Apparatus numbers on front grill of apparatus

[SCOOBY14B]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction?

We're getting a new Sutphen platform. Our old one had no grill, but the new one does. We'd like to place the company number on the grill in large numbers.

Just wondering where companies have these made at and approximate cost?

Thanks

[chiefengineer11]

Be careful how you do this. It's all to easy to restrict airflow to the radiator. Consult the truck builder about how much you can get by with. Also, they might be a good source for what you want. If they're willing to fabricate and install them and you have cooling issues later, you could have a come back to them.

Stay safe out there, everyone goes home!

[FWDbuff]

This is one argument I have on an annual basis with CE11.

I present this to him for public debate. I invite all to join in.

I have traveled all over this great country of ours visiting various Fire Departments, especially the eastern seaboard. I have ridden with some of the busiest Engine, Truck and Heavy Rescue Companies in the world. In places like Harlem, Brownsville, Crotona Park, East New York.....Newark, Kensington, Fishtown......The list goes on. Since the age of 16 I must have ridden with literally hundreds of companies. Companies that average over 2000 runs a year, and some as many as 5 or 6000 a year.

I have ridden with Companies that have numbers, letters, stuffed animals, water coolers, hosebags, hurst tools, hoselines, etc. all blocking their radiators.

I have ridden with companies that are part of departments that have their own apparatus maintenance shops- with mechanics that are familiar with and an intimate knowledge of fireground operations when relating to maintenance issues. I even know of several fire departments that allow their respective motor pools to fabricate and install company numbers as a source of pride and morale.

Thousands of apparatus, in hundreds of departments. Career, volunteer....Busy, extremely busy, slow, extremely slow......

But never, not once.....Not one, single, solitary time......Nadda! Nichts! Zero! Never have I heard of a piece overheating, or even running hot for that matter!

Care to explain?

[SCOOBY14B]

Easy guys...not trying to start a debate.

Something like this will require permission from fleet management, so if something goes south...we're not in hack.

Just looking into where guys get these.

Thanks

[FWDbuff]

It's ok Scooby, yer a new guy....CE11 is my old man. We do this on a daily basis, keeps us honest. I have even heard we are a source of entertainment for a lot of the apparatus gurus on here.

Oh, and as for your numbers- Any of your guys who are good at metal fabricating can take a piece of 1/8" or 1/4" thick stainless or aluminum plate (go to a local fabricating shop and see if they have scraps big enough they would donate...or a metal supplier....go in with those sad puppydog "scrounging fireman" eyes, maybe you could get it donated) and trace out the numbers.......Use a sawzall to make the rough cuts, then file down whats left. Round off the edges, then clean them off real good, and cover the numbers with scotchlite! For a real nice effect, buy some automotive pinstriping at any auto parts store, and use that as outline.

[TC33FF]

We have ours that are about 10 inches. Talk Sutphen See if they will do it for you.

[ChiefSquirrel]

You could also have the apparatus number painted on the grill so that it will stand out. I've seen such arrangements and they're perfectly visible at a distance and up close and don't require any fabrication or anything blocking the grill.

[dp7197r751]

I had Pierce make me the lettering needed and then took the grill off of our Lance. I then took the 2 smaller horizontal center bars off (4 screws) and applied the scotchlite stickers directly to the grill.

Next, lay the grill face down and put a small sheet of glass under the sticker. Teh, take the next hour or two and cut out each individual grill hole so only the metal is covered.

Check out www.hvfd.com for pics of the squad. I did this back in 93/94.

[NewJerseyFFII]

We have had numbers mounted on all apparatus at one time, now the only truck with grill numbers is the older Mack CF Aerialscope!..

[Resq14]

Is that a grille or just a decorative front?

[TC33FF]

Decorative. The grills everyone is talking about are the ones that cover the radiator.

[Station25C1]

try having the grill water jet punched

[ChiefDog]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction?

We're getting a new Sutphen platform. Our old one had no grill, but the new one does. We'd like to place the company number on the grill in large numbers.

Just wondering where companies have these made at and approximate cost?

Thanks

How about large reflective letters on the front bumper? They can be 8-10 inches high and there is no real or assumed issue with cooling.

[chiefengineer11]

try having the grill water jet punched

I'm told that Spartan's radiators, charge air coolers and transmission coolers are set up differently from other chassis manufacturers. Despite what FWDbuff says, if you haven't already, I would want to check with them about this arrangement.

Stay safe out there, everyone goes home!

[NewJerseyFFII]

Is that a grille or just a decorative front?

They are reflective numbers installed with stainless steel screws!

[ResqShrek]

Is that a grille or just a decorative front?

are you referring to the unpainted portion of the mack cf cab? if so it appears to be cosmetic (we run a 1978 mack cf at my station)... however if you look at the R model macks... or most mack commercial chassis from the same period it appears to be a very similar/ if not the same cab, without a hood... and the contours appear to be the same as if you were to put a hood/engine compartment forward of the cab... just my 2 cents

[FWDbuff]

are you referring to the unpainted portion of the mack cf cab? if so it appears to be cosmetic (we run a 1978 mack cf at my station)... however if you look at the R model macks... or most mack commercial chassis from the same period it appears to be a very similar/ if not the same cab, without a hood... and the contours appear to be the same as if you were to put a hood/engine compartment forward of the cab... just my 2 cents

An "R" model is a conventional style (Engine forward) chassis/cab combination. A "CF" is more or less a COE (cab over engine) style chassis/cab combination (although some will argue it is an engine behind the cab. Nevertheless, they are two completely different creatures. They are manufactured with many of the same components, however, such as doors, windshields, etc. lending a very simular appearance to one another.

[Res343cue]

You wanna be just like these guys, right?





heh heh heh....

[FWDbuff]

Ohhh Krissy.....I see you've changed flavors of kool aid......No. THEY are trying to be like THESE guys...... Photo credits to Mike Martinelli......

[Resq14]

You wanna be just like these guys, right?





heh heh heh....

lol I almost posted a similar pic.