Thanks for input on body. I thought M109 body would likely be more valuable and perhaps more marketable. Seem to be few dropsides available.
You get stuck its your stupidity not our problem. We'll rescue you if needed. Your vehicle needs assistance it's your problem we left the job where we earn the income that feeds our family to come help you and we're going back to it as soon as incident is stabilized. Will help you find a local farmer with tractor (in Iowa 100s) or a towing serivce to pull you out. You're going to have to care of you own problems. Pulling a stuck vehicle is hardly ever an emergency. In an extrication a winch is not the proper tool. Its lifting bags.
Won't argue the point on manual trans. Keeping the truck between the ditchs under high stress job environment it very important. Other stuff not so much. At less 1000mi per year, it's cheaper to maintain the Allison than replace clutches. Ask Uncle Sam.
Warm body and willing to volunteer to step up the plate is 1st criteria for a vol FF (you are?). Anytime of day/night, any weather, for ZERO pay. Will actually get out of bed or leave family/job when pager goes off.
Then
- Will follow direction (orders)
- At least reasonably physically fit for age and weight proportional to height (are you?) . more fit than the general public today.
- Not a obvious heartattack risk.
- Can and will attend regular training.
- Most useful if can wear 50lb turnout gear and 25lb airpak while climning a 35' ladder, with a chainsaw, and then cut a large hole into the roof of a burning house. Or same gear enter a burning house with zero visibility, pulling a hoseline to search for victim or extingish a fire.
- Or for some FD skilled and can undertake other critical tasks. Tanker driver for example.
- No DWI. Not career criminal (or any criminal record).
- Emotional stable and responsible, hopefully not exciteable/flakey under stress.
- Teamplayer that others volunteers can stand being around.
- Can get/hold a CDL and is insurable.
Your Local FD likely can use your assistance as FF, performing maintenance on trucks, equipment, building/grounds, construction of apparatus or water supplies (MANY rural vol. FD survive on this), fund raising/grant writing.
So operate manual transmission is WAYYYY down the list. even for drivers training. Just like business it's less expensive to make the tools fit the job than the human.
