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What's the difference between a Bedford MJ to an MK?


Billruston

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MK was fitted with a multi-fuel version of the 330 diesel engine, with inline injection pump, normally aspirated. Air brake pipes were steel. Oil bath air cleaner.

 

MJ was fitted with a normal diesel 330 engine with turbocharger. Dry air cleaner. Air brake pipes were plastic, except from the compressor.

 

A few other detail differences but these are the main ones.

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And the MK required to be in first gear to climb any thing that looked like a hill!

shame the army didn't keep the MJ, fitted with power steering a tilting cab and possibly a 5th gear it would hold its own against the MAN SV?

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And the MK required to be in first gear to climb any thing that looked like a hill!

shame the army didn't keep the MJ, fitted with power steering a tilting cab and possibly a 5th gear it would hold its own against the MAN SV?

You are right their In a SV if the computer says no it means no, far to complicated for Military use and now they are arguing over the price of spares . Power steering 5 gears and a cab that tilts and in first gear it will go most places.

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They both had cupolas, MK was a canvas one and MJ a plastic dustbin lid. Some MK's had the roof platform as well.

 

Thanks Richard! :cheesy: Not having a C license I don't look too closely at the M series Bedfords. I do remember the MK's (and TK's) we had up at DoY - slow plodders compared to the RL's we left behind in 215 RCT but with a more comfortable cab.... :cheesy:

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And the MK required to be in first gear to climb any thing that looked like a hill!

shame the army didn't keep the MJ, fitted with power steering a tilting cab and possibly a 5th gear it would hold its own against the MAN SV?

 

No no no! The Bedford although suitable in its day is wholly not suited to what we need in todays Army. For a start it was underpowered. It carries 4t, the smallest SV carries 6t and if you asked those in the know, we should of just bought more 9t SV due to what we now carry. You cannot bolt on the same level of armour that SV can in Afghanistan and you would fry the electrics putting into a 4 tonner the amount of radio and ECM kit SV carries not to mention air con.

Yes its easier to fix and is robust in a sense but its also not compliant in respect of a lot of regulations such as emissions and safety. You now cant even have wooden flooring on the load bed.

There is no storage space in the cab, not that SV is massive in that respect but at least its bigger.

Its like the SLR, its good to have a go now and then but ask anyone who has been to Afghanistan recently, they would prefer the SA80A2........had to get the A2 in!

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