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
I'm a long time fan of Pierce, but have always liked Spartan chassis too. Although I like the ALF Eagle, they have developed a bad reputation for problems over the past couple of years. Our current chief bailed out of the company before they went bankrupt.
The rigs I drove were '86 Dashes; they're all still in service. From what I understand, PIerce has a tendancy to run hot and cold. I don't have any expericene with KME so far...
ooh a pierce! Hermiston had one once it was a com,mercial chassis from the early eightys. It was an interface truck before they came into being vouge. It was the most suck ass pump panel and it was a manual tranny. It was made well though! However hermiston has rosenbaur appratus now ladder pumper tender and two interfaces plus a couple of odd ball companies
Hahn!!! Another great PA built rig. Too bad they're no longer.... My department had a '71 that was in service until sold around '03-'04. And it was still keeping pace with the newer rigs in the area at that age. Man that was a cold ride during the winter....brr! Last I heard a department down in the Outer Banks of SC bought it, and are using it as an educational and fire prevention piece.
We have 3 Sutphens in our fleet and, other than small maintenance issues, we haven't had any major problems with them. We are actually getting ready to start spec-ing a new pumper or rescue/pumper. I'd like some info about what you think as far as manufacturers
Pierce by far has the best quality. yes they are high end on pricing, but in the long run its well worth it. 20 years from now they'll still be around, and so will your apparatus.