Bedford RL Truck
| 1953 to 1971 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bedford Vehicles |
| Production | 1953–early 1970s |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Commercial vehicle, military vehicle |
| Body style | chassis cab, flatbed, troop carrier, fire engine, recovery vehicle |
| Layout | Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive (2x4), or four-wheel drive (4x4) |
| Related | Bedford RLHZ Self Propelled Pump, aka Green Goddess |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.9 L 110 bhp I6 petrol |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3.962 metres |
| Length | 6.36 metres |
| Width | 2.39 metres |
| Height | 2.602 metres (at cap) |
| Kerb weight | 4.4 tons (empty) |
The Bedford RL was the British military's main medium lorry (truck), built by Bedford Vehicles, from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s. They superseded the Bedford OY.
History
The Bedford RL was based on the Bedford SCL, a civilian 7-ton truck. The military version had all wheel drive and bigger wheels to increase ground clearance. Originally conservatively rated at 3 tons, all RL GS (general service) trucks in British Military service were, at a late stage in their service lives, re-rated at 4 tons without any mechanical modifications; the weight referring to its rated cross country payload weight. The last RL rolled off the production line in the early 1970s, and all together a total of 74,000 being produced.
Bedford RL military version in use overseas
Design
The RL was powered by a 4.9 litres (299.0 cu in) petrol engine producing 110 brake horsepower (82 kW; 112 PS), although some were fitted with diesel engines.
Variants
Many specialist variants were also built; including recovery vehicles, mobile workshops, radio vans and cable layers. The Green Goddess fire engine was also based on the RL.
The RL and variants continued to serve alongside the later Bedford MK and Bedford TM trucks until well into the 1990s.
The Home Office also purchased a large number of these vehicles, kept in reserve for any national emergency. All have now since been disposed of, many having less than 2,000 miles (3,220 km) on the clock.
Royal Navy Bedford RL fire truck
In Film and tv
The Bedford RL has had many appearances over the years, in TV such as Doctor Who, the Saint and Heartbeat. Also often used in war films and background vehicles such as the James bond films.
Bedford RL in The Wild Geese Movie from 1978
