Fast Bedfords transport house plants
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• The first of a new range of dual-purpose insulated vans—which also introduces a new fleet livery—has just entered service with Thomas Rochford and Sons Ltd, nurserymen specializing in house plants. The vehicle has been designed specifically for fast travel over long distances, using motorways wherever possible.
As delivered, the Bedford KDLC5 1,000 cu ft Luton van has a rear portal frame of rectangular-section steel tube, to which is hinged a single-leaf door on the nearside and a twin-leaf door (of two-thirds body width) on .the offside. All the doors can be opened when the van has to be loaded with boxed pot plants, accommodated on slotted-angle shelving, while only the central door need be used when the driver makes a delivery drop. The steel portal frame not only imparts extra rigidity to the rear of the body, which is desirable in view of the vehicle's high-speed role, but also simplifies conversion of the rear-end closure to roller shutter and tailboard if this change should be needed in the future: hence the vehicle's dual-purpose potential.
Like all the other 15 large vans in the company's fleet, of 1000 and 1700 cu ft capacity, this one has Huntalloy bodywork by Hunter Vehicles Ltd, Southbury Road, Enfield, Middlesex and heating /ventilating equipment by KL Automotive Products Ltd, Homerton, London, E9. The two companies have collaborated in the environmental design, which aims to maintain an interior temperature as close as possible to 60 deg F so that plants will arrive at their destination in the peak of condition.
Air is circulated on a closed circuit and heated, if need be, by a KL650 Mk.II twin-fan heater unit piped to ducts along each side of the body at floor level. The air then passes through the load space and in through a grille at roof level, whence it is piped back to the heater. Loads pace temperature is recorded by a remote-reading thermometer in the cab. Quick warm-up in cold weather can be obtained through the use of a radiator blind controlled by the driver. A lin. thickness of polystyrene sheet, between outer aluminium panelling and inner hardboard lining, provides the required degree of body insulation.
Of 12ft 7in. wheelbase and weighing just over 3 tons 1 lewt unladen, the van is plated for a gross vehicle weight of 8.5 tons. A five-speed overdrive gearbox is fitted, giving a top-speed capability of 60mph. Tyres are 8.25-16. 14-ply, permitting a low body floor height without wheelboxes. Optional equipment includes Telelube automatic chassis lubrication and a 45-gallon diesel fuel tank.