E-One Fire Apparatus

[Guest]

In my area of the country, the Central Gulf Coast E\-One has I would venture a guess of probably 150-200 rigs of all ages. Mobile has 3 1986 E-ones that were in first line service for 20 years, running in busy companies. Being around the fire service 25 years, USAF, Paid, Voulenteer, Industrial, & ARFF I have seen apparatus from almost every manufacturer at locations as diverse as Alaska, Illinois, Texas, Mississippi, Saudi Arabia, and S Korea. All I can say is that that any body that runs down EOne because they can't write a spec for trucks shoudnt blame the manufacturer of the truck. I don't want this to get into a bashing contest but we have a 2001 Freightliner/Pierce Rescue truck (P-30) at Keesler AFB. The Freightliner chassis is not bad. But the rescue body is falling apart. The truck had to go to Pierce in Florida to remount the body 2 years ago. Now the slide out trays are falling apart. This rig makes about 3 runs a day on fairly smooth paved surfaces, and no the trays are not over loaded. Mobile has a 1989 Pierce Telesquirt that is falling apart. It has 1985 and 1988 E\-One Quints that see several runs per day. I have several years expierence with KME's, the ones I have been around are just as good or bad as everyone elses. Same for just about every manufacturer out there. Remember your department gets what it specs and is willing to pay for. Sorry about the long rant but I am getting a little tired of the "Pierce is best" crowd that is out there.