• As exclusively predicted by Commercial Motor (19-25 May) Reynolds Boughton has won the British Army's twotonne contract. The 226 million deal is for 1,000 RB44s with deliveries due to start in December 1989.
There were initially three contenders for the contract, but Land Rover pulled out to leave it as a straight fight between Boughton and Stonefield.
The RB44 uses Boughton's own axles and two-speed transfer case, with the Perkins Phaser T110 turbocharged diesel engine driving through a Chrysler Torqueflite A727 three-speed automatic transmission. The chassis frame and cab will be built by Renault at Dunstable, being based on that company's 50-Series lightmedium truck components.
For the army the RB44s will be built in a number of variants ranging from troop carriers to pallet carriers and communications vehicles. The axles and transmissions will be assembled at Boughton's plant in north Devon, with final assem bly at its factory at Amersham in Buckinghamshire.
Success in the British contract will obviously help the RB44's export prospects. It is available in completely knocked-down (CICD) form, and interest has already been expressed by companies in Malaysia and Pakistan.
While the two-tonne contract has now been awarded, the much bigger contract for a British army four-tonne vehicle is still a long way from being settled. Minister of State for Defence Procurement Lord Trefgarne has told Commercial Motor that the 4 x4 mediummobility vehicle contract is still in the early stages of assessment, and that he does not expect a decision before the autumn of next year.
AWD-Bedford, Leyland Daf and Volvo are all competing to supply the army with a replacement for the Bedford MK. AWD is still supplying MKs to the army under a recentlyextended contract which runs through next year. The fourtonner contract could be worth as many as 2,000 vehicles a year, not counting exports.
• Reynolds Boughton and Renault Trucks have jointly developed a five tonne 4x4 vehicle based on Renault's 50 Series S46 chassis and Reynolds Boughton's RB44 military vehicle. The S46 has a 2.5 tonne front axle allowing for a front mounted winch.
The new model has a payload potential of 2,295kg and is available with twin or single rear tyres.
"11.00x16 tyres can be fitted for operation over soft terrain" - there's a tyre size you don't see mentioned every day! (wonder how many if any were actually fitted?)
read from number 8 here how to add pictures to posts on here http://forum1.aimoo.com/Dodge50/Welcome/Welcome-to-the-dodge-50-and-10-1-1011517.html the upload box hs changed a bit since i made that guide but now you can upload up to four pics at a time BUT ONLY if they are not large image size, I have found uploading two at a time is better than 3 or 4 and also be patient, it can sometimes take a minute ofr two to load up:)
so just read from number 8 and you should be fine :)
"Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws."
Douglas Adams
DISINFORMATION: This website has been knocked together with 2 bricks and a rubber chicken for your delight and I hope you all enjoy the fine discussions we have on the wonderful dodge50 series of vehicles, all information is either gleened from the official 50 series workshop manuals OR posted by members of the community.
DATINFORMATION: dodge50.co.uk takes no responsibility for any mistakes or advice given, it's up to you if you take it or not, remember, All material is copyright dodge50.co.uk 2002-2018 unless it's someone else's and it has been begged, borrowed or made up.
DISCLAIMER:
Any libel or mistakes in messages that are written by members of the community, inc the admin's and owner of this site, dodge50.co.uk takes no responsibility for them, you need to contact the author and have a moan / send a writ / agree. (delete as you see fit) Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah.......Etc.......Etc...........
