Calling all new apparatus owners...

[Jon_ACVFD]

Tonight we had our first meeting about the new tanker we're getting... we came up with a lot of good ideas as to what we want on the truck and what we're going to need. Anyways, i want to know what companies your depts. went looking at to build their new trucks... and maybe some pros & cons of different companies as far as customer service, accommodating customizations, etc.

This post may be geared more towards Rural/Volly depts, but all opinions are welcome.

[Scuba]

Metalfab is who I was thinking of Jon....

[DCharv]

We got our new tanker in 2003. It was built by LRB Fabricators located in Port Williams, Nova Scotia. A picture of the truck can be found in the gallery here: http://www.firehall.com/gallery.php?item=6722416&gallery=6691542&offset=25&func=view

[CrazyLadder]

We have lovely 1966 Tanker to give to a good home. It started its life as a airport refueler. You'll never have to worry about speeding tickets. The tank is 5000 gallons, just the right amount for those nasty car fires. A coat of paint and a major expansion to your hall is all you'll need.
On a serious note our new rescue is coming from Dependable.

[BCFFFV]

We have lovely 1966 Tanker to give to a good home. It started its life as a airport refueler. You'll never have to worry about speeding tickets. The tank is 5000 gallons, just the right amount for those nasty car fires. A coat of paint and a major expansion to your hall is all you'll need.
On a serious note our new rescue is coming from Dependable.


5000 gallons for a car fire? What car lot was on fire? LOL

[Michael13]

We got ours from Saulsbury in New York in 93, but I like the Dependables. Like Torontos. nice truck.

[ABFF37]

We have lovely 1966 Tanker to give to a good home. It started its life as a airport refueler. You'll never have to worry about speeding tickets. The tank is 5000 gallons, just the right amount for those nasty car fires. A coat of paint and a major expansion to your hall is all you'll need.
On a serious note our new rescue is coming from Dependable.

Good God! That's almost 20000 Litres!!! That's one HUGE tank! :eek:

AB

[smoke286]

Metalfab is who I was thinking of Jon....

Friends don't let friends buy Metalfab.......

[Jon_ACVFD]

Friends don't let friends buy Metalfab.......

like i said in my first post... opinions wanted, but id like to hear your reasoning behind that response.

p.s. thanks Jude, i thought of that about an hr after i was talking to you haha

[CrazyLadder]

We went Dependable because they could build exatly what we wanted and the price was in the right range. (Never buy the cheapest or the highest)

[Jon_ACVFD]

We went Dependable because they could build exatly what we wanted and the price was in the right range. (Never buy the cheapest or the highest)

Where's Dependable located bud? And could you give me an approx. length of time it took to build and deliver the rig.

[chaos]

Jon,

We just took delivery of a pumper and a tanker from Metalfab in November. They are on the front of their calender.

We are very pleased with the the trucks and their quality is far improved over the older units we have that were built by them.

When we started the process of ordering the trucks we talked to Pierce, Metalfab and E one. Metalfab was the only one who seemed interested in selling us trucks.

We have all the specs and drawings for them if you are interested.

Chaos

[Jon_ACVFD]

Chaos, where are you from? I havent seen their calender, so im not sure of the rigs... could you email me a picture or two? I may be interested in them specs.

[smoke286]

like i said in my first post... opinions wanted, but id like to hear your reasoning behind that response.

p.s. thanks Jude, i thought of that about an hr after i was talking to you haha

My opinion is that my Department has received various very poorly constructed apparatus from Metalfab in the past

[cdares]

We actually have 5 Metalfab trucks, and I have to say, contrary to our friend from the Rock's opinion, we really have had good luck with them- for a reasonably priced unit, for a station such as yours, or ours, I would highly recommend them...

[rescuechris]

My opinion is that my Department has received various very poorly constructed apparatus from Metalfab in the past

At the risk of sounding like an a$$, as far as I know, the vehicle is built to the specifications given. Perhaps the person who wrote up the specs is partly to blame. It's an unfortunate truth that it's rarely a firefighter 9or someone who knows something about firefighting) that makes the final call on which vehicle manufacturer to order from.

[smoke286]

1- We buy a fair ammount of apparatus, not so many problems with other manufacturers

2- We have not purchased from that company in the last few years, they may indeed have improved quality since then

[Jon_ACVFD]

Alright fellas, it starting to sound like we're jumping on Smoke here. Im happy with his response...

[dentedhead]

At the risk of sounding like an a$$, as far as I know, the vehicle is built to the specifications given. Perhaps the person who wrote up the specs is partly to blame. It's an unfortunate truth that it's rarely a firefighter 9or someone who knows something about firefighting) that makes the final call on which vehicle manufacturer to order from.

Anything can be built to spec.Even if the specs are written by a syphlitic idiot.Its no excuse for shoddy workmanship.

Also it is the manufacturers responsibility to clarify any "issues" they encounter with the blueprints.

Dentedhead

[Jon_ACVFD]

A little update: specs have been sent out to different manufactures and we're waiting on some quotes nows. Im the guy looking into Metalfab and so far all ive been hearing is good stuff (aside from our Smokey Newfoundlander) and seeing a lot of quality put into their work, i hope these guys get the ok from the dept.

[PUMP31]

we have five new trucks coming from FortGary this June
2-new pumpers and 3-1500 gal tankers.

[smoke286]

We have 2 2005 Spartans with bodies manufactured by your favourite manufacturer, They are in the process of being repainted. Guess who's paying for it?

Wonder why they would be doing that?

as DH mentioned, could it be shoddy workmanship?

[FF9705]

We have a new e-one typhoon coming to us next week. Should be a nice rig.

[fire44]

Hope you have good luck with your new E-One. Our department took 4 in Sept 06, and we have had nothing but problems. In fact one of them is being repainted as we speak. We have also had pump problems, electrical problems, and the so called stainless parts starting to "stain" our rig. But it is a nice looking truck.

[PFD023]

Last spring while I was sunning my Canadian pasty skin, E-One was in the news on a daily basis. Apparently they were in some financial trouble and were desperately looking for a new home/municipality to base their operations out of. Not sure if this is related to your findings fire44.

I've found a link which summarizes their situation....not sure what the outcome was.

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070306/NEWS/203060322

[fire44]

Last spring while I was sunning my Canadian pasty skin, E-One was in the news on a daily basis. Apparently they were in some financial trouble and were desperately looking for a new home/municipality to base their operations out of. Not sure if this is related to your findings fire44.

I've found a link which summarizes their situation....not sure what the outcome was.

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070306/NEWS/203060322
All I know is that the trucks were built out of Florida and Rocky Mountain Phoenix was the middleman in the transaction. Needless to say, but Rocky Mountain Phoenix is no longer dealing with E-One because of all the problems with the trucks coming out of Florida. Oh well the trucks are here now, looks like we will have to deal with it.

[FF9705]

I hope we have good luck with the e-one as well. I don't know much about spec'ing trucks and the like, but the way I see it, there are so many manufacturers, dealers, options, that you can choose from, that no matter what you get, everyone will have a different horror story regardless if it is e-one, american lafrance, pierce, metalfab, carl thibault, or international, freightliner, gmc etc.

I think the maintenance, number of runs, climate conditions, and operational understanding etc are perhaps more to do with problems encountered as opposed to "who" manufactured the rig.

It's a competitive market out there, so I don't think it's in the best interest of manufacture's to provide shady workmanship, quality or service to any department.