Do any departments like their Ferrara apparatus?

[...]

OK, for starters...I've wondered this this for a long time is there ANY departments that actually like their Ferrara apparatus?
All I've seen is bad reviews. It just seems with so many units being built for some of the largest cities they could not be that bad.

PS: When you click the "Testimonials" section of the Ferrara website it comes up with "Not Found"...

[LeadOff]

OK for starters...I've wondered this this for a long time is there ANY departments that actually like their Ferrara apparatus?
All I've seen is bad reviews. It just seems with so many units being built for some of the largest cities they could not be that bad.

PS: When you click the "Testimonials" section of the Ferrara website it comes up with "Not Found"...

There are only a few Ferrara pumpers (older units) around the area and the companies that bought them have had quite a bit of problems with them, primarily related to reliability and durability issues. These companies have since purchased newer units which have NOT been additional Ferraras. Maybe Ferrara has improved their products over the past few years since they have been selling a good number of few units. I believe they are up in the top 5 now in sales, behind Pierce and Rosenbauer and in the ballpark with KME and E-One. They must be doing something right!

[neiowa]

I understanding is that sales stats are: Pierce in 1st by a fair piece (taking a big hit in sales in 2009). Rosenbauer and E-One debating who is in 2nd/3rd depending if/how count export sales and light duty (wildland/light rescue). With all this Rosie slightly ahead of E-One. Without E-One aheard. Anyone else is way back of these 3. All mfg sales being off substantially this year.

[IronsMan53]

I ride a Ferrara pumper every third day. It is a good unit. No major complaints.

The biggest issue that we have seen out of the ones we've purchased over the last few years is that one of the pumpers had a body mount loosen or fail causing the body to shift on the frame. This seems to have been a freak occurrence. The unit was repaired and we haven't had any issues since.

The body itself is rock solid. It is probably the best part of the rig and is the only thing completely fabricated by Ferrara since we buy the Intruder 2 which has an HME cab.

BTW, we are still buying Ferrara and have an order in with them right now.

[LeadOff]

I understanding is that sales stats are: Pierce in 1st by a fair piece (taking a big hit in sales in 2009). Rosenbauer and E-One debating who is in 2nd/3rd depending if/how count export sales and light duty (wildland/light rescue). With all this Rosie slightly ahead of E-One. Without E-One aheard. Anyone else is way back of these 3. All mfg sales being off substantially this year.

At the Firehouse Mag Expo in Baltimore back in July, Bob Barraclough and Alan Saulsbury reported that Rosenbauer had moved into the #2 position in sales ahead of E-One but still pretty far behind Pierce. I really couldn't remember how Ferrara, E-One, and KME stacked up in the rest of the top 5 but I think they were fairly close together. You're definitely right about one thing, the overall sales are way off this year due to the economy and are expected to be even worse next year.

[CanadianFyrTrks]

I can't recall where I read the article, however, sales have dropped off 40% for this year.

[RoofTopTrucky]

Like every rig, I think it depends on who you talk to at the dept. that has it.
2 stations in my dept are prime exsamples. One is all Pierce, If you talk to their Chief and a few other guys and they will admit they have had a few "minor" problems but other than that it's the best thing since sliced bread. Then if you talk to the guys that use the rigs day in and day out they will tell you what a nightmare it is and how it commonly will raise and outrigger off the ground and lock up while they're up in the bucket.
The other is a Ferrarah Station, and again it's who you talk to. They have a quint. With that being said, in case you don't know, Smeal makes the Aerial for Ferrarah. Now this rig, 2 times that I have witnesed, has caught fire due to wireing problems. Both times it became a "point the finger" game between Ferrarah and Smeal as to who's falt it was. Ultimitly comming out as being Ferrarah's problem.
I talk to the head of fleet mainitnece often and he "says" he's putting in a request for a "No Purchase Order" for Ferrarah due to the problems he has had. However it was too late becasue there is another on order for the same station.
And Finaly, I spoke with a guy who once sold for Ferrarah, and he told me some stories. From Trucks comming in Completey Wrong from Spec and the FD having to fight to have it corrected, to warenty issues that come up and that are set aside untill AFTER the warently is up, and at that time, Farrarah will fix it and send a bill or fight that it is no longet under warenty. He claims it was the way they treated the cutomer and the horrible produce to be the reason he got out of it, and no he wasn't working for another mfg. at the time I spoke to him.
So take it for what it's worth, but thats I'll can say about Ferrarah in reguards to first hand knowlege and what i have been told. I can say that I would ever buy a Ferrarah....or probably even a Pierce.

[fireinfo10]

At the Firehouse Mag Expo in Baltimore back in July, Bob Barraclough and Alan Saulsbury reported that Rosenbauer had moved into the #2 position in sales ahead of E-One but still pretty far behind Pierce. I really couldn't remember how Ferrara, E-One, and KME stacked up in the rest of the top 5 but I think they were fairly close together. You're definitely right about one thing, the overall sales are way off this year due to the economy and are expected to be even worse next year.

Yes, when include exports and wildland Rosenbauer is able to get past E-One in the totals. Should such be counted? Aren't in anyone elses # (including Pierce). Ferrara down the list a bit in 4th. KME?

[RedBaronl32]

Holy $hit Batman=============I don't never, ever want to get on the bad side of RTT!!!!!!!!!!

[LeadOff]

Yes, when include exports and wildland Rosenbauer is able to get past E-One in the totals. Should such be counted? Aren't in anyone elses # (including Pierce). Ferrara down the list a bit in 4th. KME?

I should have noted that the Rosenbauer #'s ranking them #2 behind Pierce were only for Rosenbauer America, not Rosenbauer International which includes the European market. World-wide, Rosenbauer Intl. is way out in front of everybody to include Pierce.

[RoofTopTrucky]

I should have noted that the Rosenbauer #'s ranking them #2 behind Pierce were only for Rosenbauer America, not Rosenbauer International which includes the European market. World-wide, Rosenbauer Intl. is way out in front of everybody to include Pierce.

That ought to bruise the egos of the Kool Aid drinkers

[mcfdrichey25]

We own a Ferrara Fire Apparatus. Our busiest engine is a Ferrara which responds to every house fire in a 600 square mile area. Our apparatus has over 50,000 miles on it and is an '05 model. It is an Intruder 2, Cummins 400Hp motor, Allison Transmission, with 1000 gallons of water. After working out a few wiring issues when the engine first came in, it's performed flawlessly!! We plan on purchasing Ferrara in the future.

[...]

Wow! I did not know Rosey was #2.

[HooknCanman32]

our Ferrara = giant p.o.s.

[fireinfo10]

Wow! I did not know Rosey was #2.

Only #2 when include brushtrucks and export trucks as being real fire trucks and for US. The other major mfgs do not count either. Leave such out and Rosey is #3. A shell game, but apparently important to them to be bigger than they are.

[txgp17]

We bought a Ferrara in 98. 1,500 gallon tanker with a 1,250 Waterous pump and lots of extras. No bells or whistles. It was on a FL-112 chassis with a Cat C10 with a JakeBrake.

It was awesome. I loved it.

[jay5019]

Hartford Ct fire dept is running 4 or 5 Ferrara Engines . I havn't heard anything bad being said about them, they all seem pretty satisfied.

[FFFRED]

They are huge POS.

FTM-PTB

[enor101]

Why do certain posters insist on posting negative comments without any backup at all?
PS: My volly dept has a Ferrara quint and have been happy enough to have them building us a new heavy rescue.
PPS: Another local dept liked them also, they ordered 3 new pumpers in one shot.

[IronsMan53]

They are huge POS.

FTM-PTB

Well FFFRED, you'll be riding in one very soon, so you might as well make the best of it.