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LIGHT DUTY WALK-AROUND RESCUE TRUCKS
(Click Here to see more pictures of this type of unit. The linked page will take a while to load.) Here are just some of the features that set our rescue trucks apart from the competition! (Click on the feature for more detail.)
QUALITY CONSTRUCTION There are many ways to save money when building fire apparatus and not all of them are good. Some methods only help the builder and hurt the customer. We have chosen a different route. The entire apparatus is designed to be able to build efficiently where it will benefit both us and our customers. If something might save us on the bottom line but will adversely affect the quality of the apparatus, it will not even be considered. Our philosophy is to save the customer money in every way possible without affecting the quality of the final product. Further, since we use only stainless steel nuts, bolts and screws, we will not be wasting your time and our time replacing rusted fasteners on units under warranty. By only using the highest quality wiring products and best practice wiring methods, we can avoid the frustrating electrical problems that plague some customers. Regarding welding, we subscribe to the old adage, "It takes
less time to do it right the first time than to redo it." Consequently,
all welds are performed by a certified welder. Joints that are intended to
be welded are designed with input from the head welder who is further
responsible for the selection of all gases, wires, consumables, and equipment
used in the welding department. ALUMINUM BODY An additional advantage of using this series of aluminum is that it is work hardened as opposed to tempered. This means that the heat created by welding will have a less dramatic affect on the strength of the material. With the break and bend process, each part is carefully formed to maximize usable compartment space while minimizing apparatus weight. Additionally, our craftsmen have maximum flexibility in design since they are not forced to adapt a customer's wishes to the structural elements that are the backbone of their design. Instead, they are free to design primarily around the customer's desires. Isn't that the way it should be?
As you can see by the drawing, the subframe is substantial yet, it is relatively light weight so it does not cut into the payload capabilities of your truck. Once the subframe has been finish welded and sanded, it is
then sandblasted to a "white" finish for maximum paint adhesion.
Immediately after sandblasting, It is painted black to match the chassis frame.
None of our apparatus parts are allowed to weather after completion and prior to
paint. A premium grade dielectric barrier is installed between the steel
subframe and the aluminum body to prevent corrosion that can be caused by
dissimilar metals.
ROLL-UP DOORS Additionally, when swing-out style doors are opened on both sides of a body, the total vehicle width is dramatically increased. This may not seem like much of an issue but, rescue trucks are often used on busy highways or crowded streets where the additional width can put the safety of personnel at risk by forcing them to walk into traffic or into ditches to avoid the doors.
In the process of designing the system we attempted to address the problems that have passed through repair shops over the last ten years. The electrical system was even addressed in the design of the body components to keep the system protected as much as possible. Here are some of the benefits of our engineered electrical system:
PPG PAINT WITH SEVEN YEAR WARRANTY The entire body is sanded to meet the requirements set forth by PPG to get maximum adhesion between paint and body material. In fact, PPG guidelines are carefully followed throughout the entire painting process. That is why we are capable of extending the PPG 7 year paint warranty to our customers. Once the body has been primer painted, the interior is finished with a heavy duty pickup bed liner material. This coating is extremely resilient and tough. It will resist scuffing and scratching much better than exterior coatings. When the interior is completed then the exterior receives its color coat/clear coat treatment for a finish that your department can enjoy for the life of the apparatus. Even though we follow PPG guidelines to the "T" and use the best quality supplied in the preparation and painting process, problems might still occur. In fact, Murphy's Law is more at home in the fire service than any other occupation we are aware of. This is when the value of the PPG 7 year warranty really can be appreciated. No matter where you live, there is bound to be a PPG authorized warranty repair center nearby. Your truck can be repaired locally, saving on down time and travel.
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Copyright © 2006
David's Fire Equipment
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Light
Rescue trucks are built on the one ton and "Super Duty" chassis of your choice. They are best suited for
dedicated purposes but can carry quite a bit of equipment to back up additional
operations as well. Fire Departments usually purchase light duty rescue
trucks for the following benefits:
For
maximum support and to uniformly distribute the load and road stress, we use a
steel subframe between the body and the chassis. It is built of structural
steel channel for maximum strength versus weight and size. Aluminum could
be used in this critical area but the thicknesses of the material would have to
be considerably beefed up to get the same strength. Additionally, aluminum
shapes of these sizes are very pricey. By using steel we are able to keep
all the dimensions within reason and save on cost. 
Roll-up doors are standard. There are many advantages
roll-up style doors offer your department. On rescue style bodies they
have become the standard because they allow full access to the inside of a
compartment. Swing-out style doors can become barriers to personnel using
a truck, especially when there are two compartments that are side by side and
both doors are open. To combat this problem departments have been
installing roll-out trays which are not free. Since the cost of a regular,
hinged door is roughly the same as a roll-up style door, adding roll-out trays
only serves to
drive
the price of a body up. We are not against roll-out trays, we just feel
that they should not be forced on a customer because of bad apparatus design.
With the roll-up style door, a body can be much more functional for less
expense. 
No
truck is any better than its weakest link. In fire apparatus, that weak
link has proven to be the electrical system. Electrical systems have become
increasingly complex over the years. Even something as simple as a light
bar will now come with a 16 wire harness. Modern options are also
considerably more complex than in the past. To combat that problem, we
chose to start with an engineered system.