That fire engine reminds me of one that I used to drive/operate back in the '90s. I was with the Angwin Fire Department/(Napa County Fire) from 1993-2003. Granted, MY engine (we were each assigned to different apparatus) was a 4WD International crew-cab, with only a 500-gallon tank and a 500 GPM pump. In addition to our International, we had two Ford Customs when I first learned to drive and operate. One was a gasoline-powered engine from the early 1970s and the other was either a 1989 or 1990 (it was brand new when I moved to the community in the summer of 1990 but I wasn't on the department yet). Your engine looks to be closer in age to our newer engine. All three of those engines have been retired now, my old 1993 International was retired a month or two ago. All the engines have been replaced by Pierce engines, with my old 4WD engine being replaced by a 2019 Navistar/International chassis from Pierce. One thing I noticed in the video, which I would have received hell for, was when rolling up the supply line after filling the tank. I understand that the male threads were lower after use and it is easier to roll the hose downward, to drain the water, but we ALWAYS roll with the male threads in the center of the roll, to protect them. If the male threads were exposed on the outside of the roll, it was viewed as a damaged hose and NOT to be used. Granted, on smaller hose, we'd often do a double roll, but the female connector would always be longer so that it would cover the exposed threads of the male connector.
This is a great video, if you want to fill your tank faster put your pump in gear at idle, you'll have to see how throttle you can give it without collapsing the soft suction hose but you'd be surprised how much faster it'll be
Interesting to think that those old Oak trees were already there when George Washington was president. Your truck has some very impressive power to bring 35,000 lbs. up those hills!
lol. Unless you are responding to a fire. My old department had several. I own one as well. They were definitely not powerhouses. They were very slow and underpowered but were extremely reliable. Those Fords were some of the best apparatus I ever worked from or drove in all my 37 years in the FD.
My department operated two of these slugs. One was a 1983 Ford C/FMC and the other was a 1986 Ford C/Emergency One. They both had Cat 3208 motors. If I remember correctly they only put out 225 HP or so, which was terrible considering the ‘83 apparatus was made completely of steel. The ‘86 was a steel cab and frame but an aluminum body as well as a 3208 turbo. It helped slightly but not much. They were dependable for sure. The ‘83 was in service for approximately 22 years before being sold to another department. The ‘86 remained in frontline service for approximately 21 years. It was not uncommon on some of our steep grades to pull over and allow other, newer apparatus with higher HP to pass.
Underwater aquifer for the pumping station and it can always pump it up to the storage water tanks and it can always supply the wildland fire units on that hydrant as well
Love It! Thanks for the full explanation. I had to laugh at some of the narration! Those old trucks are a lot of fun. The system is mechanical. Newer trucks have too many electronics. I fought fires and would often choose to drive these older trucks. I understood them better. One I liked was very similar but had mechanical brakes. The vacuum system hoses slowly dry rotted. I think the air brakes are better. I could spend a day with you doing maintenance etc. but I am sure you already do. We did dump a gallon of corrosion-resistant mixture each time we filled the tank. Question: Have you tried drafting with that truck? Almost an art form to get it to draft at that age!
At 16:09 he says that the hydrant was actually a water supply for a garden which was burned from a wildfire. Due to its absence, he uses the water to fill the truck up.
The thing that I notice are all the warning tags. There must have been very little driver training if any at the department this rig came from. And if you put them there, I really hop this rig stays on private property. Looks good though.
I’m not sure which “warning” tags you’re talking about. Maybe I missed them but all I see are “important” message tags and operational indicator tags. Those are typical on all fire apparatus. Even the most current apparatus have them in various locations. My department operated two of these (one built by the same manufacturer) and they all had the same tags in nearly the same locations. They had nothing to do with the level of training our apparatus operators possessed.
Is it just me or is one voice on a scrambler box to disguise the original voice. Sure sounds like it. Interesting video, thanks.
This video reminds me of my kindergarten class all sitting in a semicircle around the teacher while she read us a story right before nap time.
When rolling up the hose you need to keep the "male" coupling in the middle so the threads don't get damaged. Awesome setup!
That fire engine reminds me of one that I used to drive/operate back in the '90s. I was with the Angwin Fire Department/(Napa County Fire) from 1993-2003. Granted, MY engine (we were each assigned to different apparatus) was a 4WD International crew-cab, with only a 500-gallon tank and a 500 GPM pump. In addition to our International, we had two Ford Customs when I first learned to drive and operate. One was a gasoline-powered engine from the early 1970s and the other was either a 1989 or 1990 (it was brand new when I moved to the community in the summer of 1990 but I wasn't on the department yet). Your engine looks to be closer in age to our newer engine. All three of those engines have been retired now, my old 1993 International was retired a month or two ago. All the engines have been replaced by Pierce engines, with my old 4WD engine being replaced by a 2019 Navistar/International chassis from Pierce.
One thing I noticed in the video, which I would have received hell for, was when rolling up the supply line after filling the tank. I understand that the male threads were lower after use and it is easier to roll the hose downward, to drain the water, but we ALWAYS roll with the male threads in the center of the roll, to protect them. If the male threads were exposed on the outside of the roll, it was viewed as a damaged hose and NOT to be used. Granted, on smaller hose, we'd often do a double roll, but the female connector would always be longer so that it would cover the exposed threads of the male connector.
This is a great video, if you want to fill your tank faster put your pump in gear at idle, you'll have to see how throttle you can give it without collapsing the soft suction hose but you'd be surprised how much faster it'll be
great vid
Interesting to think that those old Oak trees were already there when George Washington was president. Your truck has some very impressive power to bring 35,000 lbs. up those hills!
lol. Unless you are responding to a fire. My old department had several. I own one as well. They were definitely not powerhouses. They were very slow and underpowered but were extremely reliable. Those Fords were some of the best apparatus I ever worked from or drove in all my 37 years in the FD.
My department operated two of these slugs.
One was a 1983 Ford C/FMC and the other was a 1986 Ford C/Emergency One.
They both had Cat 3208 motors. If I remember correctly they only put out 225 HP or so, which was terrible considering the ‘83 apparatus was made completely of steel.
The ‘86 was a steel cab and frame but an aluminum body as well as a 3208 turbo. It helped slightly but not much.
They were dependable for sure. The ‘83 was in service for approximately 22 years before being sold to another department.
The ‘86 remained in frontline service for approximately 21 years.
It was not uncommon on some of our steep grades to pull over and allow other, newer apparatus with higher HP to pass.
Underwater aquifer for the pumping station and it can always pump it up to the storage water tanks and it can always supply the wildland fire units on that hydrant as well
Cool setup
It looks like you may have picked up some stuff from ebay
Love It! Thanks for the full explanation. I had to laugh at some of the narration! Those old trucks are a lot of fun. The system is mechanical. Newer trucks have too many electronics. I fought fires and would often choose to drive these older trucks. I understood them better. One I liked was very similar but had mechanical brakes. The vacuum system hoses slowly dry rotted. I think the air brakes are better. I could spend a day with you doing maintenance etc. but I am sure you already do. We did dump a gallon of corrosion-resistant mixture each time we filled the tank. Question: Have you tried drafting with that truck? Almost an art form to get it to draft at that age!
That's my favorite truck of all time
Sounds like the fire God doing the narration.
Only once in awhile.... then the more normal "humans" take over ;-)
That truck was built in Tipton, Indiana.
Very cool!
Hi Andy.... thanx
smart move. You are your own first responder in more ways than one. when seconds count 911 is only minutes away.
Sounds good to me, when there is fire you need to get a jump on it.
Time is life.
how come you hide the hydrent
At 16:09 he says that the hydrant was actually a water supply for a garden which was burned from a wildfire. Due to its absence, he uses the water to fill the truck up.
what state is it in?
You know, your talking too grownups, right ?
They sound like Mr. Rogers
The one narrator sounds like hes drunk
The thing that I notice are all the warning tags. There must have been very little driver training if any at the department this rig came from. And if you put them there, I really hop this rig stays on private property. Looks good though.
I’m not sure which “warning” tags you’re talking about. Maybe I missed them but all I see are “important” message tags and operational indicator tags.
Those are typical on all fire apparatus. Even the most current apparatus have them in various locations.
My department operated two of these (one built by the same manufacturer) and they all had the same tags in nearly the same locations.
They had nothing to do with the level of training our apparatus operators possessed.
I hate that purge valve... Scares me everytime