A guy I'm working for is a volunteer at a local fire department. He says they have 4 Fords w/ the 7.3 Powerjoke engine. There's a short hill on the highway up here that you can easily take at 75 mph w/ a Cummins.

Here's the joke: the ambulances w/ the 7.3 will only do 55 mph up this hill! He says, "It's crazy when Subarus are passing you and YOU have the emergency lights on!"

So if you're injured or mortally wounded and you see yourself getting loaded into a Ford ambulance, say your prayers 'cause you're not gonna get there very fast!

 

They need to hook a big horse trailer up to those ambulances. Then they will outrun the other trucks and need a parachute to get stopped (according to their commercials).

 

Here's something everyone may find interesting; In Massachusetts, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, (OEMS), sets the standards for vehicle specifications of ambulance chassis. The only vehicles that will meet those spec's are the Fords. Everything is specified, engine size, wheel base, wheel track, even the particular color of white! Now isn't that interesting? It's always made me wonder who's brother-in-law at OEMS owned a Ford dealership!

There are other brand ambulances running around Mass, I just saw a Chevy not long ago, but they have to be modified to conform to the spec sheet, or they have to obtain a waiver from OEMS. Both options are time consuming and costly, so most Fire Departments and ambulance services just take the easy way out and get the ford, or go to a larger chassis like an International or Freightliner, which have different specs.

Just thought you all might find this interesting.

chaikwa.

 

I'm not a Ford guy, but, obviously you have no idea of how heavy an ambulance is. Just think there like a miniature motor home, compared to an empty Dodge Cummins, I think 55 isn't too bad. JMO

Rick

 

As someone who drives a Ford ambulance for a living, I am going to weigh in here.

The powerstroke is an ok engine. We have one out here that has 240k+ miles on it. It has had its share of problems, but for the most part runs like a raped ape. It has had some help, however.

We have a 99 out here that is junk. It has 91k+ miles on it, is on it's 3rd engine and second transmission. If it does 80 it is a miracle. Both of these listed are the RV cutaway chassis.

We also have a 01 F-series 4x4. It also only runs about 80. But at least it will hold it (for the most part) on a hill. However, none of these rigs will hold a high rate of speed going up an incline.

Some things to think about: on the 350 chassis, you are asking that engine to pull about 14k pounds. That is part of the reason we had to go the 450 series in a newer one. When you go up to the heavier chassis, the change the rear ends. That is part of the reason our 91k mile ambulance only does 80.

The federal govt has also weighed in and is starting to limit the top speed on these ambulances. The lastest KKK specs (ambulance manufactures specs they get from the govt) states that no ambulance is supposed to run over 80. Go figure.

I would love to have a CTD in an ambulance prep package. We have even looked. But DC does not make one, and has no plans to in the future. Ford cornered that market in the late 70s early 80s.

 

I am a volunteer fire fighter. We have a powerjoke 7.3 for one of our "quick response" trucks and a chevy 454 for the other one both equiped the same. on any hills (most of which are 6 - 13% grade) the chevy will outrun the powerjoke. For being a diesel they are . Not to mention on the flat the phurd governs out at 95 and the chevy governs at 98. which one would you want if you were trapped in a car upside down My wishes are the same as all of you guys. I wish they would go Cummins

 

Well I personally don't want to be on the road or even close to it with you running 98 in any kind of Heavy emergency vehicle or even 95 for that matter. I am sure you can stop it within the length of a major intersection?? Come on get real how often do you run these kinds of speeds? Just because you have your little red light and siren on does not give you the right to drive like a mad man................... like say going 98 mph.

 

With all due respect, I've yet to see a Dodge Ram or a Chevy (what-ever-they're-called) ambulance conversion......anywhere! Ford is the only one so they win by default.

 

We are on the freeway on 99.9% of our runs and even at 98 we have people tailgating us. Get real do you really think we would go that fast in town Our boundaries include aprox 25 miles worth of I-15 no intersections here. With that being said 98 aint fast enough

 

Ramcummins, the next time your runnin 98 down the freeway, just think what happens to you and your crew if say a front tire lets loose. Who comes to scrape you off the highway?

Rick

 

Ok I'm sorry, but it is kind of cool to see you guys get hot once in a while

 

ok guys think about it, if you were out there on the freeway, trapped in your car with a broken neck or back (usually the case) in serious pain, would you want the fire dept and ambulance to do 75MPH and let you hang there upside down all broken up, or would you want them to go a bit faster. i know for a fact that the FD i volenteer for keeps up on maintainence on all thier equipment. ESPECIALLY their quick response trucks. (1 ton trucks with utility beds arent considered very heavy equipment) so lets put on the persons shoes whos trapped in the car all broke up and give them a little credit. just my .03 my time is more expensiveand this is a lot of typin for me

 

This is only my personal view, but around here we only have a stretch of highway 12 miles,(6mi. north, 6mi.south) from the F.H., I feel there is more an issue to have Good traffic control to get the first response team to the scene, Thus eliminating the need for 98mph.

Rj, "usually the case". I'm not sure I understand. Too many times calls are "unknown injuries", so why take the risk of creating another acc. at 98mph?
To find out someone has a broken finger.

You guys should get in your trucks, with another person in there veh., get on the interstate, one do 55mph, and the other do 75mph, for a five mile run, and see how much "longer" it takes the slower vehicle to get to point B. (approx. 1.5 min)

So are you really getting there that much faster?

 

Commatoze wrote:

With all due respect, I've yet to see a Dodge Ram or a Chevy (what-ever-they're-called) ambulance conversion......anywhere! Ford is the only one so they win by default.

The Town of Amesbury (MA) just got rid of their Chevy regular cab 2wd box style ambulance, which by the way, has been OUT of service more than IN! And Newbury had a Dodge van style ambulance for years until they replaced it just recently with a used Ford.

As for the speed issue; I've been a career F/F as well as a volunteer for the last 22 years, and I also teach vehicle operations at the Fire Academy level. Yeah, we DO tend to get a bit heavy footed at times, especially on the highway. I'm as guilty as the next guy. BUT, it isn't the right thing to do, no matter how serious the call or how far away. Liability being what it is these days, you could lose everything you own if you're involved in an accident, even if you were NOT at fault. Why push the odds even further by excessively speeding? The general public (as well as a jury!), gets really angry when they hear that someone with very little, if any training, and most likely an improper license, has gotten into a big red truck that's usually overweight to begin with, exceeded the speed limit and injured or killed someone.

We had an incident in Mass last summer where a fire truck was rolled over after someone cut it off on the highway. The truck wasn't speeding OR responding to a call, and DEFINATELY was not at fault in any way. The federal DOT stepped in however because the operator of the fire truck did not hold a CDL. By Mass law, he isn't required to when operating fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles, but the feds maintained that he wasn't properly trained because he wasn't licensed, and they threw the book at him. Now he CAN'T get a CDL because he's been charged with a major violation. The fire department is now in the process of licensing ALL its operators.

Come to find out, ANYONE that operates a vehicle with a manufacturers GVWR of 10,000lbs or more, while not required to have a CDL, ARE required to have a valid medical card. That means those of us that have 1 ton trucks or operate ambulances also fall under this requirement. We don't need a CDL, but we're supposed to magically know we need medical cards! Nice how they inform us of that, huh?

Sorry for the long post, but I thought it might give some of us something to think about the next time our pagers go off.

chaikwa.

 

Yeah there is a lot of crap they don't tell us and if we don't know "tuff cookies"

DM01