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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Newbie - and why I'm here Hi everybody. I joined this forum because I have the sneaking suspicion it might come in handy fairly soon. My (long!) story: almost two weeks ago I saw an add offering a 1978 Bedford CF 'Blitz' (German type, made by Opel) for just 400 euros. Being a single Mom, and always finding it difficult to find the money to take my kids on holiday I thought: Wow! Naturally, I didn't expect much for that price, but as I had restored a 1965 Ford Falcon in the Eighties while living in the USA, I thought it might be a nice project. According to the man who sold the camper the brakes had been renewed and the engine ran, so ... I left on friday 7 am to meet Andries, the president of the local Bedford club who was kind enough to drive a special truck with which to transport the Bedford, as it didn't have a license plate or insurance. The camper was a 1,5 hour drive away, so 3 hours round trip. The truck didn't run. It took us from 10.30 am to 2 pm to get the darn thing off the driveway and onto the truck. I was somewhat miffed. Just outside town the air pressure system, which compensates for the weight on the back of the truck, decided to quit. It was a scorching hot day, and it happened (as these things usually do) on a round-about. We barely managed to get the truck out of traffic's way, and then called (I think this is the English version) the AA (?) After half an hour, the man arrived, and after taking a look underneath the truck came to the conclusion that he couldn't do anything. He suggested off-loading the Bedford (grrr) which would probably clear the wheel, and then tow it all the way to Marum (150 kms) in the province of Groningen, where I had found a place to stall it and work on it. Oh goodie! As I have some experience with driving big (Scania) trucks, but none with towing, we decided that Andries would drive the truck, and I would steer and brake the Bedford. My 10-year old son sat in the truck. Basically, all went well. We had checked whether the brakes worked (they did) and the steering - although very hard - could be done. Until we arrived near Drachten. We were doing about 90-100 kms an hour on the highway,and I thought I had hit a part of the road where the trucks wore out the tarmac (during rain resulting in the phenomenon called 'aqua planning') The Bedford was swerving all over the place, and I had a very hard time keeping it straight. Then it evened out, and I thought all was fine. It wasn't. Just as I started to smell something burning, the Bedford went crazy; I literally swerved from the far left to the far right lane, hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life, and fighting like mad to keep the thing from toppling over. Not only was I aware of all the traffic, but my son was in the front truck, and if the Bedford went ... Andries had felt and seen what was happening, and after about 3 minutes he managed to guide us to the far right side of the highway. I found I couldn't break anymore, and had to put the Bedford against the back of the truck. Despite the mighty slam, none of us were hurt (or so I thought) I jumped out of the camper, looked back, and saw the right rear end of the camper was on fire! I had checked the inside of the Bedford back in Alkmaar, and remembered a fire extinguisher lying in one of the cabinets. Andries tried using it, but it didn't work. At that moment a car stopped, and the woman who jumped out said the weirdest thing: "If you're looking for you wheel, it's back there on the road!" Wheel?! I looked closer at the back of the camper (still burning, but the woman's husband threw us a new extinguisher, which did work) and saw that both!! rear wheels - I mean the wheels, not just the tires! - were gone! The camper had been riding on its axel! All traffic behind us had come to a dead stop. Well, I would have too if I had seen two wheels coming at me ... It's fortunate that I never panic in emergency situations, but at that moment I had to sit down because both my knees gave out. However, no rest for the wicked, and as the camper merrily kept on burning I got up and used the last of the powdered substance to put it out, burning my hands in the process. The rest is history. The police arrived, they closed off part of the highway, more people from the AA arrived to see whether they could get the camper up and running ... to no avail, the axel was completely shot, and although they used a flexer to get off the remaining bolts, it just wasn't possible to put a wheel on it. We were towed away in the end. Inspection later showed that the accident had happened because the guy who sold me the camper, had forgotten to tighten the bolts after putting new brake lines on it, as well as not putting back on the bolts which prevent the wheels running off the axel. Everybody remarked how 'basically, you should have been dead'. And seeing me - standing at an almighty 5'4" or 1.60 m - they just couldn't believe I had managed to keep the camper under 'control', or at least prevent it from slamming into a barrier or toppling over. Well, my son had been in the truck in front of me ... Three days later my GP diagnosed two torn muscles in my upper back and a torn biceps in my right arm. It had been a bit of a fight. Long story ... but I have a camper! Or at least, the beginning of one. No holidays this year, that's for sure, because it already was in a deplorable condition, and the whole incident didn't really improve matters. But in a few weeks time I will start stripping it down, take a good look at the carriage work, and start fixing her up. And that's why I joined. ----------------------
Wed 06 Jul 2005 @ 20:46
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	:o Glad you're still with us! That is a hell of a story. I would be hunting down the b*****d that sold me the van and introducing him to travelling on the motorway with no wheels if I were you! I once bought a car (VW Scirocco I think!) and on the test drive the front wheels kept making a clunking noise. I told him a CV joint was shot and that I would only buy if he halved the asking price. He did and on getting the car back home (not far) I decided to have a look at the driveshafts. So I went to undo the wheel nuts and they were only finger tight! I did them up and drove it again, no clunking!! That turned out positively for me, a bargain car. Lucky I didn't have to go any further. It's just not something you think to check when you buy a car/van is it?
Wed 06 Jul 2005 @ 23:08
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	I guess I was a little gullible should've known the camper was in a bad state when the engine didn't start, although Andries told me he has hooked it up to a battery and now at least it turns over. Maybe lack of diesel?? Btw, they were both right rear wheels, as the camper has what we call 'double air' or four rear wheels. Guess the initial swerving was the first wheel coming off. The guy told me the brake lines had been serviced by a garage, but I have doubts about that now. I'm slightly anxious as to what I will find when I start working on her. Nothing too good, I think. When I checked the inside of the camper I discovered heaps and heaps of spare parts, including an engine. Would be nice of some fo that stuff is still usable, as I am always short of money. I know where the guy lives (Switzerland) but haven't contacted him yet. Knowing myself, the conversation would have been, well, less than polite. He was basically pretty descent, as I didn't even have to pay the whole amount in one lump sum. Not sure whether he knew the camper had so many problems, because he drove it all the way from southern Germany to Alkmaar. However, don't think I am going to give him the rest of the money, although I will talk to him about it first. I'm not somebody that likes confrontations, but everybody who knows the story agrees with you, saying the guy should be held accountable in one way or another. I'll see. Good for you that you checked the front wheels of your Sirocco! Driving without rear wheels is hell already, but imagine doing a good speed and your front wheels coming off! And thanks for responding to the post ----------------------
Thu 07 Jul 2005 @ 10:06
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	croeso to the bedheads kya [that's for the welsh bit] it means welcome and what a start with the club. I hope we will be able to help and we already have some members from Holland. maybe they will contact you. This Andies seems like a good man to have around. You must persuade him to come and join us too. I though my story of the rear axle coming apart in Glen Coe was hairy but at least we caught it before it came all the way out. and no fire. WOW Glad to have you with us. you would have been arrested if it had happened here. which is enough of a reason not to pay the man any further money and you have far more work to do with all the extra damage from the fire. if he complains tell him to get it from the garage which did the work and you will back him up. all the best and keep us informed about the work as you do it. Roi ----------------------
Fri 08 Jul 2005 @ 21:25
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Heu Roi (the Frisian bit responding ;o) Thanks for the warm welcome! Yes, what a crashing entrance, eh? I still have a somewhat sore right arm reminding me of that event. Looking back I can't for the life of me imagine how I managed to tame that huge thing, but I guess I must have had some 'Celtic Luck' to help me out. And an army of guardian angels ... Andries is a very nice fellow. Not sure whether he will join, he has his own website and forum, but he does go to the Bedford meetings as far as I know. He has an old green Bedford schoolbus, should stand out in a crowd. See his site www.bussenmanie.com, also in English. He and his buddies are standing at attention to get to work on my Beddie, which I've called Tuffie ('tuffen' means driving slowly but at a steady pace in Dutch). However, as I've recently bought a house with my Mom (you will find out I tend to do things ass-backwards ;o) I will spend the first month or two moving and refurnishing the new place. But then ... I need to register Tuffie in The Netherlands first, which means all the basic problems need to be taken care of. When she is fit to drive the road again I will start to bring her back piece by piece to her original self. Problem is, I can't seem to find a picture of what she's supposed to look like! She wasn't a camper when she rolled out of the factory in 1977 but a so-called LKW, or small truck. An Opel Bedford 'Blitz'. The German registration papers type her as a Vauxhall CF 977oo LD, and she's an original Diesel (although I think she now has an Opel engine, but still a Diesel). She was transformed into a camper in 1987 (I think) Think she used to have two rear doors, the side door was put in later. I would have been arrested over here as well, but we removed the towing cables before the police arrived. However, one cop approached me and just stated "Somehow I don't think your camper lost both right rear wheels and caught fire while standing on the truck, but you've had enough for one day, I think" and just left it at that. Otherwise I would have had to pay a serious fine! More luck ... Still haven't contacted the man who sold her to me, which I guess is a bit chicken, but like I said: I don't like confrontations (had enough of those to last me a life time). However, will do the decent thing and call him this week, as he will wonder where his money is. Thanks again for the welcome, and I will keep you all posted on what I do to her, and how things are coming along. And will badger you whenever I have questions grin My intention is to try and come over to the UK next year at one time or another, drive around, see where my ancestors hailed from (mainly Kent and Wales. Hopefully I will make it to several Bedford meetings in the near future! Pob Hwyl. Kya ----------------------
Sun 10 Jul 2005 @ 22:31
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Kya Milo wrote: Heu Roi (the Frisian bit responding ;o) I would have been arrested over here as well, but we removed the towing cables before the police arrived. However, one cop approached me and just stated "Somehow I don't think your camper lost both right rear wheels and caught fire while standing on the truck, but you've had enough for one day, I think" and just left it at that. Otherwise I would have had to pay a serious fine! More luck ... ================ unfortunately ours don't have the same sense. they would just book you --------------------------------- Thanks again for the welcome, -------------------- no Problem, we try to welcome all new posters, friendly folk see [welsh accent look you] ---------------------------------------- and I will keep you all posted on what I do to her, and how things are coming along. And will badger you whenever I have questions No problem, someone will always try to answer -------------------------------- My intention is to try and come over to the UK next year at one time or another, drive around, see where my ancestors hailed from (mainly Kent and Wales. In your sig you say Welsh and Scouse... no mention of kent..... --------------------------- Hopefully I will make it to several Bedford meetings in the near future! let us know and we will try to arrange a meet while you are over. I think you have a lot of hard work to do first... ---------- Pob Hwyl. Kya da iawn hwyl roi ----------------------
Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 01:17
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Heu Roi. >unfortunately ours don't have the same sense. >they would just book you Hmm, maybe the slightly dazed look combined with being female did the trick here >In your sig you say Welsh and Scouse... no >mention of kent..... Funny, that. The Kent branch is called Wales and Whales and came from Northdown and Margate. But if I had to include all the regions I would have to add Shropshire and Staffordshire. My UK family seemed to have a love for travelling >let us know and we will try to arrange a meet >while you are over. I think you have a lot of >hard work to do first... Sounds very nice, hardly can wait! But yes, she will need a lot of work done on her first. The carriage is rusted through in many places, and although I am usually better in handling screwdrivers and torques, welding is not something that comes easy to me (yet). So I wil have to ask somebody to help me out there. But Andries or somebody else from the Dutch club will probably help me, he said she is a bit of a rare type (probably the only one in Holland) and he is eager to get her back in her original state. We'll see. As soon as she is allowed back on the road I will make some trips, with a bit of luck I can hop The Channel somewhere in May next year, during the children's Spring break. Hi Gethin! >just sent you a pic in mail of a 9700ld/77 cf Got it, and replied via email. Diolch in fawr, you guys!! Kya ----------------------
Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 09:02
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Latest update! Guess what I just received an email from Andries. He feels 'very sorry' for me (awww) that Tuffie needs so much work done on her (he thinks it will take at least a year, if not longer!) and that the accident threw my autumn holiday plans with the kids out of whack. So ... He told me he has had an offer to buy a 1971 Bedford 97760-TU (?) camper. It has a Dutch license (no import hastles!) and its all-around state is such I would be able to go to the September Bedford meeting in Holland!! The only draw-back in my opinion is that it's a gasoline engine, and not a diesel like Tuffie. But who knows, we might be able to switch the engines, if that would be advisable, of course (answers please!) All in all the camper is nicer looking, bigger, older (I just love classics!) and needs far less work, with some minor technical updates and the inside needing an overhaul. Andries has offered me to sell it to me in exchange for Tuffie-I (who will be used for spare parts sob) and 200 euros, which is the amount I would still have to pay for Tuffie-I (and which I definitely won't now) So in just two weeks time I guess I will go from Tuffie-I to Tuffie-II. If, of course, this is the smart thing to do. Opinions, anyone? ----------------------
Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 12:47
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Do it! You could swap the engines, but you'd need to swap everything (gearbox, prop shaft, possibly even rear axle, fuel tank, radiator) as well as the wiring for the glow plugs etc. A big job but not impossible. Petrol engines aren't that bad. Petrol is actually cheaper than diesel (in UK at any rate. Those old diesel engines aren't that efficient and are certainly more sluggish so it'll not cost too much more in the long run, given the work involved with the change. You could always fit an LPG conversion to the petrol engine for the cheapest fuel solution, although the conversion isn't that cheap (roughly £900 in UK).
Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 17:00
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Hi Dubzi. Yes, I'll go for it. Gethin told me pretty much the same, as well as some other people. Although I love bringing a car back into its original (or even nicer) state, I now don't have as much time as I used to, with two smallish kids and all. And the fact that it's a 1971 model appeals to me, although (again!) I am stumped as to what version of camper it is. Wish I knew how to post a picture of it here on the forum, or somewhere else on the site. But all in all it does sound like a better deal, and I would probably keep the petrol engine, and if and when my ship comes in I will see whether to add a LPG installation. For now I just want some travelling wheels under my behind, get to do some touring, show my kids something of the world, starting with the UK, where 50% of my own roots lie. Thanks for the response! Kya ----------------------
Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 21:41
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	LPG is not that expensive in kit form and if you do a search on trinley tech you will see our members have a discount on a kit bringing the price down to £400 ish. green fuel and less tax to HMG love it. roi ----------------------
Wed 13 Jul 2005 @ 04:00
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	I'll start saving some bobs and pennies, then ;o) First need to see how and what she's like, fix the urgent stuff, then start primping her up. I'm sure an old biddy like her will need lots of attention (I've read the different posts on what disasters can happen) and I'll be making improvements like LPG to cut back on costs. If she really does run right in September, and I've gone to the first (Dutch) meeting, I'll try and make it over to the UK in the Spring. From what I've seen in the pix it's a lot of fun, and my kids will like it as well (they better! ;o) What I like best is the fact that I would be amongst 'familiair folk' as I've not gone on holidays that often due to the fact that I'm a single parent. And things aren't quite as safe as they used to be ... Kya ----------------------
Wed 13 Jul 2005 @ 07:34
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Hi there, First I will give a short introduction of my person. Since september 2003 I'm chairman of the Dutch Bedford Owners Association. Since june 2002 owner of a 1967 Bedford J1 crewbus. Yep, what a horror-story, but as I hope with a happy end. A trip of about 6 hours ended in a trip of 16 hours, but luckely with no seriously injuries. I've also given the advice not to pay the rest of the money to that bloody ******. Also Tuffy 2 would have some work to do, but with a little luck ready before the end of august. Tuffy 1 will be barried and donate his parts to other Beddies, so don't wait too long to make pictures of her. When everything should be oke (or not) I will go to Cambridge at the end of august with the crewbus. But I think I will have to go another year because there are some urgent matters for having a job again after 3 years. This is the horror bus This looks better. ----------------------
Fri 15 Jul 2005 @ 13:19
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Hi Andries and croeso, [wilkommen] to the Bedheads. I am absolutely delighted to be able to welcome you to our website. I hope you find it useful and stay with us. I am sure you would be an assett to us with your knowledge. We do already have some Members from the Netherlands, maybe they are also members of your club but if not i am sure a link between us would be good [if you have a website] let me get this straight... the blue one is the one that was being towed and the rear wheels came off and the Luton bodied brown and white CF is the one you have sorted Kya out with? I think you have done her a very good deal Are you converting your crewbus to a motorhome? all the best to Frysia [hope I spelt it right] Roi from Wales ----------------------
Fri 15 Jul 2005 @ 15:14
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Hi Roi, Almost good. The blue horror-bus had 4 wheels on the back; 2 at the left and 2 at the right. Both wheels at the right-backside were moving on the highway without Bedford, so they were living their own life. I'm almost sure the brown-white one is the one which was offered me and now will be the new camper for Kya. I'm not converting my crewbus into a camper but trying to restore it into it's original outlook as you can see on my homepage http://www.bussenmanie.com ----------------------
Fri 15 Jul 2005 @ 16:30
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	You have a very mixed lot of vewhicles there Andries. Is it easy to find spares over there? wheels are easy apparently. they are available on the side of the road;) oops not funny really but at least Kya, you and her son walked away from it. As my mate , a pilot. used to say 'any landing you walk away from is a good one' ----------------------
Sun 17 Jul 2005 @ 20:09
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Oy!! Andries snuck onto the forum and didn't even tell me! But yes, I'm sure he will be a great assett as he must have built an extensive knowledge on Bedfords and their whimsical temperaments by now. Looking at the pictures, Tuffie-II looks tame compared to her predecessor. Maybe I will paint Tuffie-II a bright red, or yellow Tomorrow is the big day, we'll be picking her up! Will keep you guys posted. Kya Oh, and Roi ... in Dutch it's 'welkom' and we call it Frysl�n. Frisia was the older, more latinzed name, as in Frisia Mare, the old name for the North Sea. Frisians are a bit like a virus, they spread ----------------------
Mon 18 Jul 2005 @ 22:26
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Home ... safe and sound! We made it! And boy oh boy, am I a lucky gal! The camper is much nicer than Andries and I thought, it has about everything you could ask for! And if all goes well, she'll go for her MOT (is that the expression used for the annual green light to keep her on the road?) before the end of August. That means Autumn holidays! Originally she was a light burgundy red, and once I decide to attack the few rusty spots here and there, I'll use the opportunity to strip her and give her back the original colour. But basically, all she needs is a good cleaning, some technical updates here and there - like new gas lines for the stove, etc - and she's right as rain. So glad I did this! Andries has been a marvel yet again, we left just after 8.15 am (my little girl was sick last night, almost called the whole thing off but she was able to stay with my friend) and were greeted with an extensive lunch and coffee by just overall nice folk. Arrived back in Marum (her spot for the coming weeks) about 7 pm, and I was home with the kids about 8.30 pm. Long long day. Driving an automatic is not as bad as I thought, she hummed along quite nicely, not very fast (about 80 kms/hr) but comfy enough. Will have to quiet her down a bit in the near future, but that's just a minor detail. So, I''ll definitely come out to the UK next Spring, one way or another. Oh yes, and this one is NOT going to be called Tuffy-II. That's like bringing down bad luck on her. So, from now on the new van is called ... LUCKY!! 'Coz that's how I feel, lucky! And to warn all truckers in the future, because loads of them were slightly miffed at my top 'speed', I'm gonna put the following text on the back of the camper: This is a 1971 Bedford, and no, she does NOT go any faster! Kya ----------------------
Tue 19 Jul 2005 @ 20:43
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	Yeppa, Indeed this one is much, much better. I didn't tell everything to Kya about lucky, because the camper was soo cheap, I thought it has much work to do. But a first inspection yesterday after Kya left learned me that I could find only 3 things to do for the MOT: the exhaust is in a poor condition, all the wheels have to be removed and cleaning the breakes and renew the gas pipes. Most campers in this condtion and with MOT are sold in Holland for about 3000 euros or more but the price of this one was only 400 euros, so it doesn't surprise you that I wondered if the camper was good enough to drive. The only thing Kya needs now is time to do the repairings. ----------------------
Wed 20 Jul 2005 @ 08:51
Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline	seems like you fryslans are like the Celts then. We did a lot of spreading back in the old days BB [before bedfords]You have a branch there apparently [Woloons] Glad you like your new van and we shall look forward to seeing you at the next meet in Yorkshire. Roi ----------------------
Wed 20 Jul 2005 @ 22:16
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Anon
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Newbie - and why I'm here

Hi everybody.

I joined this forum because I have the sneaking suspicion it might come in handy fairly soon.

My (long!) story:

almost two weeks ago I saw an add offering a 1978 Bedford CF 'Blitz' (German type, made by Opel) for just 400 euros. Being a single Mom, and always finding it difficult to find the money to take my kids on holiday I thought: Wow!

Naturally, I didn't expect much for that price, but as I had restored a 1965 Ford Falcon in the Eighties while living in the USA, I thought it might be a nice project. According to the man who sold the camper the brakes had been renewed and the engine ran, so ...
I left on friday 7 am to meet Andries, the president of the local Bedford club who was kind enough to drive a special truck with which to transport the Bedford, as it didn't have a license plate or insurance. The camper was a 1,5 hour drive away, so 3 hours round trip.
The truck didn't run. It took us from 10.30 am to 2 pm to get the darn thing off the driveway and onto the truck. I was somewhat miffed.
Just outside town the air pressure system, which compensates for the weight on the back of the truck, decided to quit. It was a scorching hot day, and it happened (as these things usually do) on a round-about.
We barely managed to get the truck out of traffic's way, and then called (I think this is the English version) the AA (?) After half an hour, the man arrived, and after taking a look underneath the truck came to the conclusion that he couldn't do anything. He suggested off-loading the Bedford (*grrr*) which would probably clear the wheel, and then tow it all the way to Marum (150 kms) in the province of Groningen, where I had found a place to stall it and work on it. Oh goodie!
As I have some experience with driving big (Scania) trucks, but none with towing, we decided that Andries would drive the truck, and I would steer and brake the Bedford. My 10-year old son sat in the truck.
Basically, all went well. We had checked whether the brakes worked (they did) and the steering - although very hard - could be done.
Until we arrived near Drachten. We were doing about 90-100 kms an hour on the highway,and I thought I had hit a part of the road where the trucks wore out the tarmac (during rain resulting in the phenomenon called 'aqua planning') The Bedford was swerving all over the place, and I had a very hard time keeping it straight. Then it evened out, and I thought all was fine. It wasn't.
Just as I started to smell something burning, the Bedford went crazy; I literally swerved from the far left to the far right lane, hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life, and fighting like mad to keep the thing from toppling over. Not only was I aware of all the traffic, but my son was in the front truck, and if the Bedford went ...
Andries had felt and seen what was happening, and after about 3 minutes he managed to guide us to the far right side of the highway. I found I couldn't break anymore, and had to put the Bedford against the back of the truck. Despite the mighty slam, none of us were hurt (or so I thought)
I jumped out of the camper, looked back, and saw the right rear end of the camper was on fire! I had checked the inside of the Bedford back in Alkmaar, and remembered a fire extinguisher lying in one of the cabinets.
Andries tried using it, but it didn't work. At that moment a car stopped, and the woman who jumped out said the weirdest thing: "If you're looking for you wheel, it's back there on the road!" Wheel?! I looked closer at the back of the camper (still burning, but the woman's husband threw us a new extinguisher, which did work) and saw that both!! rear wheels - I mean the wheels, not just the tires! - were gone! The camper had been riding on its axel!
All traffic behind us had come to a dead stop. Well, I would have too if I had seen two wheels coming at me ...
It's fortunate that I never panic in emergency situations, but at that moment I had to sit down because both my knees gave out.
However, no rest for the wicked, and as the camper merrily kept on burning I got up and used the last of the powdered substance to put it out, burning my hands in the process.

The rest is history. The police arrived, they closed off part of the highway, more people from the AA arrived to see whether they could get the camper up and running ... to no avail, the axel was completely shot, and although they used a flexer to get off the remaining bolts, it just wasn't possible to put a wheel on it. We were towed away in the end.

Inspection later showed that the accident had happened because the guy who sold me the camper, had forgotten to tighten the bolts after putting new brake lines on it, as well as not putting back on the bolts which prevent the wheels running off the axel.
Everybody remarked how 'basically, you should have been dead'. And seeing me - standing at an almighty 5'4" or 1.60 m - they just couldn't believe I had managed to keep the camper under 'control', or at least prevent it from slamming into a barrier or toppling over. Well, my son had been in the truck in front of me ...

Three days later my GP diagnosed two torn muscles in my upper back and a torn biceps in my right arm. It had been a bit of a fight.

Long story ... but I have a camper! Or at least, the beginning of one. No holidays this year, that's for sure, because it already was in a deplorable condition, and the whole incident didn't really improve matters.
But in a few weeks time I will start stripping it down, take a good look at the carriage work, and start fixing her up.

And that's why I joined.

----------------------

Wed 06 Jul 2005 @ 20:46

Anon
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Glad you're still with us! That is a hell of a story.

I would be hunting down the b*****d that sold me the van and introducing him to travelling on the motorway with no wheels if I were you!

I once bought a car (VW Scirocco I think!) and on the test drive the front wheels kept making a clunking noise. I told him a CV joint was shot and that I would only buy if he halved the asking price. He did and on getting the car back home (not far) I decided to have a look at the driveshafts. So I went to undo the wheel nuts and they were only finger tight! I did them up and drove it again, no clunking!!
That turned out positively for me, a bargain car. Lucky I didn't have to go any further.

It's just not something you think to check when you buy a car/van is it?

Wed 06 Jul 2005 @ 23:08

Anon
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I guess I was a little gullible

should've known the camper was in a bad state when the engine didn't start, although Andries told me he has hooked it up to a battery and now at least it turns over. Maybe lack of diesel??

Btw, they were both right rear wheels, as the camper has what we call 'double air' or four rear wheels. Guess the initial swerving was the first wheel coming off.

The guy told me the brake lines had been serviced by a garage, but I have doubts about that now. I'm slightly anxious as to what I will find when I start working on her. Nothing too good, I think. When I checked the inside of the camper I discovered heaps and heaps of spare parts, including an engine. Would be nice of some fo that stuff is still usable, as I am always short of money.

I know where the guy lives (Switzerland) but haven't contacted him yet. Knowing myself, the conversation would have been, well, less than polite. He was basically pretty descent, as I didn't even have to pay the whole amount in one lump sum. Not sure whether he knew the camper had so many problems, because he drove it all the way from southern Germany to Alkmaar.

However, don't think I am going to give him the rest of the money, although I will talk to him about it first.

I'm not somebody that likes confrontations, but everybody who knows the story agrees with you, saying the guy should be held accountable in one way or another.

I'll see.

Good for you that you checked the front wheels of your Sirocco! Driving without rear wheels is hell already, but imagine doing a good speed and your front wheels coming off!

And thanks for responding to the post

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Thu 07 Jul 2005 @ 10:06

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croeso to the bedheads kya
[that's for the welsh bit]
it means welcome
and what a start with the club. I hope we will be able to help and we already have some members from Holland. maybe they will contact you.
This Andies seems like a good man to have around. You must persuade him to come and join us too.

I though my story of the rear axle coming apart in Glen Coe was hairy but at least we caught it before it came all the way out. and no fire.

WOW

Glad to have you with us.

you would have been arrested if it had happened here.
which is enough of a reason not to pay the man any further money and you have far more work to do with all the extra damage from the fire.

if he complains tell him to get it from the garage which did the work and you will back him up.

all the best and keep us informed about the work as you do it.

Roi

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Fri 08 Jul 2005 @ 21:25

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Heu Roi
(the Frisian bit responding ;o)

Thanks for the warm welcome! Yes, what a crashing entrance, eh? I still have a somewhat sore right arm reminding me of that event. Looking back I can't for the life of me imagine how I managed to tame that huge thing, but I guess I must have had some 'Celtic Luck' to help me out. And an army of guardian angels ...

Andries is a very nice fellow. Not sure whether he will join, he has his own website and forum, but he does go to the Bedford meetings as far as I know. He has an old green Bedford schoolbus, should stand out in a crowd. See his site www.bussenmanie.com, also in English.

He and his buddies are standing at attention to get to work on my Beddie, which I've called Tuffie ('tuffen' means driving slowly but at a steady pace in Dutch).
However, as I've recently bought a house with my Mom (you will find out I tend to do things ass-backwards ;o) I will spend the first month or two moving and refurnishing the new place.

But then ...

I need to register Tuffie in The Netherlands first, which means all the basic problems need to be taken care of. When she is fit to drive the road again I will start to bring her back piece by piece to her original self.

Problem is, I can't seem to find a picture of what she's supposed to look like! She wasn't a camper when she rolled out of the factory in 1977 but a so-called LKW, or small truck. An Opel Bedford 'Blitz'.
The German registration papers type her as a Vauxhall CF 977oo LD, and she's an original Diesel (although I think she now has an Opel engine, but still a Diesel). She was transformed into a camper in 1987 (I think)

Think she used to have two rear doors, the side door was put in later.

I would have been arrested over here as well, but we removed the towing cables before the police arrived. However, one cop approached me and just stated "Somehow I don't think your camper lost both right rear wheels and caught fire while standing on the truck, but you've had enough for one day, I think" and just left it at that. Otherwise I would have had to pay a serious fine! More luck ...

Still haven't contacted the man who sold her to me, which I guess is a bit chicken, but like I said: I don't like confrontations (had enough of those to last me a life time).
However, will do the decent thing and call him this week, as he will wonder where his money is.

Thanks again for the welcome, and I will keep you all posted on what I do to her, and how things are coming along. And will badger you whenever I have questions *grin*

My intention is to try and come over to the UK next year at one time or another, drive around, see where my ancestors hailed from (mainly Kent and Wales. Hopefully I will make it to several Bedford meetings in the near future!

Pob Hwyl.

Kya

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Sun 10 Jul 2005 @ 22:31

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Kya Milo wrote:

Heu Roi
(the Frisian bit responding ;o)

I would have been arrested over here as well, but we removed the towing cables before the police arrived. However, one cop approached me and just stated "Somehow I don't think your camper lost both right rear wheels and caught fire while standing on the truck, but you've had enough for one day, I think" and just left it at that. Otherwise I would have had to pay a serious fine! More luck ...
================
unfortunately ours don't have the same sense. they would just book you
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Thanks again for the welcome,
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no Problem, we try to welcome all new posters, friendly folk see [welsh accent look you]
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and I will keep you all posted on what I do to her, and how things are coming along. And will badger you whenever I have questions
No problem, someone will always try to answer
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My intention is to try and come over to the UK next year at one time or another, drive around, see where my ancestors hailed from (mainly Kent and Wales.
In your sig you say Welsh and Scouse... no mention of kent.....
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Hopefully I will make it to several Bedford meetings in the near future!
let us know and we will try to arrange a meet while you are over. I think you have a lot of hard work to do first...
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Pob Hwyl.

Kya

da iawn
hwyl

roi

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Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 01:17

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Heu Roi.

>unfortunately ours don't have the same sense. >they would just book you

Hmm, maybe the slightly dazed look combined with being female did the trick here

>In your sig you say Welsh and Scouse... no >mention of kent.....

Funny, that. The Kent branch is called Wales and Whales and came from Northdown and Margate. But if I had to include all the regions I would have to add Shropshire and Staffordshire. My UK family seemed to have a love for travelling

>let us know and we will try to arrange a meet >while you are over. I think you have a lot of >hard work to do first...

Sounds very nice, hardly can wait! But yes, she will need a lot of work done on her first. The carriage is rusted through in many places, and although I am usually better in handling screwdrivers and torques, welding is not something that comes easy to me (yet). So I wil have to ask somebody to help me out there.

But Andries or somebody else from the Dutch club will probably help me, he said she is a bit of a rare type (probably the only one in Holland) and he is eager to get her back in her original state. We'll see.

As soon as she is allowed back on the road I will make some trips, with a bit of luck I can hop The Channel somewhere in May next year, during the children's Spring break.

Hi Gethin!

>just sent you a pic in mail of a 9700ld/77 cf

Got it, and replied via email.

Diolch in fawr, you guys!!

Kya

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Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 09:02

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Latest update!

Guess what

I just received an email from Andries. He feels 'very sorry' for me (awww) that Tuffie needs so much work done on her (he thinks it will take at least a year, if not longer!) and that the accident threw my autumn holiday plans with the kids out of whack. So ...

He told me he has had an offer to buy a 1971 Bedford 97760-TU (?) camper. It has a Dutch license (no import hastles!) and its all-around state is such I would be able to go to the September Bedford meeting in Holland!!

The only draw-back in my opinion is that it's a gasoline engine, and not a diesel like Tuffie. But who knows, we might be able to switch the engines, if that would be advisable, of course (answers please!)

All in all the camper is nicer looking, bigger, older (I just love classics!) and needs far less work, with some minor technical updates and the inside needing an overhaul.

Andries has offered me to sell it to me in exchange for Tuffie-I (who will be used for spare parts *sob*) and 200 euros, which is the amount I would still have to pay for Tuffie-I (and which I definitely won't now)

So in just two weeks time I guess I will go from Tuffie-I to Tuffie-II. If, of course, this is the smart thing to do. Opinions, anyone?

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Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 12:47

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Do it!

You could swap the engines, but you'd need to swap everything (gearbox, prop shaft, possibly even rear axle, fuel tank, radiator) as well as the wiring for the glow plugs etc.
A big job but not impossible.

Petrol engines aren't that bad. Petrol is actually cheaper than diesel (in UK at any rate. Those old diesel engines aren't that efficient and are certainly more sluggish so it'll not cost too much more in the long run, given the work involved with the change.

You could always fit an LPG conversion to the petrol engine for the cheapest fuel solution, although the conversion isn't that cheap (roughly £900 in UK).

Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 17:00

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Hi Dubzi.

Yes, I'll go for it. Gethin told me pretty much the same, as well as some other people. Although I love bringing a car back into its original (or even nicer) state, I now don't have as much time as I used to, with two smallish kids and all.

And the fact that it's a 1971 model appeals to me, although (again!) I am stumped as to what version of camper it is. Wish I knew how to post a picture of it here on the forum, or somewhere else on the site.

But all in all it does sound like a better deal, and I would probably keep the petrol engine, and if and when my ship comes in I will see whether to add a LPG installation.

For now I just want some travelling wheels under my behind, get to do some touring, show my kids something of the world, starting with the UK, where 50% of my own roots lie.

Thanks for the response!

Kya

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Tue 12 Jul 2005 @ 21:41

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LPG is not that expensive in kit form and if you do a search on trinley tech you will see our members have a discount on a kit bringing the price down to £400 ish.
green fuel and less tax to HMG love it.
roi

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Wed 13 Jul 2005 @ 04:00

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I'll start saving some bobs and pennies, then ;o)

First need to see how and what she's like, fix the urgent stuff, then start primping her up. I'm sure an old biddy like her will need lots of attention (I've read the different posts on what disasters can happen) and I'll be making improvements like LPG to cut back on costs.

If she really does run right in September, and I've gone to the first (Dutch) meeting, I'll try and make it over to the UK in the Spring. From what I've seen in the pix it's a lot of fun, and my kids will like it as well (they better! ;o)

What I like best is the fact that I would be amongst 'familiair folk' as I've not gone on holidays that often due to the fact that I'm a single parent. And things aren't quite as safe as they used to be ...

Kya

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Wed 13 Jul 2005 @ 07:34

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Hi there,

First I will give a short introduction of my person. Since september 2003 I'm chairman of the Dutch Bedford Owners Association.
Since june 2002 owner of a 1967 Bedford J1 crewbus.
Yep, what a horror-story, but as I hope with a happy end.
A trip of about 6 hours ended in a trip of 16 hours, but luckely with no seriously injuries.
I've also given the advice not to pay the rest of the money to that bloody ******.
Also Tuffy 2 would have some work to do, but with a little luck ready before the end of august.
Tuffy 1 will be barried and donate his parts to other Beddies, so don't wait too long to make pictures of her.
When everything should be oke (or not) I will go to Cambridge at the end of august with the crewbus. But I think I will have to go another year because there are some urgent matters for having a job again after 3 years.

This is the horror bus

This looks better.

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Fri 15 Jul 2005 @ 13:19

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Hi Andries and croeso, [wilkommen] to the Bedheads.
I am absolutely delighted to be able to welcome you to our website. I hope you find it useful and stay with us. I am sure you would be an assett to us with your knowledge.
We do already have some Members from the Netherlands, maybe they are also members of your club but if not i am sure a link between us would be good [if you have a website]

let me get this straight... the blue one is the one that was being towed and the rear wheels came off and the Luton bodied brown and white CF is the one you have sorted Kya out with?
I think you have done her a very good deal

Are you converting your crewbus to a motorhome?

all the best to Frysia [hope I spelt it right]
Roi from Wales

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Fri 15 Jul 2005 @ 15:14

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Hi Roi,

Almost good. The blue horror-bus had 4 wheels on the back; 2 at the left and 2 at the right.
Both wheels at the right-backside were moving on the highway without Bedford, so they were living their own life.
I'm almost sure the brown-white one is the one which was offered me and now will be the new camper for Kya.

I'm not converting my crewbus into a camper but trying to restore it into it's original outlook as you can see on my homepage http://www.bussenmanie.com

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Fri 15 Jul 2005 @ 16:30

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You have a very mixed lot of vewhicles there Andries.
Is it easy to find spares over there?
wheels are easy apparently. they are available on the side of the road;) oops
not funny really but at least Kya, you and her son walked away from it.
As my mate , a pilot. used to say 'any landing you walk away from is a good one'

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Sun 17 Jul 2005 @ 20:09

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Oy!!

Andries snuck onto the forum and didn't even tell me!

But yes, I'm sure he will be a great assett as he must have built an extensive knowledge on Bedfords and their whimsical temperaments by now.

Looking at the pictures, Tuffie-II looks tame compared to her predecessor. Maybe I will paint Tuffie-II a bright red, or yellow

Tomorrow is the big day, we'll be picking her up!

Will keep you guys posted.

Kya

Oh, and Roi ... in Dutch it's 'welkom' and we call it Frysl�n. Frisia was the older, more latinzed name, as in Frisia Mare, the old name for the North Sea.

Frisians are a bit like a virus, they spread

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Mon 18 Jul 2005 @ 22:26

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Home ... safe and sound!

We made it! And boy oh boy, am I a lucky gal!

The camper is much nicer than Andries and I thought, it has about everything you could ask for! And if all goes well, she'll go for her MOT (is that the expression used for the annual green light to keep her on the road?) before the end of August. That means Autumn holidays!

Originally she was a light burgundy red, and once I decide to attack the few rusty spots here and there, I'll use the opportunity to strip her and give her back the original colour.

But basically, all she needs is a good cleaning, some technical updates here and there - like new gas lines for the stove, etc - and she's right as rain.

So glad I did this!

Andries has been a marvel yet again, we left just after 8.15 am (my little girl was sick last night, almost called the whole thing off but she was able to stay with my friend) and were greeted with an extensive lunch and coffee by just overall nice folk.

Arrived back in Marum (her spot for the coming weeks) about 7 pm, and I was home with the kids about 8.30 pm. Long long day.

Driving an automatic is not as bad as I thought, she hummed along quite nicely, not very fast (about 80 kms/hr) but comfy enough. Will have to quiet her down a bit in the near future, but that's just a minor detail.

So, I''ll definitely come out to the UK next Spring, one way or another.

Oh yes, and this one is NOT going to be called Tuffy-II. That's like bringing down bad luck on her. So, from now on the new van is called ...

LUCKY!! 'Coz that's how I feel, lucky!

And to warn all truckers in the future, because loads of them were slightly miffed at my top 'speed', I'm gonna put the following text on the back of the camper:

This is a 1971 Bedford, and no, she does NOT go any faster!

Kya

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Tue 19 Jul 2005 @ 20:43

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Yeppa,
Indeed this one is much, much better.
I didn't tell everything to Kya about lucky, because the camper was soo cheap, I thought it has much work to do. But a first inspection yesterday after Kya left learned me that I could find only 3 things to do for the MOT: the exhaust is in a poor condition, all the wheels have to be removed and cleaning the breakes and renew the gas pipes.
Most campers in this condtion and with MOT are sold in Holland for about 3000 euros or more but the price of this one was only 400 euros, so it doesn't surprise you that I wondered if the camper was good enough to drive.
The only thing Kya needs now is time to do the repairings.

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Wed 20 Jul 2005 @ 08:51

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seems like you fryslans are like the Celts then. We did a lot of spreading back in the old days BB [before bedfords]You have a branch there apparently [Woloons]
Glad you like your new van and we shall look forward to seeing you at the next meet in Yorkshire.
Roi

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Wed 20 Jul 2005 @ 22:16

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