Info on Truck

[medicmaster]

I am looking for any additional information, including pictures of this truck...

http://fire.kovatch.com/Default.aspx...RC=8&wildRP=12

It's a hell of a rig and I'd like to find out more about it!

Any info would be appreciated.

[N2DFire]

I would try contacting the FD Directly (BTW - there is one additional picture on their apparatus page)
http://www.mechanicstownfd.com


Or contact KME and ask for a copy of the drawings - you already have the job number on the picture.

Best of luck & happy hunting.

[PeteySt1]

Hey,
That department's truck was at the Harrisburg show, mighty nice lookin' rig. It's a top mount enclosed pump.You know, the pump controls in the crew cab.
I believe it's got a cascade system on-board. I was told it carries 2500 gallons of water. It's got a foam system, I don't know how much. It's got a computer in the officer's seat, and a really expensive CD player. It has 2 command lights in the top, and coffin compartments over the hosebed. Mechanicstown FD is located about 20 minutes away from me. It's all volunteer, but covers almost all of the retail centers of Orange County, NY.
For more pictures and info, check out:
www.ocnyfire.com
www.hves.us

The first site is all of the rigs of orange county. The second site is by a guy named David Weimer, he's an incident photographer.

[firefightergtp]

They're about 10 minutes from me. I can probably get you more info, I went to some classes with one of their asst. chiefs.

From what I've been told, the truck has been Out of service more than it has been in service. They were in front of us at a procession a few months ago when they first got that rig, and it wouldn't start!

[Ledebuhr1]

I would worry about getting a rig from KME with all thoes bells and whistles. There are a Lot of things to break on that truck.
Any idea how much it cost?

[firefightergtp]

I would worry about getting a rig from KME with all thoes bells and whistles. There are a Lot of things to break on that truck.
Any idea how much it cost?

I'll find out, but Mechanicstown is notorious for having big $$$ to spend on bells and whistles.

[Fyrtrks]

I heard that it was just shy of $ 1,000,000.00 equipped.

[backsteprescue123]

That is one NICE rig!

[dmleblanc]

From what I've been told, the truck has been Out of service more than it has been in service. They were in front of us at a procession a few months ago when they first got that rig, and it wouldn't start!

We have the same problem with the rigs where I work (Pierce)....everything is electronic and computerized, and we are constantly having something break (usually something minor, like a valve won't operate or something like that)....I find the whole thing is just overly complicated...the more gizmos and gadgets you slap onto a truck, the more can go wrong, and it will choose to go wrong at the most inopportune time. More apparatus manufacturers should follow the KISS philosophy.....

[PeteySt1]

I heard that at a funeral procession, the power steering kicked in too late and hit another rig. I heard this system kicks in after a certain degree of your turn. The rumor floating around is that the rig cost upwards of $1,000,000.

[Ledebuhr1]

I think a million is a lot for that truck. I would like to know if KME was low bid. I have seen a lot of pumper/tankers with a lot of bells and whistles for a lot less. Around here, you would never get a million dollar rig approved by the council, unless it was a tower, or a Bronto.

[Res343cue]

Looking at that rig, compared to something like Fallon's..... Seems like a million is quite high. Their rigs have alot more bells and whistles, alot more customization, and added features (IE: the aerials), were only like 650,000$

How does this truck come in at a million?

[Ledebuhr1]

Anyone here know a Fallon FF? Thoes rigs are about 10years old and I would like to know how they have held up. They certianly have a lot of things to break.

I think it is possible to have a high-end rig and have it reliable. It needs to be well engineered and have quality parts. Even simple rigs can be unreliable.

[Ledebuhr1]

Looks like we arnt the only ones talking about that truck. I guess it cost 850k and not 1 mill. I still think 850k is WAY high.

http://www.pikecoemergency.com/forum...read.php?t=325
http://centralpafire.com/forum/view_...&jump_to=34169

[thegeek187]

I wanna say i herd somewhere that it was 850-900K....

[FD1976]

Wow, and not a Long Island Rig!!!

[PeteySt1]

see, you have to know their reputation. they are known for going all out on their rigs. they have alot of things that aren't necessarily needed for everyday ops. that's probably why it cost over $1 million.

[medicmaster]

I think a million is a lot for that truck. I would like to know if KME was low bid. I have seen a lot of pumper/tankers with a lot of bells and whistles for a lot less. Around here, you would never get a million dollar rig approved by the council, unless it was a tower, or a Bronto.

After looking at their website...looks like most of their rigs are KME, so it sounds like they are going for consistency, not low-bid.

$1,000,000?! I was figuring $600K at the most....although it is a hell of a truck.

[mecfd29]

Chief of Mechanicstown Fire Department here. Let me try to dispell some of the untrue rumors about my new engine. The truck has been in service for less than a year. Like all my other KME trucks, it has been an excellent truck to us. There were a few bugs to be worked out when we first got the truck, but very minor things only. If we can all be honest, this is the way with all trucks, regardless of manufacturer. The only time this truck has been out of service for more than a day, or was damaged and taken out of service for more than a day was completely due to operator error. The minor problems that we have experienced, we contacted the service department and they fixed them immediately. The service department at KME, contrary to popular belief, is world class. We have owned KME apparatus for many years, and they have served us well in all areas. We have two maintenance people on staff in the firehouse, and they work with KME and the people who now handle Saulsbury (E-One). They are the only two types of apparatus we have. Hands down, they recommend KME apparatus and KME service over E-One. All of our KME trucks have served us well, and we are happy with everything that KME has helped us to design. The bells and whistles as everyone calls them, were all desigend and thought out for a reason, and no it's not to look good in a parade. This truck was desigend to try and help with my manpower problems. I can no longer get three and four trucks out the door to every call. When i do get an engine out, it has to bring me everything I need. We also cover two major interstates that have no water supply or ability to easily get additional apparatus into the scene once we have arrived and closed traffic. This truck was designed so we do not need as many pieces of apparatus on the interstates, and it has served us well. We also cover a major retail and industrial corridor. It is imperative that the first due engine bring me manpower and equipment to do the job. We spent two years designing this truck, like we did our tower ladder.
everything is there for a reason. The engine came completely equipped with everything brand new. The equipment from the replacement piece of apparatus that we sold was kept and put in service fior training use only. We train hard and often, so I decided that the SCBA"S and other equipment on the truck should stay there and we could use our training equipment to train and back up if something is broken or lost from an in service truck. The purchase of all of our loose equipment (SCBA'S, TIC, Laptop computer, Handtools, Hose, Etc.) all went into the price of this truck. The truck with all loose equipment was $800,000.00. It may seem high until you break it down. The SCBA's alone were over $65,000.00. I hope this helps everyone understand that things are not always as they appear, or you heard a rumor about. We tend to do things a little different in Mechanicstown, but we do them to fit our needs and protect our district. Looking outside the "box" is not always the wrong thing. It has been working for us for several years. Just approaching a thousand calls this year, no ems at all, and we roll KME on every call, and yes we swear by them. As we speak right now, we are working on anothe unique piece of equipment, and I hope KME gets the bid to build it. From sales to service and everything in the middle, KME has been the way to go. A very satisfied customer. www.mechanicstownfd.com. - stop by and see our apparatus.
The Chief

[Ledebuhr1]

Chief,
KME should put you on thier payroll, you seem to be one of the few that praises them so much. Most people complain about their reliablity.
Your needs in a first out pumper don't sound unusual. Many small departments want a "do-it-all" truck. Did you look at Fallon NV FD trucks? They have an ISO of 1 and are voulenteer. Their trucks were A LOT less that yours and I think have as many "bells and whistles". Was KME low bid? I would just worry about the reliability of all thoes features. For example, not many trucks with that rear stearing axel or electronic valve controlls.