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View Full Version : Anybody have a better picture of this rig

chtucker
03-04-2006, 12:45 PM
No we are NOT considering it AT ALL... I just want a better picture :D

Its a blanchat mfg gunfighter :p
ctxffman
03-04-2006, 01:05 PM
what a beast!
that's a climb to the hose bed.
chtucker
03-04-2006, 01:40 PM
And a looooooonnnnnnnng fall... Wouldn't want it to be my ride.
spearsm
03-04-2006, 02:46 PM
looks like a photoshop job to me.

If not. Daaaaannnnggg. What a monster.
Ledebuhr1
03-04-2006, 03:01 PM
Where did you find the pic of that rig? Anyone know what department owns that rig?
First time I have ever saw a triple axle tanker. I wonder how someone is spossed to get the ladder down from the rack?
Looks like they hired a apparatus consultant and he wanted to show how to "overspec" a rig.
IronsMan53
03-04-2006, 03:08 PM
Here's a link to a slideshow of Blanchat's Gunfighter series: click here (http://www.blanchatmfg.com/gunfighter.php)
It shows two different rigs. One of them is the one mentioned here.

Personally, I think the rig is absolutely rediculous! :rolleyes:
MEck51
03-04-2006, 03:21 PM
Well from as near as I can see the truck isn't realy "overspeced". It is a straight forward tanker designed to carry a lot of water with out being articulated, hence more members are able to drive maybe. Don't know where it is from or what local laws are, but it may just be that way so you don't need a CDL to haul that kind of water. As far as the ladders, they probably have no intention of using them, more than likely just there to satisfy NFPA as a pumper. Looks like they went with a peterbuilt, so they probably did go with a bulletproof driveline designed for the long haul. While it definately is not a city truck may be just the thing in an area loaded with farms and mountians.
chtucker
03-04-2006, 03:25 PM
Wouldn't work to well here in the mountains of Colorado. It is marketed as a do it all rig. I won't comment besides that it is probably was not built with firefighter safety in mind (hose bed, ladders, cab steps and on and on) If you look at the website it says it is an interface/wildland/structure rig...
IronsMan53
03-04-2006, 03:56 PM
That is what I am getting at. They aren't marketing this thing as a tanker. They are pushing it as a do-all rig. From the looks of it the only thing it may do well is haul water. I would hate to have to pack any hose on this rig. That hosebed is scary!

If they marketed it as only a tanker, then I could understand that but unfortunately that isn't the case.
Ledebuhr1
03-04-2006, 06:44 PM
Is there some kind of NFPA standard for maximum hose bed height? If you need to take an elevator to it, it might be too high.
With that much water and foam. do you really need supply line?
I though I read that the long wheelbase taker was 3200gal. thats a lot of water.
confire
03-04-2006, 08:04 PM
The truck looks like it has it all for a good stand. The only thing missing is the trailer hitch, that way they could hitch up the fire house and take it along with them :D
Firefighter1244
03-04-2006, 08:57 PM
I don't think they forgot the trailer hitch!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.blanchatmfg.com/hellcat.php
k1500chevy97
03-05-2006, 07:19 PM
I don't think they forgot the trailer hitch!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.blanchatmfg.com/hellcat.php

Dang! I think we need a Gunfighter set up to pull our M548 instead of an old cab over lowboy. :D :D

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/firepictures2/websize/IM001042.JPG
RFRDxplorer
03-05-2006, 09:47 PM
THAT TRUCK IS A BEAST!!!

Do you need supplemental O2 when packing hose due to the high altitude?? JEEZ!
neiowa
03-06-2006, 01:22 AM
Dang! I think we need a Gunfighter set up to pull our M548 instead of an old cab over lowboy. :D :D

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/firepictures2/websize/IM001042.JPG

Check their website. http://www.blanchatmfg.com/hellcat.php M548 conversion
Catch22
03-06-2006, 10:41 AM
The truck looks like it has it all for a good stand. The only thing missing is the trailer hitch, that way they could hitch up the fire house and take it along with them :D

Look at the Gunfighter options on the bottom of the slide-show page...

"Rear Pental Hitch
The rear pental hitch option has a reinforced rear bumper with a pental hitch block attachment. This allows the pumper/tender to pull trailers with a pental hitch."

Will that pull the station? :)
WaterbryVTfire
03-06-2006, 11:04 AM
This is case of where bigger is not always better!! Can you imagine the height of the bay door this beast would need?
RCTalma
03-06-2006, 11:58 AM
I see this a a great truck if it meets the needs of that department. It may not work in all areas, but in open, flat, sparsely populated plains states, I sure it works well for their needs.
On the hosebed, if you have to take 3000 gallons to the fire, you probably don't have any hydrants and the hosebed is only there for NFPA.

The joys of custom fire apparatus, someone always has a neat idea for what meets their needs. ie Fallon Nevada.
SCOOBY14B
03-06-2006, 11:17 PM
IMO...it is a photchop.

Why do I say that? First off, it appears the vertical slash cut exhaust is in FRONT of the front cab door. It also appears in that area where two picture might have been put together (where the fuel tank/running boards meet. It also appears that the hard suction is just laying on the hosebed. Plus several other things that just seem a little over the top.
IronsMan53
03-07-2006, 12:23 AM
Did you happen to miss the multiple views of this exact apparatus on the manufacturer's website??? That would be a heck of a photoshop job to make ALL of those photos from different angles turn out EXACTLY the same.
Firefighter1244
03-07-2006, 01:56 AM
Did you happen to miss the multiple views of this exact apparatus on the manufacturer's website??? That would be a heck of a photoshop job to make ALL of those photos from different angles turn out EXACTLY the same.

AGREED!!!! I don't think there's anything Photoshop about this truck!!!!

What he was referring to with the exhaust I believe there is an extended cab type of deal that makes the picture look kind of goofy. But.....it's the real deal!!!!

How top heavy must that rig be????
Thehangedfrog
03-08-2006, 02:04 AM
AGREED!!!! I don't think there's anything Photoshop about this truck!!!!

What he was referring to with the exhaust I believe there is an extended cab type of deal that makes the picture look kind of goofy. But.....it's the real deal!!!!

How top heavy must that rig be????

That is why it has ROPS (tm) Roll Over Protection System.. Just look at the brochure.
HSFDChief600
03-10-2006, 09:58 PM
The GVWR has to be way up there,even with a tag axle. In a rural area there is no way it could make bridge weights. A well seasoned driver would have issues getting this beast to stop or make turns safely.
dalyup
10-09-2007, 12:49 AM
I just stumbled on to this thread. Real it is!!! This Unit Belongs to Hunter FD in Garfield County, OK. A neighboring fire department. I've fought fire with this truck, and most of you are correct in saying it's huge and unpractical for most. In our area it works well and is used primarily for water shuttle. It does carry LDH and can pump and roll. I hope someday you guys can get a personal look at this beautiful apparatus.
LCFD1L101
10-10-2007, 02:28 AM
The GVWR has to be way up there,even with a tag axle. In a rural area there is no way it could make bridge weights. A well seasoned driver would have issues getting this beast to stop or make turns safely.

Last I checked the "tag axle" raised the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Which is based on axle ratings, so more axles more rating.

Maybe your brigdes won't hold up but there are ones all around the country that will.

I am by no means a "well seasoned driver" but every harvest I drive a tandem truck with weights up to 60,000. Have never once had trouble stopping or making turns safely.

Long story short, you don't know every circumance or the area.

SO DON'T PREACH LIKE YOU DO.
toolhog
10-10-2007, 01:17 PM
Where could you even use a rig like that????????? In the desert? Somehow i can't picture this in ohio on a one lane road, what am i saying i couldn't picture it on a interstate road !!!!!!
mitchkrat
10-10-2007, 02:13 PM
I have looked at a couple of their demostrators over the years - they are HUGE trucks. Bottom of hosebed was over 10 feet - we joked we could mount a basketball backboard on the back of the truck.
Frmboybuck
10-10-2007, 02:14 PM
That is deffinatley not a photoshop....Yea its big, but it isnt much bigger than most. Its just a typical semi chassis. 377 Peterbilt to be exact. Would work great for a rural dept for water shuttle. Like some said, the hose bed and ladders are there for NFPA and the ISO rating. As LCFD said, the tag axle raises the gross weight rating. The more axles you have, the more weight you can haul. If you couldnt handle this rig on the road you dont need to be driving anyway.
mcaldwell
10-10-2007, 04:24 PM
Dear Santa...

;) :D
kuntrykid
10-11-2007, 10:12 AM
...................
Box2565
10-21-2007, 02:10 AM
There are half a dozen photos of this rig in the Youngstown Fire Forums. These are different photos than are shown on the Blanchat web site and are clear, close views of this apparatus.

Blanchat Manufacturing Topic - Youngstown Fire Forums (http://www.youngstownfire.com/forums/index.php/topic,6542.0.html).
jeremy1213
04-07-2008, 09:39 PM
these trucks are made for ok and kanas the department i used to be on we had 3 of these