British Army truck question

[ned]

good evening all.

spotted a Beford MJ while looking at 4x4s on in Irish Auction site. Got me wondering, - both the bumpers on the below trucks, has a gap in the middle, whats the gap for?

Is it some clever system I've never spotted...

Hoping someone can explain what its for please?

 

[Omniata]

The towing loop?

 

[ned]

is that all it is?

your right, now that i look at it again. thought it might have been something for a winch.
okay cheers )

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

On them, to hold the NATO owing hitch.
Top one is an EX RAF maintenance truck, hard standing on top to reach engines.
The hitch was used to drag round planes etc.

The Bottom looks like t is a Royal Marine spec. But has the NATO hitch to drag weapon system into place.
The Rapier systems trucks wold tow the launcher into place. The using the hitch drag it round to a bearing.

Additional Note. Top one retrofitted with a new extinguishers.

 

[Robotstar5]

For the nato hitch bolted to the front crossmember?

 

[Robotstar5]

What site did you get the top picture from?, I'm more interested in the fire trucks in the background.

 

[8ob]

The gap in the bumper is used for two things, one for the Nato hitch. A solid draw bar is used to couple a convoy together to thunder through mud and crap, theory is a few will have traction at all times and keep them moving. Secondly is a winch mount where the fairlead gets bolted .

Mine had the winch in the front behind the bumper.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

What site did you get the top picture from?, I'm more interested in the fire trucks in the background.

Looks like withams to me

 

[arther dailey]

getting itchy fingers Ned? you havent finished the bremech yet

 

[Swift&Bold]

good evening all.

spotted a Beford MJ while looking at 4x4s on in Irish Auction site.

MJ? That was called a MK in my day, the military version of the TK and there would also be a winch in the gap on some versions.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

MJ? That was called a MK in my day, the military version of the TK and there would also be a winch in the gap on some versions.

Mk was non turbo, mj was turbo I believe

 

[winchman]

Oh no!
You have go me looking again
I was offered a Bedford RL a couple of years ago and still kicking my self for not buying it, but still relieved I don't have to store it or put fuel in it.
Gap as far as I am aware is for a centre mounted winch very rare or Hitch.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Oh no!
You have go me looking again
I was offered a Bedford RL a couple of years ago and still kicking my self for not buying it, but still relieved I don't have to store it or put fuel in it.
Gap as far as I am aware is for a centre mounted winch very rare or Hitch.

Rl is a lovely wagon, and don't half move too with the 6cyl petrol. Pig to get into tho with the small doors, usually end up sliding off and smashing your shins on the wheel step

 

[ned]

8ob nice truck, do you have a pic of the front or of the winch?

would love to see theyre take on a centrally mounted winch.

Robotstar i found it here http://www.bedfordmj.co.uk/

Yellow_Ardvark cheers for the info

 

[magnet]

When i was working on recoveries there was a, MJ bedford 4X4 with a hiab and hydraulic winch . If my memory serves it could be used out the back and the front of the wagon. It also had a hydraulic ground anchor. Such was it's power and cross country ability that i once pulled a yacht on its trailer out of a boggy horse field, beside the A1 after having become detached when the driver fell asleep. I was on a while mind, but it was the only tool for the job. We had landrovers and all manner of things have a go with no success.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

just looked at the top one, is there a gun ring under the hard standing?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@8ob
Nice Pallfinger.

 

[8ob]

@8ob
Nice Pallfinger.

Its work in progress

The truck was just used for watering trees so we pulled it to bits and put twist locks in each corner so we can change between three different bodies and get a bit more use from it . Timber bolsters, tanker and tipper, the crane can lift and swap the bodies over.

 

[arther dailey]

Are the bumpers mounted upside down and cut away for the head lights to allow more ground clearance? or were all bedfords like that

 

[8ob]

Are the bumpers mounted upside down and cut away for the head lights to allow more ground clearance? or were all bedfords like that

Angle of approach, if they were lower it would compromise the ability to scramble up/down steep inclines.

Bob