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Anon
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TK vs TL vs MJ?

When it comes to Bedford TK, TL and MJ, which one is considered more reliable? Do all come with air-assist steering? If one comes with air-assist steering, can that be removed or will the whole steering rack need to be replaced? Do they all have air-brakes? Is the TL the one with the tilt-cab while the TK needs a forklift? Can you do anything on a TK engine without a forklift? Does the MJ have a tilt-cab?

Finally, on a TK, Diesel vs Petrol, is the 3519cc petrol engine good? How about the 5.5 Diesel on an MJ?

I am considering the idea of finding one (cheap) to work on and haul some things to the other end of Europe with. Just wondering what people's opinions are. I don't care for comfort, but I do need it to be reliable, to make the trip and get back too. About 10000 miles. The CF has made me proud so far. Will I find the same joy with a TK/TL/MJ or not?

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Sun 08 Aug 2010 @ 21:07 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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TL TK and MJ/MK can all be found with the same engine and so should share the same reliability. I would guess as MJ and MK are 4WD that there is more to go wrong but on the other hand the parts will be more readily available as the MOD had stacks of them. Apparently the clutches go on 4X4's more frequently but this can be done at the roadside if need be. (I would not attempt it myself!!)I have only heard of one TL with air steering. As far as I know the small trucks were air over hydraulic brakes and the larger were air only. TL does have a tilt cab. The others do not. TL is less of a classic motor so will sell for less money but is easier to fix.
Petrol engine prob easier to maintain if you are not into your diesels. I do not know much about them but I am toying with the idea of buying one to run on Lpg. The petrol versions can return as little as 7mpg but also as much as 20mpg depending on how they are geared and used. Choose wisely! We have run Bedfords for over 60 years. They will break but they are easier to fix than their competitors no matter how bad it may feel at the time.
What weight capacity and volume do you require? What body type? How long do you wish to keep it for? How much are you prepared to do to it? The later AWD TL will have a perkins phaser engine. They dont break without a starship mileage on the clock but they rust so fast you are left wondering if you listen very carefully can the tin worms can be heard chewing?

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Mon 09 Aug 2010 @ 19:38 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thanks for the reply jeffo! This makes it much clearer. I hadn't even realized that MJ and MK ones are all 4WD.

I have far more experience with Petrol engines than with Diesels, so I think I'd rather stick to petrol if possible. I have no real need for 4WD, as most of the use it will see will be on-road.

I would like it to not exceed 7.5 tons so I can drive it with a cat D license with no need to upgrade. Plus there's no real need for anything bigger.

The main reason for getting one is to empty a laboratory that is about to get evicted, and all the stuff needs to be sent abroad and stored in the back of a truck for a couple of months until the new building is sorted out. There's private off-street parking for several vehicles so I can easily park it there while everything is being sorted.

After the move and when everything is taken off the truck and into the new building, I would like to convert it into a mobile workshop.

So ideally, I would want a solid box in the back, either wood or aluminum. A horsebox would do, but I would rather not have to dismantle a luton to get to the engine. Even a tipper with a canvas would do for now, as I have absolutely no problem building my own box after the move. There would be security issues with the canvas though while the truck is still loaded.

I get attached to vehicles, and with such plans in mind, I would like to keep it forever. The plan is the same for my current CF. I can't possibly imagine ever being without it. It would be a terrible loss.

I am not afraid of work and I can do pretty much anything on my own. So I am more than prepared to do as much work as it takes to keep it running well forever. However I would like to find something that can drive 5000 miles without needing anything too major, as anything needing attention until it arrives where it should arrive would have to be done by the roadside. Which is also why I'm considering another Bedford. They're pretty reliable, and when they break, roadside repairs are almost always possible. I will have about a week to work on it at the lab's garage before the 5000 mile trip starts, so any initial problems will have to be fixable within a week. I've done worse before (12000 mile trip with 24 hours to work on a vehicle), so I'm prepared..

The amount of stuff that needs to be moved can easily fit on most 7.5 ton trucks I've seen. It could even probably fit on a chassis CF with a box in the back, if I could find one, but would probably be pushing it a bit. But I also have the existing CF that I could load up if needed.

The other option is going for another CF, which although would be cramped for the move, would have the benefit of having the same parts as my existing CF, so I could keep a pool of spares that I could share between the two to keep them both running, one as a home on wheels and one as a mobile workshop.

I am thinking of taking a step up and going for the 7.5 to have more room to do what I want with. But if it is a lot more trouble, I might just stick to the 3.5 tons.

My biggest worries about the bigger beast is whether it would be much more of a headache to deal with the legalities (insurance/plating/etc), especially with regards to international travel, and also if it would be much harder than a CF to work on.

Needless to mention, the perkins phaser does not sound appealing after the tinworm description! I'd rather rebuild it sooner but still have the engine, than have one that I won't need to rebuild because it will be eaten by rust before anything else can go wrong..

From your description, the TL sounds more appealing to me at the moment. Ease of maintenance with the tilt-cab and the fact that they're cheaper are two very good reasons. I may have big plans but I have a small budget.
Thu 12 Aug 2010 @ 05:09 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Have you thought of an ex- REME workshop truck? occasionally they come up here-
http://www.mod-sales.com/
but they are a bit pricey!

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Thu 12 Aug 2010 @ 08:59 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Just saw this on fleabay- nice, huh?
230510624708

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Thu 12 Aug 2010 @ 15:27 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Wow, the TK on fleabay is indeed a beauty! But a bit over my price range.. I don't think the budget can go above 2000 pounds.. Preferably less...

TK's look very pretty.. Prettier than TL's.. Hmmm...

Still figuring out the eviction legalities... Will know in the weekend exactly how soon I need one..
Thu 12 Aug 2010 @ 15:59 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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With a 220 engine will be a bit noisy & slow for long distance too.

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Thu 12 Aug 2010 @ 16:14 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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If your 2k budget is to buy and finish the job then you may be pushing it for a nice TK. Come to think of it, even the TL can easily set you back that amount. You will also have a heart attack at the parts prices. To be honest, if you are used to fuelling a CF350, the truck probably wont seem bad at all. Its when you have to blow £1200 to get some brake parts or £300 for a track rod etc. e-bay is fab in those instances but you have to buy the parts when they crop up as they are never listed when you want one. It may be a lot more sensible, much as I love the trucks, to find a large bodied CF. The truck would have to be covered by an international operators licence. There may be an exemption but I do not know of it. (3.5ton is exempt) Would it be worth picking up a tidy CF chassis cab and dropping your own body onto it? Gives you the opportunity to make it whatever size and type you want. You are familiar with it and all your spare parts match up.

To give you an idea of costs for the bigger TL's (12-16ton) Brake adjusters (pair) £1400. Set of pistons £3600. Cab wings and support brackets £1800. Used engine £1750-5000. Re con propshaft £600. Set of (quality) tyres £1800. We budget on £4000 per year for an MOT. The last one cost £1900 and all it needed was a brake compressor rebuild and the handbrake imbalance rectifying.

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Fri 13 Aug 2010 @ 01:35 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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You're right, I almost had a heart attack.......

I'm a bit put off now.. I don't think I could afford any of that for the use I'd put into it. I wouldn't be making that much profit out of it. I guess I'll stick to a CF then...

So off to look for a good CF now..
Fri 13 Aug 2010 @ 18:09 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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5.6ton and 7.5ton parts are cheaper but I am less familiar with them. Its best to warn you 1st than encourage you to get a whimpering wallet

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Tue 17 Aug 2010 @ 22:59 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
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