Seriously, at one time or another it seems as if every major and minor, and even regional, builders of fire apparatus have been labeled as junk by people on here. Seagrave, Pierce, E-One, Ferrara, KME, HME, Smeal, American LaFrance, Rosenbauer, Crimson, and many more I can't remember off the top of my head have ALL been named as builders of junk. Look in my mind it is clear that in order to remain in business you have to build something that SOMEBODY is buying. If you consistently build junk why would people keep buying it?
I have long held there are a few reasons why people are dissatisfied with a piece of fire apparatus:
1) The apparatus committee wrote a crappy spec and the apparatus manufacturer built what you said you wanted.
2) The apparatus committee wrote a maginificent spec and the manufacturer didn't follow it and the FD accepted the rig anyways.
3) The apparatrus committee asked a manufacturer to do something that they don't normally do or has never been done before and it turns out poorly. Yet once again it is what the buyer wanted, sometimes despite the manufacturer advising against it. Some will not even bid on this kind of project.
4) You write a brand specific spec and someone else beats them on the price and local conditions say if it meets the spec low bid has to be purchased. In this case even if the rig is fine, if it is not the brand you wanted most often you will go out of your way to point out any deficiencies, real or imagined.
To add a little gasoline to the Fire I have never seen anyone, EVER, on FH.com say a Mack Fire Apparatus was junk. And that is correct. I will put my volly FD's 36 year old Mack up against any new 1250 pumper and we will hang with them all day. 20 rpms over new to pass pump test. My bet is most of the electronic wizardy of today will be junk long before 34 years hits!
Your opinions please...
I have long held there are a few reasons why people are dissatisfied with a piece of fire apparatus:
1) The apparatus committee wrote a crappy spec and the apparatus manufacturer built what you said you wanted.
2) The apparatus committee wrote a maginificent spec and the manufacturer didn't follow it and the FD accepted the rig anyways.
3) The apparatrus committee asked a manufacturer to do something that they don't normally do or has never been done before and it turns out poorly. Yet once again it is what the buyer wanted, sometimes despite the manufacturer advising against it. Some will not even bid on this kind of project.
4) You write a brand specific spec and someone else beats them on the price and local conditions say if it meets the spec low bid has to be purchased. In this case even if the rig is fine, if it is not the brand you wanted most often you will go out of your way to point out any deficiencies, real or imagined.
To add a little gasoline to the Fire I have never seen anyone, EVER, on FH.com say a Mack Fire Apparatus was junk. And that is correct. I will put my volly FD's 36 year old Mack up against any new 1250 pumper and we will hang with them all day. 20 rpms over new to pass pump test. My bet is most of the electronic wizardy of today will be junk long before 34 years hits!
Your opinions please...
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