The Bedford RL became the British Army’s main medium lorry. They were built from the mid 1950s until the early 1970s. A total of 74,000 were produced.
Originally conservatively rated at 3 tons, all Bedford RL lorries in the British Army were at a late stage in their service lives re-rated at 4 tons without any mechanical modifications. The weight referred to its rated cross country payload weight.
The Bedford RL was made in both rigid and tractor units, with both petrol and diesel engines.
The British Army was a huge customer for Bedford RLs using a 4.9 litre straight six petrol engine.
The RL and variants continued to serve alongside the later Bedford MK and Bedford TM trucks until well into the 1990s.
Many Bedford RLs found their way into the armed forces of Commonwealth countries and later into civilian use.
Andreas bought his Bedford RL direct from the British Army at auction in Cyprus.
It worked very hard for him. He especially liked its four-wheel drive and reckoned it was a very capable cross-country vehicle.
It’s stood out of use now for several years. During that time the interior has been completely eaten away by rats.
But it’s not the end of the road for this Bedford RL. Andreas plans to fit a new diesel engine to it and reckons it’ll give him many more years service.
See the pictures of Andreas' Bedford RL lorry.
