Condor Chassis by American LaFrance

[boog8591]

Does anyone have any experiance with or pictures of fire apparatus built on the Condor chassis (www.condorbyamericanlafrance.com) ??


My fire company will begin the process of specing a new tanker within the next year or so and this chassis looks like a possibility if they can put a big enough engine into it.

We presently have a Mack MC/Saulsbury 2500 gallon tanker which is greatly underpowered. I have been looking at the new Mack MR chassis but it still does not offer a very big engine (tops out at 325 hp peak). We are very hilly and no one puts less than 400hp in an engine, nevermind a tanker.

I have spoke with the ALF dealer and even though the specifications says the max that can go in it is a 380hp Cat C13, he says they can do bigger for emergency vehicles.

If anyone has experiance with this chassis, please reply.

Thanks !

[npfd801]

I know of at least one unit being built (perhaps complete by now) on a Condor chassis with body work not by ALF. If you're happy with ALF, great - but options may be out there to put someone else's body on the chassis, I don't know... With the departure of ALF from Freightliner, this may have changed.

Let me try and dig a little and I'll PM you if I have something more to offer.

[jfTL41]

FDNY has a spare rescue, "the Spirit of Oklahoma" on a condor chassis. Front is real tight like the MR but for a tanker might be ok.

[chiefengineer11]

Ome of our former members sells trash packers and transit mixers for a living. He tells me that the Condor is very well thought of in his business.

Stay safe out there, everyone goes home!

[HSFDChief600]

So are you going to put another 2500 gal tank on it? My department has a 2000 gal tanker on a FL70 chassis and it has the 3176 or 3126 (cant remember correct number) CAT engine 325 hp and it hauls it like there is nothing in the tank. I have a C-13 cat in my work truck and it has plenty of power and I carry alot more weight than a tanker.

[boog8591]

3000 gallon tank

We will most likely go with a 3000 gallon tank on the new truck.

We have very few of those red things that stick out of the ground and need every last bit we can bring.

[skipatrol8]

Mr

Does anyone have any experiance with or pictures of fire apparatus built on the Condor chassis (www.condorbyamericanlafrance.com) ??


My fire company will begin the process of specing a new tanker within the next year or so and this chassis looks like a possibility if they can put a big enough engine into it.

We presently have a Mack MC/Saulsbury 2500 gallon tanker which is greatly underpowered. I have been looking at the new Mack MR chassis but it still does not offer a very big engine (tops out at 325 hp peak). We are very hilly and no one puts less than 400hp in an engine, nevermind a tanker.

I have spoke with the ALF dealer and even though the specifications says the max that can go in it is a 380hp Cat C13, he says they can do bigger for emergency vehicles.

If anyone has experiance with this chassis, please reply.

Thanks !

I am curious--on a concrete pumper you can get 460hp, so I assume you can get it for fire/rescue. I found the specs at this site.

http://www.allianceconcretepumps.com...wn&chassisid=1

[npfd801]

Even Mack's site shows up to 400 horse. Scroll down the page:

Mack MC product brochure

[NewJerseyFFII]

Did you and your department check the " HME " web site, Take a look at there ( SFO ) chassis cab !..

[boog8591]

Mack Chassis

Thanks for your help on this, I must have either overlooked that information on the Mack spec's or something.

I have looked at the 2dr HME and it may be an option as well.

[neiowa]

Even Mack's site shows up to 400 horse. Scroll down the page:

Mack MC product brochure

Visited Mack dealer last week. In 2008 Terrapro (Cabover) their info says max of 350hp.

Local concrete pump company (big) says they much prefer the Condor to the Mack cabover. In particular the cab.

[canuck1]

Condor - 4 door

ISL 425 HP - 3000 Allison

[neiowa]

Talked to Condor guy yesterday. Can now get an ISM for FD use.

[Command6]

Condor

I was at the City Garage yesterday. They had two new Heil garbage trucks on Condor Cab/chassis. They have Cat C-11 engines in them, but it looked like a C-13 would fit

[chiefengineer11]

I was at the City Garage yesterday. They had two new Heil garbage trucks on Condor Cab/chassis. They have Cat C-11 engines in them, but it looked like a C-13 would fit

C11 and C13 are the same basic block, with different bore and stroke. So if they can't supply the C13, my guess is that the limiting factor would be the ability to cool it. That would be in terms of radiator capacity and airflow over the engine. Note also that the C11 will be discontinued if it hasn't been already.

I have a friend (former member) who sells mixers, trash packers, etc. The Condor chassis was originally designed for that type of use. It went with ALF when they were sold. He speaks very highly of the Condor. He also tells me that one of his customers is removing Allison transmissions as they fail and is retrofitting the new Caterpillar automatic transmission.

Stay safe out there, everyone goes home!