Ugh, the Spartan/Ferrara's! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/machinegun.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Although purchased before my time on the apparatus committee, the then-chair of the committee commented that these three pumpers would "revolutionize the way we purchased fire apparatus in the county!" Well, he was right. We never purchased any more Spartans OR Ferraras. These things were and are horrible. They've been in the reserve fleet for several years now. However, only one remains as a reserve -- one was totalled while blocking a lane on I-95 last year, and the other one is assigned to the training division.
Related story: the suspension on these things were HORRIBLE. Not long after delivery, they had to be re-sprung. Even after that, we had a member driving one of them, struck a bump in the road, was thrown into the cab roof (yes, wearing his seatbelt), and when he landed, let's just say he did significant damage to his "special area." All three were again re-sprung on the front end immediately thereafter.
The only thing these do worse than go? Stop.
Ok, off my soapbox now. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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' /> Although purchased before my time on the apparatus committee, the then-chair of the committee commented that these three pumpers would "revolutionize the way we purchased fire apparatus in the county!" Well, he was right. We never purchased any more Spartans OR Ferraras. These things were and are horrible. They've been in the reserve fleet for several years now. However, only one remains as a reserve -- one was totalled while blocking a lane on I-95 last year, and the other one is assigned to the training division.
Related story: the suspension on these things were HORRIBLE. Not long after delivery, they had to be re-sprung. Even after that, we had a member driving one of them, struck a bump in the road, was thrown into the cab roof (yes, wearing his seatbelt), and when he landed, let's just say he did significant damage to his "special area." All three were again re-sprung on the front end immediately thereafter.
The only thing these do worse than go? Stop.
Ok, off my soapbox now. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
Taylor Goodman
Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire
Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA
Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire
Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA
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