New Ambulance Purchase

[FFMedic0519]

My department is looking to buy a new Type 1 ambulance. We have been Excellance customers for some time are fairly happy. We have also been looking at Braun. No one in our area has a Braun. I was wondering which you perfer and why. I didn't get to see the last Braun demo that was brought down. Several of our guys and our mechanic did like the multiplex system and the sliding door. Excellance doesn't have either feature. I have also heard that Braun doesn't make a truly custom truck?? Just hear say though.

Also, is anyone running a new GM one ton chassis. We have two 95 models with the old gutless GM diesel. I was wondering if anyone likes the new 2nd generation Duramax. We also have 4 Fords, 97-00 models. We just assume stick with what works but we are open to looking at GM if it works for others. We are unsure about the new 6.0L Powerstrokes. The part-time service I work for has had several problems with their two new Fords. We are definately getting a one ton 4x4 chassis.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Jacob
FF/Paramedic

[blueeighty88]

You don't want a bread box! Get a real ambulance... A Horton!

Ford F450 Chassis, 4x4, vector lights, led lights, EQ2 siren, power pro cot, be prepared to put in at least $175,000!

[Weruj1]

PM me ............or turn yours on ..........we have a dept that has what you want to know from Braun.

[LeuitEFDems]

Originally posted by Weruj1
PM me ............or turn yours on ..........we have a dept that has what you want to know from Braun.
Same goes for me...I'm specing out our new ambulance now, and it sounds like we're going for the same thing as you...We've had 6 brauns so far, and I know the regional rep very well, so I can get you some pretty good info.

[Weruj1]

sup eltee ?

[N2DFire]

Ever since they got the VA state contract back in '01 - I've always been partial to Wheeled Coach.

Quality is on par with anything else I've seen / used here.

Last unit I was directly involved with was an '02 ('02 chassis picked up Dec '01).

During the pre-delivery inspection we found a couple of things wrong that were due to miscommunication / misunderstanding of our instructions. They were corrected on the spot - no charge.

Once the unit was delivered we found that the space between a shelf & counter top was too short for our LP12 to fit in. It was however at the height we specified (the counter top actually had a depressed top which gave the correct height from the center area of the counter to the shelf, but it created a 2" lip and the LP12 wouldn't go in/out of the area because of the lip.)

WC sent a repair tech & new parts and moved the shelf to a workable height in our station - no charge.

Now some of you may say - well they have enough $$ padded into the purchase price to do that kind of stuff - well on the state contract - the entire state of VA is treated like a single volume customer and is priced at 20% off the single unit price.

We bought our rig for $83K.
Pictures here:
http://n2dfire.tripod.com/stationbio.html (Scroll down and look for "Med 3")
It's a Type I '02 F-350 4X4.

This belongs to my former agency. The agency I just joined has an '01 almost exactly like this and an '03 built on and F-450 (also 4X4).

Old agency averages about 300 runs/year - New Agency does 1000+/year and the trucks have held up well.

Feel free to PM or e-mail me if you have specific questions.

[Firefighter1219]

We've got some from Peach State, they're old and really suck. We've also got some Fraziers. Fraziers are great rigs, modular with lots of space and a generator that runs the box and warning/scene lights. Less power loss and wear & tear on the engine of the chassis.

[putdafireout]

Do it right and buy a Horton. Medtech is in a mess right now and Braun is a cookie cutter truck. Wheeled coach just plain falls apart. Put it on a International chassis and dish out the $150,000 to $160,000

[putdafireout]

[QUOTE=putdafireout]Do it right and buy a Horton. Medtech is in a mess right now and Braun is a cookie cutter truck. Wheeled coach just plain falls apart. Put it on a International chassis and dish out the $150,000 to $160,000. See www.nfdl.org and click on Fire/EMS

[dave29]

All of ours r Braun

[Toering]

Horton! Built to last. We're getting a Type 1 with a walk through on a Ford F-350 ( STAY FAR AWAY FROM GM AMBULANCES!!!!!) we're going to pay only about 107,000 for it. Nice Truck!!! Again, I'll quit EMS if they take away my Horton.