and materials to sites and I could use a car instead.
So the plan is to change the Trafic for a 4WD car for work and buy something like a Bedford RL for transporting building materials to the barn, logs back from the woodland and to use the truck as a camper for local festivals etc.
If your not sure what a Bedford RL looks like...

It looks like you can pick them up for relatively sensible money, they are Tax and MOT exempt and can be driven on a car licence.
I know a member on here was in the REME?, anything I should know about when looking at one (apart from no power steering, appalling brakes, no heater, noisy, bumpy and 17mpg (pretty much like a Land Rover from what I've read up on so far!)).
Even better if you know of one for sale.

 

[nickk]

at 17mpg,that must be a diesel conversion.

 

[Shedendman]

Last time i drove one of those was on the tank ranges in warminster we put some AV gas in the tank and ran it a few miles the engine was glowing hot
Following day it got blown to bits

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Last time i drove one of those was on the tank ranges in warminster we put some AV gas in the tank and ran it a few miles the engine was glowing hot
Following day it got blown to bits

On purpose?

 

[Shedendman]

@Wendelspanswick dont know what your experience is with driving old trunks like that,big tip is it dont have a synchromesh gearbox,so double d clutch when going up and down the gears
also when going from 2wd to 4wd make sure you're at a dead stop

 

[Shedendman]

On purpose?

Dont blame me i was on orders

 

[gt6s]

Tried to buy one of those 4X4 some years ago for recovery work It was a tipper with a big F off winch under her and a generator fitted too. Ideal basis for the recovery conversion. The owner wanted telephone numbers for it. It ended up with all windows smashed then cab burnt out. Truck ended up buried in landfill. So much for his telephone numbers asking price.

Laurence

 

[Shedendman]

Personally i'd rather go for the Bedford MK,more of those around

 

[zzr1200]

Dont blame me i was on orders

What....AV gas in the tank????????

 

[Shedendman]

What....AV gas in the tank????????

yes AV GAS,erm this was just hanging about so,well you know,got to try these things
The truck was destined for scrap so along with old cars and any other vehicle the MOD didnt want it ended up being target practice

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Personally i'd rather go for the Bedford MK,more of those around

I did think about the MJ but they are over 7.5T and post 1960 so my son couldn't drive it on his car licence.
Pre 1960 trucks including HGV's can be driven by anyone with a full car licence so long as they are unladen.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@Wendelspanswick Why not keep the Traffic [unless it's getting to be beyond the pale] and stick Winter tyres on it?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

@Wendelspanswick Why not keep the Traffic [unless it's getting to be beyond the pale] and stick Winter tyres on it?

I've got big fat mud tyres on the front already and I got stuck on the track back in August when we had about 8 days of rain!

 

[Wendelspanswick]

These are the tyres I currently have on the van.

The track is mostly stone but near the top it passes through a woodland and across a meadow, it dries out really quickly but it's soft going when it's wet.
It doesn't help when you have half a ton of building materials plus my normal tools and materials in the van.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

These are the tyres I currently have on the van.

The track is mostly stone but near the top it passes through a woodland and across a meadow, it dries out really quickly but it's soft going when it's wet.
It doesn't help when you have half a ton of building materials plus my normal tools and materials in the van.

Reverse up?

 

[octo0072000]

These are the tyres I currently have on the van.

The track is mostly stone but near the top it passes through a woodland and across a meadow, it dries out really quickly but it's soft going when it's wet.
It doesn't help when you have half a ton of building materials plus my normal tools and materials in the van.

they are not mud tyres they are all-terrain bit more aggressive but a front wheel drive is not the best idea with a load in the rear

 

[octo0072000]

 

[octo0072000]

Delica would be ideal for you but looking at 20mpg if that

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I did think about the MJ but they are over 7.5T and post 1960 so my son couldn't drive it on his car licence.
Pre 1960 trucks including HGV's can be driven by anyone with a full car licence so long as they are unladen.

Be careful, technically you can't carry a load on a car licence. Was a young lad got shafted a few years back, same deal, pre 60's wagon, flat bed. Drove his car down to collect wagon, loaded car on back and set off home. Ministry tugged him and the coppers did him for carrying a load.

as others have said, 17mpg must be the diesel conversion, the earlier ones had a 6 cyl petrol, went like stink but could drink. Our dad had one on the leccy board, they were favoured over the diesels because they were faster and would fire up even in cold weather, whereas the derv wagons needed a lot of heat and coaxing.
You WILL fall off the mudguard getting in the cab and smash your shin on the wheel step. Accept it, it's unavoidable.

Don't use one as a base for an off road camper/motor home , the chassis are designed to twist and I've seen bodies break on them as they've been built too rigid.
Other than that, good useable wagons, even better if you put a cummins or Perkins diesel in

Also consider an Austin k9

 

[Shedendman]

Toyota hilux single cab PU and a suitable size trailer,be my choice
Problem with old ex military are spares although plenty of it its not cheap,and i'll be honest here british army stuff is well below par compared to the rest out there