HME Apparatus?

[bullet14]

We have been looking at various manufacturers for a new engine, based on a rescue pumper body style. HME's name has come up. We have several area departments with their chassis but no one in our area with a rig completely made by HME. Can anyone share their thoughts and insight on their fire body- quality of workmanship, service after the sale, etc.?
Thanks- much appreciated!

[chiefengineer11]

We have been looking at various manufacturers for a new engine, based on a rescue pumper body style. HME's name has come up. We have several area departments with their chassis but no one in our area with a rig completely made by HME. Can anyone share their thoughts and insight on their fire body- quality of workmanship, service after the sale, etc.?
Thanks- much appreciated!

I can give you my impression of them from seeing them at shows, from talking to their reps and discussing our specs with them. Please understand that these are my impressions only.

HME was one of the first (probably not THE first) to go to laser cutting of their body parts. The result appears to be really good fit and finish. I understand that they are concentrating on stainless steel bodies. I don't know what gauge material they are using. It's something that you need to know. 12 ga. is preferred, but I know of at least one builder that is using 14 ga., or so I've been told.

Our beef with them is that they seem to want to sell you what they want to build. They appear to be trying to limit the number of basic body designs. If they have what you want, that's not necessarily a bad thing. In our case, they didn't. But they never told us or our sales rep that they couldn't or wouldn't do ours. They just didn't support him or give him any answers. So when decision time came, they weren't there. (See the thread "Toyne Wins!)

As with any vehicle, the availability of service at the level that you need has to be one of your criteria. If you want what they have, and they have the level of service that you need, I'm sure that they'll do a decent job.

Stay safe out there, everyone goes home!

[Bryan15062]

Hme

I was a HME sales rep. for 2 years and the way HME apparatus line is set-up with the lazer cutting all the apparatus designs are the same unless your service pays for computer programing for the lazer cutting you will pay for the change over to your apparatus and then back to the standard body design . it was around 105.00 per hour several years ago. they don't like to alt their designs you more then likely will have problems with plant personal. Good Luck don't get me wrong i am no knocking the apparatus ine.

[FWDbuff]

"myfyrtrks", a frequent contributor to the apparatus forums, is an HME sales rep in NY state. Although he may not be your area's rep, he may be willing to answer your questions or refer you to the area rep. Email him at [email protected] or wait for him to chime in here, I am sure he will be lurking about in due time. Tell him the FWD sent you.

[ChiefDog]

We selected HME with the entire truck and I will be going out 1/8/07 to look at it with the sales rep. We have known the sales rep and his service company for 11 years and know how he is with service. I have to believe that we are going to get the same service on the new truck as he has with trucks he did not sell us, or even better.

He built a small utility type truck for us in his own shop and has done pump rebuild and annual service and testing for us. Very pleased with the service and honesty on any questions we have had.

That being said you have to look at the sale rep in your area and how they will treat you. From our relationship I trust his judgement that HME will stand behind their product.

I do know that they do like to keep within engineered options as much as possible. Our truck has more options than a program truck, but not things that are "Extreme" for customization.

Talk to others and see what you find out. But, the biggest thing is YOUR Dealer Service. Most of the big companies will build a good truck and once in a while make a mistake. How they deal with it is key.

I tried attaching a pic. It is in the thread below

http://forums.firehouse.com/showthread.php?t=86094

It has seating for 6, 5 scba seats, Q2B, Electronic, Grovers, all LED emergency lighting, 6k hydraulic gen, Qmax 2000gpm, 1200 water, A foam to crosslays and trashline in bumper, preconnected front suction, MIV valves both sides, selectable primer for front/left/right intakes, rollup doors, 10 newton dump, 28ft/14/10 ladders, rollout trays, shelves.... should be reasonably functional truck...

[chiefengineer11]

"myfyrtrks", a frequent contributor to the apparatus forums, is an HME sales rep in NY state. Although he may not be your area's rep, he may be willing to answer your questions or refer you to the area rep. Email him at [email protected] or wait for him to chime in here, I am sure he will be lurking about in due time. Tell him the FWD sent you.

How come you're not at work?!!

[FyredUp]

We have been looking at various manufacturers for a new engine, based on a rescue pumper body style. HME's name has come up. We have several area departments with their chassis but no one in our area with a rig completely made by HME. Can anyone share their thoughts and insight on their fire body- quality of workmanship, service after the sale, etc.?
Thanks- much appreciated!

Please contact me regarding HME Ahrens Fox. My volly FD got one delivered in June of 2006.

As for the cookie cutter concept I diagree. Yes they do have standard body sizes and styles but they did a few things for us they had never done before.

Honestly the amount of special things you get in the way of options and changes is a mix between a good sales rep and factory coordination.

If you are near Wisconsin I would be happy to show you our rig.

FyredUp

[Res343cue]

How come you're not at work?!!

He works???

I thought his wife brought home all the money!

[chiefengineer11]

He works???

I thought his wife brought home all the money!

Whose version of it do you want?

[FWDbuff]

Does the Clowns Union know that you two are scabbing????

For your information, I AMat work. It's good to be the king. Now go adjust a lug nut or something or I'll put you in a home.

And as for you Mister Vermont, I can make arrangements for your municipality to deliver trash instead of pick it up.

And yes, she makes more money than me, but thats because she looks hot in that nurses uniform.

[Res343cue]

And as for you Mister Vermont, I can make arrangements for your municipality to deliver trash instead of pick it up.

Blah blah blah.

The towns and cities here don't deal with trash

[SSHANK42]

Now you went and done it FWDbuff. What are you thinking mentioning your hot wife in a nurses outfit to a bunch of firefighters. You have just rendered me useless for the rest of the night. At least I'm lucky enough that I will see my nurse when I get home, but I bet she is out of her scrubs though and in her PJ's with bunny house slippers to rest her feet.

[FWDbuff]

Now you went and done it FWDbuff. What are you thinking mentioning your hot wife in a nurses outfit to a bunch of firefighters. You have just rendered me useless for the rest of the night. At least I'm lucky enough that I will see my nurse when I get home, but I bet she is out of her scrubs though and in her PJ's with bunny house slippers to rest her feet.

You want another one?

[canuck1]

alrighteeee

And yes, she makes more money than me, but thats because she looks hot in that nurses uniform.

please post pictures of your hot wife in her nurses uniform.

[FWDbuff]

http://www.emediawire.com/prfiles/2004/09/13/157928/nurse.jpg