bulldogboy

While mindlessly surfing the web, I came across a site that stated that the Sao Paulo, Brazil Fire Department had recently purchased 70 fire engines built

on Ford Cargo chassis. I didn't know that Ford still built the Cargo so I went back to the web and found pictures of 2012-2013 Cargos. To me they look pretty

impressive; very similar to the Hyundai Trago. Between the Cargo and the Ranger, Ford is building some nice trucks overseas. Maybe, someday, as part of

Ford's one world program these vehicles will be available in the U.S.

bulldogboy

Since this thread doesn't specify Vermont construction trucks, I thought that I would post this fire engine. When Westmore, VT organized its fire department

in 2001, this Mack "CF611F" was its second engine. It is a 1979 model, 1000/750/30.

bulldogboy

Nice T-800 fire tanker over in Irasburg.

bulldogboy

you can tel the FDNY tower ladders from others by the way the cabline in the jump seat area goes strait down and is not angled.

Is that because they removed the enclosed jump seat doors?

It is good Rob but goes down to easy. I kinda like my Long Trail Black berry Wheat made hear in Vermont.

My vote is for Long Trail IPA!

bulldogboy

DocF225:

Welcome. My experience with Mack trucks also involves fire apparatus: "L", "B", and "C" models. I also drove a "MS" model box truck.

There is a lot of good information here for us non-mechanic Mack fans.

bulldogboy

Great link. Thanks.

Back when I was riding with the Boston lads in the late sixties I always called the surviving L models "fender flappers" because most of them had the front fenders barely hanging on. Boston is not known for how well they care for their apparatus to say the least.

I've heard of '56 "fat fender Fords" but never "fender flapper Macks". Nice!

bulldogboy

Check out the website: http://www.bostonfirehistory.org. There are many pictures of former Boston F.D. apparatus listed by year, manufacturer, etc.

bulldogboy

Wow learn something new everyday. Pretty cool that Troy's truck came from NYC. Our town FD was just approved on town meeting day. Would be a nice piece to start with.

Yes, I heard that the F.D. passed by a few votes. Do they have any fire trucks picked out yet?

bulldogboy

If you have ever driven through downtown Boston you'll know why fenders took a beating. Add a little snow and the old cowpaths become even narrower. Some of the old Boston

Macks had two deck guns mounted over the hose bed, one fore and one aft. Boston F.D. had a lot of "L" models and several unique bodied "B" models. Those were the last

Mack fire trucks in Boston. There were never any "C" or "CF" models. Must be a story there but I never heard why Macks were banned in Boston.

bulldogboy

Troy's old Aerialscope is a former FDNY truck; don't know what companies it served. Maybe Bubba can fix it up and Coventry can put it into service as its

first ladder truck.

bulldogboy

I'm waiting for red spray paint to go on sale at home depot. lol

Thanks guys!

Check with the boys down in Whitehall, LA posted under "One for Vinny". They could probably hook you up with some red paint.

Seriously, I'm an old timer from the seventies but I think that the lime-yellow looks good. I've seen red, green, yellow, blue, and other

colored Macks. Macks always look good no matter what the color.

bulldogboy

Great information....Thanks....I had never heard of a Herbert hose clamp either, or a Hux tool. I did get a brochure from the Mack museum with a generic list of equipment. Also the blueprint they sent had the locations of a couple different things.....such as the "Scott air packs". There are a few brackets (holders) I haven't seen before.....one compartment has 3 or 4 aluminum rectangle holders around 3"x5"...... Maybe for some type of flashlight? Also the Mack museum sent a picture of a truck with a slide out draw in the back for a safety net....I thought that was pretty cool. I saw an old picture once of guys training with one. Talk about trust! Anyone ever jump onto one???

Hey F.w.d........ Whats the OVM seat?

Yep, once for training; not too smart. Our ladder trucks carried life nets so one day we said, "What the heck, why not". You had to land just right or the jumper and the holders could get

seriously hurt. Never did it again.

bulldogboy

That's a former USAF aircraft refueler. Refuelers have the mufflers mounted under the front bumper away from the fuel tank. Most USAF refuelers were built

on Mack or Dodge chassis. Many found their way into civlian fire service after their military service was finished.

bulldogboy

Looks like a homemade vehicle.

bulldogboy

On page 11 of Harvey Eckart's book, "Mack Model B Fire Trucks", there is a spec sheet that shows the standard equipment that was supplied with either a "B"

or a "C" model pumper. In addition to the electrical system, brakes, axles, etc. there is also a list of small hand tools such as a 10' pike pole, 2 axes (1 pickhead,

1 flat head) and so on. Almost everything was out in the open on the running boards; the good old days (sorry for sounding like the dinosaur that I am).

Chem ox mask!!! I trained on one of those in the USAF. Never used it in a real situation though.

bulldogboy

From what I saw Mack has many military trucks currently offered, Though they appear to be regular trucks with optional armor plating . . .

Does Mack even offer an AWD truck any more ? !

Mil-Spec Macks:

http://www.macktrucks.com/default.aspx?pageid=3452

Mike

I've seen pictures of a Mack "Granite" 6x6 tanker built by Pierce for the Seminole Tribal Fire Department in Florida. Not sure if it was a factory installation or

a later modification.

bulldogboy

We have pretty Peirces! But taking delivery of a brand new HME tanker/pump on Friday. I have training on it Tues and Wed. Can't wait to see how it performs.

I remember when Milford was a Mack town with 3 "CFs" and before that an American LaFrance town. Good luck with your HME.

bulldogboy

Town meeting day tomorrow here in Vermont and my town will be voting for or against having a FD. I hope we get it and the two trucks they want. We could use some good guys around here.

Tim:

I know that in 2001, Westmore, VT, up in your neck of the woods, started a fire department. They might be

a resource for you if you start a department. What kind of trucks does Coventry have in mind?

bulldogboy

In the automotive section of the "Boston Sunday Globe" on March 3, 2013 there is an article about VW and its plans to surpass GM and Toyota as the

world's largest car manufacturer. The VW product manager said that VW has no plans to produce a pickup truck for the U.S. (he said this shortly before

leaving VW to work for Chevrolet). Their feeling is that American pickup truck owners are extremely brand loyal so it would be tough to break into the

market. I saw a new Ford Ranger in St. Maarten last year; it looks a lot like the VW pickup. Maybe when it's time to replace my Ranger I can import one

from SXM (that wouldn't be too expensive, would it?).

bulldogboy

Didn't Dodge once sell a red pickup that came factory equipped with dual exhaust stacks? I think that it was called "Little Red Wagon" or something like that.

To be p/c, it is no longer Dodge, now it's Ram (a rose by any other name, etc.).

bulldogboy

The truck pictured was $430,000.

When I started my full time career as a firefighter in the early 1970s, I don't think that my department's 10 Macks cost $430,000 total.

bulldogboy

I remember several local "R" and "MB" model fire engines that had Scania engines. I assume that Mack offered these as a lower cost option to help win municipal bids. Did Mack find this more cost effective than building its own smaller diesel?

bulldogboy

I have this brochure; it's 20 pages long with two pages of old Mack fire apparatus. There are two pages for each of the following pumpers: "CF", "R", "MC" and

Midliner ("MS"). There are also two pages each for the "Aerialscope", "Bulldog I" aerial ladder, and the "MC" and "R" model chassis only. It brings back memories of

Mack's glory days in the fire apparatus business.

bulldogboy

Call the SPCA; some of these dogs have been severely abused! What a shame that someone buys a nice truck and lets it sit outside to rust away, like the one from New Haven.

Yes, it's a shame when old Mack fire trucks are left out to deteriorate. The one from New Haven formerly served West Fairlee, VT. There is another picture of it

on www.firenews.org sitting in a field, presumably in Vermont. I think that it is a shame when a department gets rid of an old Mack. I know that there are money

issues, lack of space, lack of interest in old fire trucks, not the original owner, etc. but I like to see departments keep their old Macks for parades, etc. A lot of small

departments near me had second hand or home made Mack fire trucks, now they are all gone. Wish I had pictures of them all.

bulldogboy

so, how are they handling selling the macks? i dont see them on any of the sites i frequent.

also, did they have any twin screw tractors? i remember seeing a lot of singles . . . . not sure about twins, though . . . .

According to Offset-U-bet on another thread, some NMX tractors are for sale at McDevitt's in Manchester. I believe that NMX had at least one twin screw, there may have been

others. Most were singles. Sad to see them go; I always liked seeing the Nashua logo on the highways.

bulldogboy