Ambulance Chassis Shortage Predicted Throughout 2014

[TacSupport1]

Ambulance Chassis Shortage Predicted Throughout 2014

 

Both Ford and GM, the primary producers of chassis for our industry, will be producing

fewer chassis for ambulance production in calendar year 2014.


The slowdown has already started at Ford, where a V-10 engine commodity problem

has curtailed the availability of Econoline 6.8L vans and cutaways so far this year. Many

ambulance manufacturers are reporting they are virtually out of both models, and that

new chassis will be scarce for the foreseeable future.


The shortage will escalate in June, when Ford cutaway (Type III) production is shut

down for 6 weeks due to a plant modification. In addition, the venerable Econoline van,

long the workhorse of our industry, will be completely discontinued at that same time. It

will be replaced by the new Ford Transit as part of Ford’s global plan.


Industry sources state that the Transit startup in a new Ford plant will be slower than

planned, and that the gas powered Transit vans with the required ambulance package

are not expected to be available until early calendar 2015. Diesel powered Transit vans

may be available slightly earlier.


GM is also making some moves that will affect the supply of their ambulance chassis in

2014. A startup of production for a new mid-size pickup in the same GM plant that

produces the G series vans and cutaways will reduce the production of those models by

approximately 50% in the second half of calendar 2014. GM does not have any

significant changes in their ambulance chassis models scheduled in the short term.


Supplies of Ford F cab chassis, Sprinter, International, Freightliner and Ram ambulance

chassis appear to be normal, and no shortage is anticipated in those models at this

time.

 

 

[Guest]

Dodge will step up production on units

[npfd801]

We're very anti-Ford for a number of a historical reasons, but when (if) we're able to get an ambulance referendum I'm kind of resigned to the fact we'll be forced into an F-series chassis.  I want a conventional hood for safety reasons, and would like at least one 4wd rig.  I hear a LOT of bad things through various suppliers on the Dodge chassis.  I'd love a Chevy, but of course you can't go above a 3500 weight class with a conventional GM "Sierra/Silverado" based unit.

 

Are the Dodges that bad?  Someone mentioned the transmissions are terrible.  Anyone run a GM Sierra/Silverado 3500 and have problems with it being overweight or the box too small?

 

I have lots to learn and might as well research in case we're successful in referendum efforts.

[willman940]

We have a 3500, and of the 2 ambulances we have and the spare, it's nicer, Handles and drives better. I don't know about weight, I haven't looked at the numbers but I've had no reason too. That being said, this is comparing it to an F350 2 or 3 years older, and many of the problems maybe due to age/use and of course maintenance(or lack there of). The spare has typical ford truck loose steering, and the one we run doesn't like to stop and has electrical issues from now and them.

 

That being said all three do their job just fine.

[GA_Dave]

My former FD has two Dodge transport units.  One is a 2008 3500 and the other is a 2009 4500.  Both have the Cummins diesel with Jake brake and both have served well, although the 3500 has had a few issues with the rear suspension (caused by body dealer modifications) and with the body itself.  I believe the department will go with another 4500 when the time comes.