600 km in a Bedford - Kalgoorlie to Perth pt 1

This is the story of our flying trip to Kalgoorlie on Friday night, August 24, to collect our

We got home and found that she fits in the Bedford Hole without having to remove/tilt the mirror. We were most impressed! The next step was to buy some supplies. We bought, among other things, a cloth drop sheet for the cab. Over this sheet is a tarp as the western and southern sides of the Bedford Hole are currently open and let the weather in. This week we

Well Andy its good to see you have seen the light mate.

To get gears in the old girl try 10mph for 2nd to 3rd and 15mph for 4th and for coming back down the gears it should be the plus a little rev between gears.

But i find as i'm getting tried i tend to grind them to. Deadly

Thanks Dave, I'll get it. I'm a bit rusty driving old gear and never driven a Beddy before...last September was the most recent experience and that was a road ranger! Been a car ever since unfortunately.

;DHi Andy l just read your story, lucky you registration dosn't allow you to drive at night because the candle power head light are only good as parkers. The battery problem is standed and after driving the old Beddy now you know why it was parked up for so long. The last driver still got a crook back. Your mate Dave , Mr Bedford to his friends is a x-pert on how to drive the old girls only that he forgets to change down going up hills when he is entertaining in the cab . The truck looks good and l hope you have some fun . If you get over the sore back and cramped legs you could always sell it to Dave at a profit. The old saying is true Old Bedfords Never Die they just go West. Keep on truckin and you can join the Clampits like Dave. :

Podge, join the Clampetts like Dave? Nah, my truck is positively modern...1949! The headlights were actually pretty bloody good, to tell you the truth, I had no issues. Having said that, I'll still be fitting spotties and getting the night time driving exemption for this truck lifted. Even without spotties, I'd be confident to drive at night. I was actually surprised at how good the lights were as they were better than my Mack!

Part of my problem was I wore boots on the Saturday when I should have worn shoes that were a bit more flexible! After Vern took her to Alice Springs in 05 (along the dirt), he was apparently walking around like a half-opened pocket knife but it can't be too bad as he's now restoring a 10/10 ute! Hopefully this weekend he's picking up the 62 Pete cabover he's been chasing and was the reason for selling the Bedford.

I reckon we'll have fun in this old girl but it'll be smart for us to share the driving on trips longer than two hours. My wife loves this thing almost as much as I do and if we had five acres, we'd own a few more trucks (wouldn't we all?!) but, for the time being, this one will do!