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New Fire Truck

Polarfire

Polarfire

Jeep Aficionado
Lifetime Member
City
Columbia
State
MO
As some of you may know, I work for the Columbia, Missouri Fire Department. I'm currently assigned as the engineer (driver) of Engine 1 downtown. Last month I was chosen as the "shepherd" (basically the overseer of the apparatus) of the NEW Engine we are going to be getting to replace our current one. This entails going through all the specs, making suggestions to the Chief Officers of changes, upgrades, and any new equipment we might want for the new truck. I will also get to the make the trip with the Chiefs to Ohio for the pre-build meeting with the manufacturer (Sutphen) and their engineers to finalize the specs. This meeting is coming up on the 18th of this month and I'm really looking forward to it.

On CFD, one of the ongoing traditions is that each fire truck we have has a cartoon character on the side of the cab between the front and rear door area. It is something that one of the retired chiefs started some time ago and we continue because kids love it and they always look to see what character is on each different truck they see. The shepherd of each new truck gets to pick the character. This is a big deal because it allows you to put your personal stamp on the truck which will be in-service with us for 15-25 years (10 years engine/15 years ladder in frontline service then another 5 in reserve).

So down to the point of the post, I get to pick the character. Because there are 3 different shifts we usually try to get a consensus of the guys assigned to that truck as to what characters everyone might like. I still have some time to figure it out so I'm not in a rush to decide but so far I'm thinking Sarge from the Cars movies. We usually change some items to make them look like firefighters. This is what I've come up with but I'm sure there will be some changes before the final is decided. Let me know what you guys think and if there are any other Jeep characters out there. The biggest issue is that kids will need to recognize the character.

CFD-Sarge-Logo.jpg

This is basically what the truck will look like only it will have matching red roll-up doors on the box versus the silver. Note there is no character on the pictured truck because this was a day or two after we took delivery of it and it had to go back to get the correct red doors on the box which they screwed up the order.

New 014.jpg
 
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That looks great to me! I'll look forward to seeing photos of the final product! :thumbsup:
 
Yeah looks good to me, but then almost anything with a jeep looks good! [emoji106]🏼


Sent from my iPad
 
Awesome. Good choice on Sarge. Nice artwork on it. Out of curiosity, do you need to get Disney's permission? If so, I say do it and ask forgiveness if they complain.
 
Go LED lights (save yourself on your generator cost) and get a Roto Ray, Halle pump, waterous primer, and akron valves...And make sure you don't overrate or underrate your suspension! Sutphen is know for a
lower rated suspension. They ride good but they wear out. Weight your equipment, including the weight of the water, and people. you Don't want a cracked frame or replacing major suspension components 2-3 years out... Oh and I'd also
make sure they aren't going to try and pull a fast one on you buy selling your a pre-emissions motor (last years model motor that they had sitting on the shelf with no vin yet. so they had to do something with or eat the cost) retrofitted with the new today emissions equipment. even thought that "last years model motor" was never designed to handle the new emissions equipment... but anything to save a buck... Good luck!
 
gr8dain said:
Awesome. Good choice on Sarge. Nice artwork on it. Out of curiosity, do you need to get Disney's
permission? If so, I say do it and ask forgiveness if they complain.
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Strictly speaking, probably. However, it is only going on our truck. We aren't selling or profiting from it in any monetary way. And we already have Lighting McQueen and Tow Mater from Cars, and Sully and Mike from Monster's Inc. on other trucks.
 
7jeeps7kings said:
Go LED lights (save yourself on your generator cost) and get a Roto Ray, Halle pump, waterous primer, and akron valves...And make sure you don't overrate or underrate your suspension! Sutphen is know for a
lower rated suspension. They ride good but they wear out. Weight your equipment, including the weight of the water, and people. you Don't want a cracked frame or replacing major suspension components 2-3 years out... Oh and I'd also
make sure they aren't going to try and pull a fast one on you buy selling your a pre-emissions motor (last years model motor that they had sitting on the shelf with no vin yet. so they had to do something with or eat the cost) retrofitted with the new today emissions equipment. even thought that "last years model motor" was never designed to handle the new emissions equipment... but anything to save a buck... Good luck!
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We've had all LED lighting for many years now. In fact, there has been some discussion about doing away with the generator completely on this truck but for now we are going to keep it. Without getting too in-depth on fire tucks here, we (CFD) are exclusively a Sutphen department with the exception of a few specialty apparatus. We've been that way for going on 20 years. We are pretty familiar with their trucks and how they operate (both the trucks and the company). That being said, I've worked for departments with Smeal, Pierce, KME, and E-One trucks and what I've come to know is that no matter the manufacturer they all have their issues. After all they are like any other business and are trying to keep costs down, customers happy, and in the end, make a profit. As for a company, I like Sutphen for the mere fact that they are a family owned and run company for over 125 years. That says something right there.
 
Will you be changing Sarges color to red or keeping it green? A red Sarge would look awesome with a few nozzles hanging out and a shovel or axe. Other then that, I like it. Just my 2 cents, of course I'm a blue liner, so you guys always do as you want to anyways. :usflag:
 
I like the Sarge idea. You being ADO of the new engine, something to take into consideration is having a walk through or catwalk type (whatever you want to call it) pump panel, if they offer it. It will likely increase your turning radius a bit but that tends to be a bigger deal in more rural areas with smaller roads. However, it gets you, the engineer, off the ground away from those cars that don't like to stop and end up sideswiping FF and also gives you a more commanding view of the fire ground which offers numerous benefits as well.

Example pic...

ecaf102966bb685f925b902a48732895png-1.jpg


Stay safe out there!
 
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Breal said:
I like the Sarge idea. You being ADO of the new engine, something to take into consideration is having a walk through or catwalk type (whatever you want to call it) pump panel, if they offer it. It will likely increase your turning radius a bit but that tends to be a bigger deal in more rural areas with smaller roads. However, it gets you, the engineer, off the ground away from those cars that don't like to stop and end up sideswiping FF and also gives you a more commanding view of the fire ground which offers numerous benefits as well.

Example pic...

ecaf102966bb685f925b902a48732895png-1.jpg


Stay safe out there!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the major layout of the truck is already set so changes such as the the walk-though are out. I see the advantages but one of the biggest concerns for us is overall length and turning radius. Columbia's downtown area is old and streets are congested especially during the day with parked cars along the streets, traffic, and delivery vehicles. The short engine is a big advantage. Our ladder trucks are very cumbersome in the heart of the city.
 
Polarfire said:
Unfortunately, the major layout of the truck is already set so changes such as the the walk-though are out. I see the advantages but one of the biggest concerns for us is overall length and turning radius. Columbia's downtown area is old and streets are congested especially during the day with parked cars along the streets, traffic, and delivery vehicles. The short engine is a big advantage. Our ladder trucks are very cumbersome in the heart of the city.
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Makes sense.
 
Sarge needs a light on the roof or something. I love the cartoon character on the trucks. awesome.
As for Disney... during WWII Disney drew a lot of nose art for planes. I'm sure they wouldn't mind!
 
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revho said:
Keep the rubber on the road. Local truck was totaled when it hit ice on Thurs and went in the ditch.

50198c25023f5ccaab8615fb27c1d648png-1.jpg


http://woodtv.com/2017/01/12/zeeland-township-firetruck-falls-down-embankment/
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Thanks. We are going through our second ice storm so far this winter. We seem to get ice every year. It seems mid-Missouri is always right on the line between all snow or all rain and we get ice. :angry:

As for me, I'm off for the next four days. I had to drive during the last ice storm we had a couple of weeks ago. I was lucky to make it with no accidents although we did slide around. We had four other trucks either get hit or hit something. Luckily no injuries and three of the trucks are still in service. The fourth will be repaired.
 
I was on a volunteer fire dept for 13 years and also on the Police and fire committee for 10 of those years, spec out 2 fire trucks and an ambulance it was very cool going through the Pierce plant. BUT my pride and joy was my deuce and a half I used for my DJ company fire truck.JPG The tank was flat so it was our stage and the truck had a hard top to place the equipment on, ad a Honda generator and we were rocking the USA ok Madison WI anyway LOL
 
Polarfire said:
After all they are like any other business and are trying to keep costs down, customers happy, and in the end, make a profit. As for a company, I like Sutphen for the mere fact that they are a family owned and run company for over 125 years. That says something right there.
Click to expand...

Family owned doesn't mean anything at the end of the day when it comes to business other then for sales pitch slogan!
 
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