British fire alliances often have red/white quadrant wheel rims. It helps oncoming traffic to notice when an appliance is pulling out into the traffic from a side junction.
A good number of them GMC's were sold second hand to different fire services around Ireland and some survived in service until the 2010s, one of them was in service up until last year too on an airfield. The crews that operated them that I know of in County Cork said they were great vehicles to have, great appliances. I Believe the Cork ones were Ex South Yorkshire, there's some images somewhere online
Meanwhile, Feuerwehr Ulm in Germany has a 2000s Chevrolet equivalent of one that is still being used. There was also a 2010s Ford in Austria, but the original uploader got hacked, and it went missing. Luckily, the truck is still used.
There is one of what I think is one of these, used as anorivate vehicle in my town. If not one of these, it's likely to be one from a USAF airfield in the UK if they used anything similar. It's certainly GMC, Red and has the storage lockers/shape of these.
@@shaneharrisnj3484 Not surprising that Ulm would have a Chevrolet based Fire Truck. Used to be two different US Army installations in Neu Ulm,plus Bundeswehr/Luftwaffe as well who all worked very closely together. Guarantee the Ulmer Feuerwehr had seen Chevy trucks in use before their decision to buy them.
That is why many volunteer departments build their Brush rigs in-house. In fact, several Paid departments have assemble unique rigs from parts of older used trucks that were no longer needed in their Reserve fleet.
Would have loved to have seen what the interior and dash arrangement was with the RHD, as a first vehicle I had a 1988 GMC similar to that here in Boston, MA USA, that was unfortunately stolen and crashed into a house! It still ran and drove, but I wound up selling it to a firefighter oddly enough, he repaired it and drove it for years after
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSkyWell, only the front cab and chassis. The very dependable and near-indestructable Squarebody (1973-88) GMC 3500. The main fire body is done by Carmichael, the 6-wheel Land Rover fire truck constructors.
A RHD 'Squarebody'. Sweet. Amazed one hasn't ended up in the hands of a private collector & been Exported back Stateside??? (The 1973-87/91 'Squarebody' Chevy/GMC Trucks have a very large following these days in the Car Collector/Hot Rodding community)
We already had those in Tyne & Wear when I joined in 1987. They turned out to be another dangerous bad idea of very little use. The Paramedics later moved into our station with a similar set up & filled it with diesel 2 or 3 times a day, in between the rear wheel coming off that is. Like us, they also got rid of them.
Hi They were introduced to all 2 pump stations (about 10) in Gloucestershire in 1988/89, I believe that they had all been withdrawn by 1995 in favour of regular water tenders albeit on a smaller chassis than the Dodge featured in the clip. Where the prototype or any of the others ended up I haven't a clue.
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky At least one of them has ended up in private hands (F509 WAD) and it can be seen at the South Cerney Steam fair, as well as other shows i'm sure.
Yes they did, I can contest to that having driven them under "Blues & Twos". Horrible feeling when you stopped accelerating, no engine braking due to being an automatic all on the brakes, hairy ride.
Awe yes, the era of the "Rapid Attack Vehicle" or RAV. All the rage until there was a big fire. Some debts here in the U.S. went all in on the concept and regretted it. They have their place to be sure. I remember being an explorer scout with the local FD. their RAV carried hose lays, extra buckets of AFFF as they were 2nd in to the airport, and other kit. You could walk faster than that thing could move it was so over weight....
They drove GMC in the UK? 😮 That’s shocking, especially when you consider that modern GMC vehicles would never fit on British roads because they’re too big while the roads are narrow.
East Sussex used them as rescue tenders I think, with a huge telescopic flood light on top. Pretty sure I’ve got a post card of Brighton’s one somewhere.
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky All the East Sussex examples were bodied and supplied by Macclesfield Motor Bodies, Brighton used a Jeep Cherokee , new in 1979 or 80 (V Registered) which was likely substituted by the GMC a decade later. Bodywork on the Jeep was by Pilcher-Greene BTW
Yes I agree, they used the 6.2L Diesel engine version which seemed a bit under powered on occasions, coupled with being an automatic which gave the impression of free wheeling when taking your foot off the gas and braking, made for a very hairy ride at speed down country roads.
It's incredible how you see Americans ambulances/light fire trucks around the world. And it's only because of emissions regulations that we less and less of them...
The Brits made that GMC look quite good! Love the red and white wheels.
👍
British fire alliances often have red/white quadrant wheel rims. It helps oncoming traffic to notice when an appliance is pulling out into the traffic from a side junction.
A good number of them GMC's were sold second hand to different fire services around Ireland and some survived in service until the 2010s, one of them was in service up until last year too on an airfield. The crews that operated them that I know of in County Cork said they were great vehicles to have, great appliances. I Believe the Cork ones were Ex South Yorkshire, there's some images somewhere online
Meanwhile, Feuerwehr Ulm in Germany has a 2000s Chevrolet equivalent of one that is still being used. There was also a 2010s Ford in Austria, but the original uploader got hacked, and it went missing. Luckily, the truck is still used.
There is one of what I think is one of these, used as anorivate vehicle in my town.
If not one of these, it's likely to be one from a USAF airfield in the UK if they used anything similar.
It's certainly GMC, Red and has the storage lockers/shape of these.
@@shaneharrisnj3484 Not surprising that Ulm would have a Chevrolet based Fire Truck. Used to be two different US Army installations in Neu Ulm,plus Bundeswehr/Luftwaffe as well who all worked very closely together. Guarantee the Ulmer Feuerwehr had seen Chevy trucks in use before their decision to buy them.
@@DrOlds7298 An ex-military truck... Interesting. Over here in America, the Deuce and AM General trucks are usually reconverted for brush fire usage.
That is why many volunteer departments build their Brush rigs in-house. In fact, several Paid departments have assemble unique rigs from parts of older used trucks that were no longer needed in their Reserve fleet.
I almost smacked my monitor at 0:05 like I used to when I was a kid and the tape would skip like that 🤣
You can't beat authenticity😁
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky miss that stuff so bad man, those were the days haha
Would have loved to have seen what the interior and dash arrangement was with the RHD, as a first vehicle I had a 1988 GMC similar to that here in Boston, MA USA, that was unfortunately stolen and crashed into a house! It still ran and drove, but I wound up selling it to a firefighter oddly enough, he repaired it and drove it for years after
Very nice, great clip, thanks for sharing .... watching from NZ 🥂🥂
The prototype is just the Fire Chief's truck in the US.
🤣
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSkyWell, only the front cab and chassis. The very dependable and near-indestructable Squarebody (1973-88) GMC 3500. The main fire body is done by Carmichael, the 6-wheel Land Rover fire truck constructors.
Good old days of Wool Tunics and PVC leggings that would melt to your knees.... Looked very sharp!
Ah yes, especially on forest fires in late spring, happy days...
A RHD 'Squarebody'. Sweet. Amazed one hasn't ended up in the hands of a private collector & been Exported back Stateside??? (The 1973-87/91 'Squarebody' Chevy/GMC Trucks have a very large following these days in the Car Collector/Hot Rodding community)
Always fascinated by the skinny tires on those Chevy trucks
Coleford had one and Lydney when my dad was in. I absolutely loved seeing them ❤
Your dad Dave James?
@ yea that’s him
@@ianjames1514 say hello to him from me! Tell him Patrick says hi! I'm 15 months off retiring from the job. 👍
@ I will mate I remember you 🤙🏻 wow time flies! Happy retirement buddy
@@ianjames1514 cheers Ian!
Didn't know they had squarebody GMs in England. Very cool!
We already had those in Tyne & Wear when I joined in 1987. They turned out to be another dangerous bad idea of very little use. The Paramedics later moved into our station with a similar set up & filled it with diesel 2 or 3 times a day, in between the rear wheel coming off that is. Like us, they also got rid of them.
Hope these will be introduced soon. Much better than the stuff we have now.
This was 36 years ago…
We had them, they were dangerous rubbish, of very limited use.
Last taxed in December 2014, it lasted well!
It was exported, so might still being going somewhere
Those wheels awesome. Need a set for mine
what became of this program and the prototype I wonder?
Hi They were introduced to all 2 pump stations (about 10) in Gloucestershire in 1988/89, I believe that they had all been withdrawn by 1995 in favour of regular water tenders albeit on a smaller chassis than the Dodge featured in the clip.
Where the prototype or any of the others ended up I haven't a clue.
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky At least one of them has ended up in private hands (F509 WAD) and it can be seen at the South Cerney Steam fair, as well as other shows i'm sure.
@@traingameiacs That's nice to know thanks 👍
I remember seeing these around my town. Stroud had a rescue unit version.
I swear Stroud is the overdose capital of Gloucestershire.
I wonder if they had the same brake problems as the prototypes they built in Melbourne, they didn’t like stopping with all the gear on the back!
Yes they did, I can contest to that having driven them under "Blues & Twos".
Horrible feeling when you stopped accelerating, no engine braking due to being an automatic all on the brakes, hairy ride.
Awe yes, the era of the "Rapid Attack Vehicle" or RAV. All the rage until there was a big fire. Some debts here in the U.S. went all in on the concept and regretted it. They have their place to be sure. I remember being an explorer scout with the local FD. their RAV carried hose lays, extra buckets of AFFF as they were 2nd in to the airport, and other kit. You could walk faster than that thing could move it was so over weight....
Not really compact. That hood is longer than a miata.
😁
The cab was tho. Trying to get 4 fully kitted firefighters in was tight. Have worked on one of these
This particular one was last taxed in 2014 and has an export marker, I wonder where it went?
So there are 5 old Yukons somewhere in the England. Someone find one.
They drove GMC in the UK? 😮
That’s shocking, especially when you consider that modern GMC vehicles would never fit on British roads because they’re too big while the roads are narrow.
It would have been a lot smaller than a Volvo, Leyland or Dennis fire engine that they would be using at the time.
Buckinghamshire had 1 too
Worcester had 1, believe was used as a crash tender for RTA’s
1 at Hereford too until written off going to a shout replaced by a g reg identical one. Emergency tender
Cheshire had 3 of these, as did East Sussex.
East Sussex used them as rescue tenders I think, with a huge telescopic flood light on top. Pretty sure I’ve got a post card of Brighton’s one somewhere.
Do you know who supplied them, for them?
@@JohnEnnisEyeInTheSky All the East Sussex examples were bodied and supplied by Macclesfield Motor Bodies, Brighton used a Jeep Cherokee , new in 1979 or 80 (V Registered) which was likely substituted by the GMC a decade later. Bodywork on the Jeep was by Pilcher-Greene BTW
@@michaelearith781 Thanks for the info.👍
The gas V8 (454?) in the GMC won’t last for sustained high RPM pumping work. And the 6.2L diesel option these had was total garbage.
Yes I agree, they used the 6.2L Diesel engine version which seemed a bit under powered on occasions, coupled with being an automatic which gave the impression of free wheeling when taking your foot off the gas and braking, made for a very hairy ride at speed down country roads.
I used to have a 6.2 in a k20 single cab. I can't imagine it in a k30 crew cab with all that weight in the back.
@@donovansavage2445 It gave for an hairy ride that's for sure
Look at that baby heel in corners!
But what was the motor
Since this was a Squarebody GMC, they would use the Chevrolet 350 small block. A GM diesel was optional.
It was a V8 moddurr
Probably the 454 in something like this.
@@Fordguy02 Shoot.... I forgot about that, but since this was Europe, I think this would've had a few emission tweaks.
0:03 that hilo sounds broken
We call them Mini-Pumpers and Brush Trucks.
Force?
10 From Navarone?
Exactly, even the half-wit CFO said so. Go & tell him to double around the tower !
26k back in 1988 was a lot of money
Still less than the 80 grand a regular engine could cost.
If only smaller pickup trucks like Hilux or L200/Triton ones could be modified to be the succesors of the GMC fire engines.
Some services have. West Mids FS uses twin-cab Hiluxes as response and Business Support vehicles.
Here, we tried it in 1960's, 1980's, 2000's & they get rid of them every single time, as a badly though out attempt to save money- nothing more.
In use in Cornwall as second appliances .
But wouldnt this GMC vehicle be built for the US vehicle/safety regulations and not the EUs?
Exemptions for government.
We had 3 & they were dangerous, badly designed rubbish.
@@ashleyhoward8926 How so?
man, when did British gents stop talking like this. why dont we do this. well just the accents gone
It's incredible how you see Americans ambulances/light fire trucks around the world. And it's only because of emissions regulations that we less and less of them...
They are great vehicles, emissions standards should not apply to emergency vehicles
All you need to be honest
Cobblers.
Good American made steel fire truck. As American as apple pie.
Apple pie is American?
@ that’s right and I’m proud to be an American!
@@marcusblum7462only apple pie doesn't come from there. Lmao.
@@marcusblum7462only that's not where apple pie comes from. LMAO
Apple pie is English.