What Company of Fire apparatus do you prefer

I am a really big American LaFrance fan . The one on my pics is a 2001 American LaFrance Eagle Series Rescue/Engine . My second favorite would ba a Pierce Dash

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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Tocci on March 9, 2008 at 3:22pm

For me, I do not have one particular brand I like the best. Here is my 0.02 cents:

Pierce - best fit and finish.

80's and older ALF - they look like fire apparatus

current ALF - plastic fantastic. If they were toilet paper, I'd enjoy wiping more often.

Ferrara - best aluminum extruded apparatus bodies

Grumman tower ladder - THERE"S the beef!

Jaco - old workhorses of the South

Mack C-85/95 - beautiful

Ward LaFrance - classic beauty

Seagrave from the mid 80's - tough and fast (because the brakes weren't too dependable)

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Permalink Reply by Alex on March 10, 2008 at 7:01am

we had an 01 Seagrave pumper before we got a new one now that was a nice pumper

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Permalink Reply by Bethpage Juniors on March 10, 2008 at 5:33pm

Bethpage had 3 american lafrancees 30 years ago, now we have seagrave, pierce, and ford ambulances

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on March 10, 2008 at 5:55pm

Ward LaFrance, now there was a great truck. That Detroit sound is the way a fire engine should sound. Everyone in town knew when that truck left the station. We had a 1975, which we got rid of about 3 years ago. Best damn truck we ever had according to the old timers.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Hook on March 10, 2008 at 5:56pm

Sorry y'all, but the best is Sutphen. I have been drving Sutphen aerials for over 20 years and the just keep going. In my volunteer dept., we have recently purchased 2 Sutphen pumpers to go with our Sutphen 70' platform. Not only do they fly, but they pump great. They are more expensive than most of the other apparatus, but you get what you pay for!

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Permalink Reply by tyler on March 10, 2008 at 10:49pm

well i dont know if anyone in here has herd of KME but damn are they beautiful trucks nice and smooth rolling our truck is a 2000 i belive

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Permalink Reply by Chan Rivera on March 11, 2008 at 1:59pm

hi all my dept. has 5 KME going for a new one

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Permalink Reply by D. S. Parker on March 13, 2008 at 3:15am

´we only have Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen VW. In Germany you wouldn`t get non-German apperaturs that easy...

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Permalink Reply by Doug on March 13, 2008 at 3:42am

I love KME! My current department does not have any, but as a former Air Force firefighter I worked with them daily, and they are not only as you mentioned, but also rugged and very dependable rigs. I'd go into battle any day with a KME. And they're made in my home state of PA! I don't believe many from around the U.S. are familiar with KME unless they're from the northeast or have been exposed to military or DOD firefighting.

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Permalink Reply by FF Nick on March 13, 2008 at 2:50pm

Everything in out in the bay is made by Ferrara Fire Apparatus in Louisiana.

We have two on GM chassis one is a 91 and the 94, an 04 custom pumper, and an 07 aerial quint. Never had any major mechanical probs with any of em, and the custom took a tbone to the side and held up very well.

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Permalink Reply by Jacob on March 14, 2008 at 8:01pm

I agree , I forgot about Stuphen. They're probable my 3rd. Nothing to me can beat the ALF

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on March 14, 2008 at 8:57pm

Jacob,
If ALF was so great they wouldn't be seeking bankruptcy. When a company seeks bankruptcy there isn't demand for their product, and if theres no demand for the product..... Well you get the point.

At one time ALF was a great force in the fire service, but it appears as though it will become a part of history if things continue the way they do. Never sacrifice quality with quantity. Quality will bring them back everytime