Fire Truck

[VFF19]

Hello All, on a recent trip to the Ocean I came across a new love... A bobbed M35a2! I have been checking out them a lot on the internet and I plan to do this one day. I do not own a deuce, but I drive them now and then. My fire station has a deuce tanker and a 5 ton tanker. We recently obtained a AM General Semi truck. I cant tell you it is because I don't know. What I do have is some pictures. I'm the man in charge of turning this stock truck into a Tanker for my dept. Ive spent countless hours on this project and Its getting close to finished. So tell me what you think.

I'm new to this site, but not to forums. I dont know when it will be, but one day I will own a bobbed deuce... Enjoy

 

[Derrickl112]

Looks like a m915 with a stretched frame...

 

[VFF19]

And some more

 

[Derrickl112]

Is that a HEMTT fuel truck tank??

 

[VFF19]

and more

 

[VFF19]

Almost finished

 

[VFF19]

Is that a HEMTT fuel truck tank??

It is stretched and I couldn't tell you bout the tank, all I know is that its a stainless steel 2500 gal tank. Used to haul fuel

 

[VFF19]

This is the truck I saw in Surfside Tx beach that made me want to do this

 

[Derrickl112]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce-modification-hot-rodding/67320-8-lift-395-46-tires.html

 

[VFF19]

I love it, is it normal to put regular vehicle shocks on the back axel, id imagine it just there to try and calm the roughness just a bit, but it looked awkward

 

[VFF19]

This is actually not the same truck, look at the rear spring mounts, looks good though.

 

[Derrickl112]

its the same. look at the trailer hitch and the hoist in the bed... he probably went back and braced the spring mounts better.

 

[VFF19]

If so he has done some work to it since his pictures. I sent him a pic. I bet he would know if he went to the beach this year or not lol

 

[fasttruck]

Are nyoum going to be overweight ? 2500 gal of water weighs inj excess of 20,000 pounds and the chassis when it was stock weighed 19,000 pounds. Carrying a pump, hose or tools ? Will this stop of fully loaded ? If it was a fuel truck it may be baffled front to back but probably not side to side which will facilitate rolling the loaded truck over. A better platform than a M35A2 to build on but petroleum vehicles do not do well as fire department water tenders as everyone wants to fill it to the brim which overloads the chassis and if yours has an automatic trans every crazy in the group will think they are automatically qualified to drive it and will be mortally offended if told otherwise. NFPA sez most fatal apparatus ac cidents are tanker rollovers. Be guided acordingly.

 

[VFF19]

Are nyoum going to be overweight ? 2500 gal of water weighs inj excess of 20,000 pounds and the chassis when it was stock weighed 19,000 pounds. Carrying a pump, hose or tools ? Will this stop of fully loaded ? If it was a fuel truck it may be baffled front to back but probably not side to side which will facilitate rolling the loaded truck over. A better platform than a M35A2 to build on but petroleum vehicles do not do well as fire department water tenders as everyone wants to fill it to the brim which overloads the chassis and if yours has an automatic trans every crazy in the group will think they are automatically qualified to drive it and will be mortally offended if told otherwise. NFPA sez most fatal apparatus ac cidents are tanker rollovers. Be guided acordingly.

I have personaly filled it up to "full" on the level guage, and Drove it. Had no problems stopping or taking off. This is the setups our Forestry Dept is current sending out. We have a deuce(1200 gal) and a 5 ton(3500 gal). It does have automatic, but most guys rather go fight the fire than to fill up trucks, so the older guys that have been driving trucks all thier lives usualy take care of it. To be honest it feels like theres not much back there(you can feel it but is not TOO much) Yes its baffeld front to back, not side to side. A roll over would be an issue, but the tank sits very low compared to our others, so Id imagine it would be a little safer. No one will be aloud to drive it untill they are fully tested and certified in it(except me becuase Ive built it and drove it for a while now lol) I have put LED water level indicators all around the truck, so that should be when it gets shut off, and its about 8'' from the top of the tank.

 

[emmado22]

The AFG grants are throwing money at depts to get rid of these home brew tankers, and your building one. Is it up to NFPA 1901, 2009 edition specs?

 

[VFF19]

The AFG grants are throwing money at depts to get rid of these home brew tankers, and your building one. Is it up to NFPA 1901, 2009 edition specs?

Hey im just doing what im told. Forestry is what's handing them out. Volunteer dept know to take what they can get sometimes. I know of 4 dept in just my county alone that has the exact setup. And a paid dept near okc that has one also. These may be a "homemade tanker" to other states right now, but this is what's "hot" in my state and countys right now.

 

[emmado22]

What's hot in your state is not NFPA approved, and will get fighters killed. Visit the National Fallen FireFighters Monument and read the stories, and get the details about the tanker rollovers and associated deaths. Most are home brew tankers that kill firefighters. Save your pennies and get a 1901 compliant apparatus. Your putting at risk the lives of the firefighters that you give these trucks to.

 

[Truckfreak]

What county are you from? Judging from the pictures I would guess eastern OK. The truck's looking good so far, keep up the good work!

 

[VFF19]

What's hot in your state is not NFPA approved, and will get fighters killed. Visit the National Fallen FireFighters Monument and read the stories, and get the details about the tanker rollovers and associated deaths. Most are home brew tankers that kill firefighters. Save your pennies and get a 1901 compliant apparatus. Your putting at risk the lives of the firefighters that you give these trucks to.

With all do respect, Do not lecture me on our fallen brothers, I do not know you, and you do not know me. With that said I did what I was told, Im not going to say Im not going to build this truck because its not NFPA. There are so many more volunteer dept in the US than paid depts. You think Even close to half is completely NFPA? If NFPA was 100% fool proof no FF would ever die. Safety belongs in the person responsible of their own life. You think running into a burning building, rappelling off clifts, working accidents, suicides etc, is safer than driving a tanker? If money wasn't an option then yes everyone could and would be NFPA, but sadly enough in the fire service, its ran by people who have the money. If this truck wasnt built solid, no I wouldnt put it in service, But it is. This is forestrys new "deuce" tanker. If they dont know whats going on then who the **** does.

On a side note I joined this site to learn more about these trucks, expecially the m35a2. What ever happend to the welcome wagon. I put these pics up so you could enjoy a "steel Soldier" not so the states choice in fire trucks could be scorned. I'm just the "messenger" so take it up with the big guys. I want to learn what I can here, but just to tell you this forum isn't the friendliest Ive seen so far. Ive been here for one day, and this is what I get lol