Odyssey of Wharton, NJ is celebrating their 30th year in business, a recent expansion to 33,000 sq. ft. and is proud to be building 80 new response units for the FDNY. In September the car carriers started rolling in with red GMC pickup trucks. Half of the trucks will be utilized for Battalion Command and half for EMS response. Each truck will be outfitted with a high quality fiberglass cap, custom mission specific pull out unit in the rear, lights, sirens and communications equipment for responding to emergency in the country’s largest city, The Big Apple. The first group was recently delivered to the city for installation of special communications equipment. Odyssey will be building 5 units per week until all of the trucks are completed. Odyssey has been interested in this project for almost 25 years. Teaming up with Beyer Bros GMC of Fairview New Jersey has made the dream possible. Together they will supply the FDNY with new response units showing consistency, attention to detail, and service the FDNY expects from their vendors.

FDNY used diesel powered Suburbans for many years, until in 1999 GM discontinued the diesel SUV. Switching to the Ford Excursion diesel was the only alternative, then Ford discontinued the Excursion in 2005. FDNY decided the pickup would be a good candidate to be outfitted for the emergency services which would be consistent for many years to come.

The pickup has been America's work horse since Henry Ford's Model T and has continued to be one of the most popular utility vehicles on the road today. SUV's are primarily designed for the retail market used by families, sportsmen and the RV industry. An SUV can carry up to eight people and offers fold down seats for luggage or sporting gear. As an industry pioneer since 1979, Odyssey has converted SUV’s for the emergency services. Removing the rear seat leaves space for three to five passengers Odyssey manufactures special rear cabinetry, to fit this space which holds mission specific equipment for quick access when responding to an emergency. There are many regulations for fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars addressing occupant safety and equipment storage but none relating to the SUV conversion for the emergency services. Odyssey assures that every conversion meets standards they feel would apply, and ensures every vehicle is manufactured to the highest standard enabling Odyssey to send trucks across the United States and internationally.

Pickup trucks have been used as an inexpensive alternate vehicle to SUV’s which has evolved similar to the SUV. Today’s pickup is efficient, strong, built to withstand many years and miles of service in the construction and utility markets. Converting a pick up for use in the emergency services requires the same consistency, and guidelines that Odyssey has provided for many years. Depending on the specific mission and equipment accessibility, a flat weatherproof cover, raised bed cover, or even a utility insert can be used to protect the equipment in the rear bed from the elements. Unlike an SUV where the equipment is stored in the same compartment as the passengers, you can store gas cans and other materials that would have created fumes unsafe to the vehicle's occupants. Odyssey offers slide out units that extend 75%, 100%, or 120% with fixed or adjustable shelves, and command, EMS or tactical cabinet systems on the rear. These custom slide out units can carry generators, lighting and a myriad of other equipment for quick access and deployment. Include the side lift up windows or doors on the bed cap, and you can access lighter equipment without having to pull out the entire unit which can, when fully loaded weigh up to 2,000 pounds making it difficult to access when not on level ground.

When using an extended or 4 door cab Odyssey can make use of the area behind the seats with special cabinetry for more sensitive equipment. This is also a good area for tactical equipment when used by law enforcement agencies.

By using a pick up style vehicle without the rear bed, Odyssey offers a custom steel, fiberglass or aluminum utility body enabling access to equipment utilizing exterior compartments not requiring a whole body pull out unit in the rear. This can also enable the body to be transferred to a new cab and chassis if required.

Many departments around the country are putting these specialty response units into service and always looking at other agencies to see what works best for them. As always, custom vehicle conversions are a "Work in Progress" that Odyssey has specialized in for over 30 years. Creativity and experience over time working with many of the emergency services, Odyssey can, does and has provided the best product to meet the agency’s specific missions. Please visit our web site at www.odysseyauto.com regularly to see the next new Odyssey innovation and to follow the FDNY project through completion.