The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Does It Have To be Custom?
Been in the service for awhile and I always wondered why each and every peice of equipment has to be custom. We paid 138k in 1984 230k in 1989 and 500k 2 years ago for engines.I understand inflation but I'm sure if Seagrave, Pierce, KME etc could build one or two type of engines that 400k would go back down to 250-300K. Delivery times would be reduced.
Maybe do what the car industry does and offer limited options. High/low cabinet sides, certain number of discharges/intakes etc.
While I know this would never happen because for some strange reason your fires are different from mine, but think how much easier and cheaper it would be.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by FF Nick on
-
I think you missed the point of the OP. It's not about having a tiller, tower, or pumper in your department. If you need a tiller, get a tiller, but is one needed with specs that drive the cost up twice of what truck would have originally cost? It's about manufacturers making a standardized tiller, a standarized tower, etc. Like if you went to your neighboring city, they would have the exact same tillers, towers, and engines that your department has.
-
Permalink Reply by Fireman Larry on
-
There are too many reasons to explain, though some things are standard and follow NFPA Guidelines, The apparatus should be somewhat customized. The rural Engines need larger capacity water tanks than the city units with established water supplies. Pump capacities should work the same way, not to mention, the needs for either Class A or B foams in Onboard Eductors. On my dept. we have Rescue Engines, not every department would need them, though we have a Heavy Rescue, we don't have the luxury of having on every scene every time. We carry alot of equipment, so we have high compartments, with the ground ladders overhead, where as some are just mounted to the sides. Like I said, there are alot of variables to consider when Spec'ing a rig, mostly to meet each departments standards...
Another reason the price of the apparatus went up, the newer units are built safer than the older ones, Enclosed Cabs, better pumps, lighter tanks, better Engines and Drivetranes, a lot better Braking Systems, to say the least.... "And yes, of course, if you ever get a chance to order the Cadillac.. Go for it... "
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Herdman on
-
If your department is buying it, and can afford it, why not buy what you want.
-
Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
-
I have got to agree with you on this one!
-
Permalink Reply by capcityff on
-
I covered that. Our engines don't need to be large. We don't carry as much as suburbs because all we do is put out the fire. You go across the river to VA and things might be different. Engines might carry extrication equipement and need more room. Large and small cities obviously don't operate the same way, so why have their engines set up the same. It's very rare that DC would provide mutual aid out of state anyway. If we do, I can guarantee you that no one will let other cities touch our stuff.
-
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
-
No matter where the money comes from, ultimately your residents are footing the bill. Why not be the most fiscally responsible you can be and spec a rig as economically as possible? Just because you can afford something doesn't mean you need it.
-
Permalink Reply by phillip hice on
-
I think Gov. Grants have drove up the cost of new trucks. Truck builders know as long as grants or being given out ,thay will be selling trucks.Go on FEMA grant webpage & just look @ how many grants hav been given out for trucks. We got one ourself's for $228000 .had to put another 40000 to get what we wanted, not what we needed but what we wanted, we are spoled.
-
-
Again, the mentality is; ask for as much as possible and then spend all you get.
Do you think applying departments inflate their needs and costs?
-
Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
-
I would bet that if we all had the same engine we would make it work and the fires would be put out. We might not like it but it would work.
-
-
'It's a poor carpenter who blames his tools.'
In other words, if you can't properly use a 16oz trim hammer, what makes you think a 24oz framing hammer is going to make you any better a carpenter?
-
-
You mean like being in a sauna and then jumping in the snow them back into the sauna. Like everyone in Finland does everyday.
-
Permalink Reply by Bill Carlisle on
-
I believe a lot of the cost increase in apparatus is due to the increased cost of the materials to build the apparatus, i work in the plumbing industry (wholesale) and know that copper , brass, pvc, stainless steel have increased 40% in the past year & half , just received a fax this morning pvc is increasing another 10-12 % 1/8/11 . along with the new epa standards for emmisions that may raise the price up to $20,000 , i feel the days of the $160,000 custom apparatus is no longer , maybe with a commercial truck chassis the price range stated could be realistic, it depends on the needs of the dept.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
