EIGHT-TONNER and EASY-ACCESS VAN from BEDFORD

21st September 1962, Page 122

21st September 1962

Page 122

Page 122, 21st September 1962 — EIGHT-TONNER and EASY-ACCESS VAN from BEDFORD

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FOLLOWING the introduction last week of their VAL twin-steer passenger chassis, Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., released details yesterday of two additional Bedford goods-vehicle models. These are the KH series of 8-ton fourwheelers and the Bedford-Hawson 25and 35-cwt. Easy-Access delivery vans. Prices of the 8-tonners range from £1,725 to £1,987, whilst the Easy-Access' models cost from £714 to £915 for the petrol-engined 25-cwt. models, diesel jobs costing £100 more and the 35-cwt. versions being £15 more expensive than the lighter vehicles.

The new KH 8-ton version of the TK has a solo gross rating of 12.5 tons, or 1825 tons as a tractive unit. The KH is based on the KG 7.5-tormer chassis frame and is available with the same wheelbase options: 13 ft. 11 in. for a lorry, 10 ft. for a tipper or 8 ft. as a tractive unit. As a solo vehicle, the gross rating of the KH is almost 1 ton 7 cwt. above that of the standard KG, although a version of the KG intended only for tanker use and rated for 12 tons 3 cwt. gross has been available for some time.

The KG chassis frame has 9.5-in. by 3-in. by 0.25-in, side-members, and for the KH application these members are externally flitched, except in the case of the tractive unit Another change concerns the 10-ft.-wheelbase model. which has seven instead of five cross-members, the additions being an extra member at the front which stiffens up that end of the frame and is of value when the vehicle is being towed, whilst the other member is amidships.

Only one power unit is available in the KH, this being the standard Leyland 400-S with the same ratings as the version used in the VAL (except that the governed speed is 2,400 r.p.m.) and the standard cylinder head with inlet and exhaust manifolds on opposite sides.

The KH's gearbox is identical to that used in the VAL except for its gearchange linkage and the addition of a disc transmission brake at its output end. The standard rear axle in the two load-carrying chassis is an Eaton 1870 single-speed unit, the spiral-bevel gearing of which has a ratio of 6.5 to 1, with the option of 5.57 to 1. This axle has a similar case to that of the Eaton 18802 two-speed axle, which is offered as optional equipment in the load carriers and is standard in the tractive unit Like the single-speed axle, the 18802 has a load rating of 9 tons, and the available ratios are 6.5 and 8.87 to 1 or 5.57 and 7.6 to 1. The front axle is a standard KG-type assembly, rated for a 3-ton 13-cwt. loading, and the steering also is pure KG, being of the Vauxhall semi-irreversible worm and sector type. Front springs are the same as those available as optional equipment on the KG, with nine leaves and an effective length of 58.5 in. These springs have a rate of 1,125 lb./in., and a design load of 3,600 lb. The rear springs are new, and consist of an 11-leaf main spring and a seven-leaf helper, the mainspring length being 60 in.: the rate is 2,025 lb./in., and the design load 8,900 lb.

More Powerful Servo Common to the KG also is the basic braking system, this consisting of Bedford leading-and-trailing-shoe hydraulic brakes operating through a tandem master cylinder and having a total frictional area of 493 sq. in. Instead of the 3.75-in.-diameter air-pressure servo of the KG, however, the KH has a slightly more powerful 4-in. unit. Similarly, the transmission handbrake is basically the same.

The standard TK forward-control cab is employed, and the load-carriers have 9.00-20 (14-ply) tyres, mounted on B6.520 eight-stud and three-piece wheels, with 5.6-in. offset. In the case of the tipper chassis, the spare wheel is not mounted on top of the frame, between the bodypivot brackets as on the KG, but instead has a winch-type carrier mounted on the left side of the frame at approximately mid-wheelbase. The standard tyres for the tractive unit arc 8.25-20 (14 ply).

The new Bedford-Hawson Easy-Access vans are based on the Bedford TJ normalcontrol 25and 35-cwt. chassis, modified to semi-forward control and bodied by Hawson, Ltd., Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex. It is unavoidable that vans of this type should all look similar, with the result that the Bedford-Hawson vehicles not only look similar to certain

American types, but also like model a competitive British range.

Both models have a wheelbase of ' 11 in., and are available with either Bedford 214-cu.-in, six-cylinder l00-b petrol engine or Bedford 200-cu.-in, b.h.p. four-cylinder diesel engine.

The chassis are supplied to Haws in standard trim except that the stee columns are 7 in. shorter. The relati small degree Of modification is 1 carried out by the bodybuilders. biggest chassis modification occurs in case of the diesel7engined models, wl have the chassis frames shortened by at the front. and the radiator moved t so that it is as close to the front of engine as possible; this makes the di models slightly shorter than the pets

Other modifications are common both types, and include modifying brake and clutch pedals and repositiol them 7 in. farther forward than stand rotating the steering column on frame so that the steering wheel is mc 10 in. forward: fitting a new treadle-I accelerator pedal: repositioning the hs brake lever so that it lies close to driving seat; re-routeing the exhaust tern to facilitate the repositioning certain controls; stowing the bane within the width of the frame to ; a clear door opening on the left of the vehicle; and extending the real the chassis frame by about 2 ft.

As is usual with vehicles of this t: the body shape is somewhat square. main body portion being of all-s riveted -construction. The front-end, h ever, consists of plastics mouldi except for the central radiator gi section. There is a short rear-hin plastics bonnet. which gives reasons access to the front end of the power i. the rear of the cylinder head bi reached by removing a screwed ps inside the cab.

Sliding doors are standard, whilst twin rear doors have outrigged hinges that they can be folded back against body sides and secured in this o position. A translucent-plastics panel can be supplied, and the stand floor is of timber planking. The b has a capacity of 350 cu. ft., and floor dimensions are 10 ft. 5 in. by 6 1 in. Interior height is 5 ft. 9.75 in.