Buying a new Tanker

[nhfd350 Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close nhfd350]

I am currently trying to decide on a Tanker purchase. Its kind of like being thrown to the guys on the car sales lot. Everyone has the "best" deal and the "best" truck going. I am looking at the Pierce Contender DX tankers. Anyone have comments on the Pierce line?? Contender DX seems to have all that we want but there are many others at a lessor price. Thanks for any input.

[EngineCO38 Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close EngineCO38]

Well its gonna be kinda hard to help and make suggestions without knowing what you want first. What are you looking for tank size? Pump capacity? Crew capacity? What kind of response district do you have, is it all rural with no hydrant district? Or a combination or rural water sources and a small hydrant district? Is your response district terrain hilly? Or flat? All this info could help us help you in suggesting apparatus manufacturers, as there are a number of manufacturers out there now that build outstanding tankers for the money.

[Tim1118 Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tim1118]

I agree... a little more information would be helpful. When it comes to tankers, it's pretty easy to say that a "tanker is a tanker". What all do you want it to do, how long until it will be replaced, how often it's used? As with any other truck, service and support after the sale should be among the top priorities (if not #1). All of the major names in the business build a good truck, or they wouldn't still be around... and tankers are probably among the easiest to build. Maybe find some examples of previous builds that have unique features that you like?

[FWDbuff Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close FWDbuff]

Anyone have comments on the Pierce line?? Contender DX seems to have all that we want but there are many others at a lessor price. Thanks for any input.

That are just as well built as a Pierce, that will have better warranty follow-up.

[Ranburne Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ranburne]

There are also alot of good regional builders. Where are you located,that would also have an impact on builder in my view.

[BoxAlarm187 Let's talk fire trucks! Find all posts View Profile Close BoxAlarm187]

That are just as well built as a Pierce, that will have better warranty follow-up.

Or he might find that the dealer provides excellent warranty work.

It wouldn't be a day at FH.com without a jab at Pierce, would it?

[LaFireEducator Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close LaFireEducator]

Some of the best tankers I have seen have been built by regional small builders.

They seem to be much more receptive to building a tanker that meets your needs.

Without knowing your district, it is honestly very tough to comment on specific makes, styles and sizes. I went from a small-short wheelbase nurse tanker mentality in northern VT to a 3000 gallon tanker/w a small pump and handlines mentality in Lousiana. They both have some very noticable advantages and some very noticable drawbacks

[npfd801 MembersZone Subscriber Find all posts View Profile Close npfd801]

Please, please don't take this wrong...

If I were going to be buying a Pierce, the reasons I would be buying a Pierce have been stripped out of anything they call a Contender DX.

Essentially you have a poly square tank on a commercial chassis, some diamond plate tool boxes under the tank, and probably a rear dump into some kind of swivel or triple dump. There is nothing special here, and you can save a ton of money and probably get more tanker for your money looking elsewhere...

I respect that Pierce makes a nice product for the most part, but they've pulled everything out of the DX series that makes a Pierce a Pierce.

[Reliance Reliance Find all posts View Profile Close Reliance]

Are you in New Hampshire - Chec out http://www.valleyfireequipment.com/

[onlocation Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close onlocation]

I have some advice for a tanker....we had a nearby department purchase a new US Tanker (sharp looking truck) and they went with the elliptical stainless wrapped polytank. While talking to thier chief at one of thier fundraisers someone questioned why they had gone elliptical and his response was "well do you see any other tanker trucks (oilfield, etc.)on the road using square tanks, thier has got to be a reason they are using a round tank."
So keep this in mind, they also put the three way dump on the rear, but it looks kinda gaudy and a lot of weight hanging back thier...i would put the side dumps built into the sides behing the rear wheel

[FWDbuff Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close FWDbuff]

Or he might find that the dealer provides excellent warranty work.

It wouldn't be a day at FH.com without a jab at Pierce, would it?

Sometimes the truth hurts more people than others.

[fireinfo10 Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close fireinfo10]

Pierce makes some decent overpriced firetrucks. And there are some greatfire trucks built in Florida. But neither category are made in Bradenton Florida.

Look at regional builders for max bang for the $. But stay away from the lowest priced builders. There is inexpensive and then there is cheap.


Eskimos live in little curved houses (made of snow), you also?

[CKirk922 MembersZone Subscriber Find all posts View Profile Close CKirk922]

We went through this a few years ago... whatamess (pronounced FUBAR)

Generate a list of what YOU, as a department NEED the truck to do.

Don't skimp on axle weights, tank construction, port-a-pond sizes (exceed the tank), fills, venting, ect.

Get a pump size in mind that you want.(Do you wanna relay pump with this or just push water for nursing?)

Do you want ladders to the top? Comply with NFPA?, Exceed NFPA? Lighting (led, other), Extra hose or a hosebed? Intake sizes (5",4") Cab size? ect, ect, ect.



Now, when you get this list together, does the Peirce dx trashtender series meet up with what you want? (probably not)

Once you have a rough set of specs to go by, then present it to various manufacturers. Remember, local or giant, YOU are the one spending the dime, make em earn it. There are tons of regional builders that will give you a good build. Just don't skimp on the stuff like axle weights, pumps, inlets/outlets and ponds. You can usually get a great barebones tanker at a reasonable price locally or you can get a cookie cutter from Peirced, E-nOne, Rosen(bum)bauer, ect. There are so many regional builders throughout the US that you can throw a spanner wrench ten times and probably crack one up side the head....Do your homework, don't let peirce(d) do it for you.

I in no way disrespect or endorse any of the truck manufacturers listed here...I poke fun, but I do have a fair comprehension of what each company must do to produce a truck.

One other suggestion is to go look at trucks that these companies have produced. Sometimes a picture is not near as truthful as the real McCoy.

[nhfd350 Forum Member Find all posts View Profile Close nhfd350]

Our area is rural and 120 square miles with limited hydrant avails. Looking for 2000 gals or so. Have looked at Midwest, Four Guys, Deep South, and Fouts. Need to keep the truck at 2 axles with 750gpm per our grant. Looking to get the most bang for the buck. Thanks for any ideas.

[Catch22 MembersZone Subscriber Find all posts View Profile Close Catch22]

Our area is rural and 120 square miles with limited hydrant avails. Looking for 2000 gals or so. Have looked at Midwest, Four Guys, Deep South, and Fouts. Need to keep the truck at 2 axles with 750gpm per our grant. Looking to get the most bang for the buck. Thanks for any ideas.

For what it's worth, if you want you can likely go larger than 2,000 and tandems. The grant you submitted is a minimum, you can typically go bigger in the same classification of apparatus if you have the funding. All it takes is contacting AFG and getting the approval. We've done it a couple of times without an issue.

As far as my input, make sure to look at putting at least one type of retarder on the truck, be it exhaust, transmission, engine, or even a Telma. Having something to help the air brakes out and keep the truck under control. Also, make sure you put enough engine to push it up any terrain you have, but also (depending on your personnel), you may want to avoid too much power.