This from Arvell Dorsey Jr.:
Hello my name is Arvell Dorsey Jr. (longtime website visitor).
Today (3/25/19) I visited Engine 70’s house to confirm that Truck 47 is back in service since I saw it last week, and it was there. Took some pictures of it before they got a medical run.
Arvell Dorsey Jr. photo
Arvell Dorsey Jr. photo
#1 by Mike C on March 29, 2019 - 9:38 PM
Matt,
All Spartan cabs are made by Marion. Years ago, Spartan used TCM. They were total garbage! Marion makes a much better product!
I don’t know what reputation Spartan has around Chicago but one thing I can say is they bought a ton of them!!!! Chicago’s Pierce aerials have been garbage for years! They all starting corroding within a few years of their life. Braun also had some quality issues. Van Eck Collision now known as Kards in Elgin repaired several of the Braun ambulances over the past few years. I honestly can’t remember the exact problem but if memory serves me right, it was something related to the seems splitting on the body. For the price, I always thought Wheeled Coach made a decent ambulance.
#2 by Marty Coyne on March 29, 2019 - 8:34 AM
Martin: Chicago has issues with various manufacturers for different reasons. Some for late or lack of payment (Braun so they won’t even bid anymore). Some for issues with the rigs they supplied (Pierce). Crimson not sure.
Several manufacturers showed up for the bid meetings, but Chicago wrote the specs so only E-One built rigs that met them. Anyone else would have had to modify their construction techniques. Pierce did summit a bid but it was blank.
Matt. I know custom cabs take longer, but whole rigs are built in far less than two years. This was a screw you Chicago.
#3 by Martin on March 29, 2019 - 8:24 AM
It seems that Chicago is on bad terms with Braun, Spartan and Pierce. Who knows, maybe with others too. Or everyone just thinks that because Chicago switched manufacturers. Wasnt Eone the only one to bid in the last bids. I know Pierce tried to at one point. Maybe Chicago didnt do a good job of reaching out for bids? Maybe someone got paid under the table for the contract? We don’t know 100%. Stop bashing brands. I’ll remember when you all will bash Eone in a few years.
#4 by Matt on March 29, 2019 - 6:32 AM
Spartan builds the chassis but the cabs are made by either TCM or Marion depending on the material specified. The cabs for the CFD ladders are also highly customized with a custom cab height and the open compartments for the hand pumps behind the rear doors. The cab is not a stock off the shelf cab and anything custom in any type of manufacturing always takes longer to produce.
#5 by harry on March 28, 2019 - 10:52 PM
well mike when sqd 7 pierce got fully rehab fsi did the work that is not an eone product either
#6 by Mike C on March 28, 2019 - 6:16 PM
Marty,
Did this truck get the new cab installed by FSI or did they ship it to Spartan? I’m surprised an E-One dealer would go to the extent of replacing an entire cab.
#7 by Marty Coyne on March 27, 2019 - 4:33 PM
A big part is the city and Crimson are on very bad terms. They sent it to FSI but needed a new cab by Crimson. I believe that took much of the time, as Crimson was in no hurry to help Chicago.
#8 by Mike C on March 27, 2019 - 4:22 PM
2 years, huh? That’s the Chicago way! I’m sure city politics played a roll in the slow pace. If I had to guess the city is self insured which means they could’ve wrote the truck off shortly after the accident or sent it back to Spartan for repair. If the repair was funded by the civilians insurance company I wouldn’t think it would take long to fix. Once it’s shipped out to Spartan for repair, it’ll take a few months for the new cab to be produced, trimmed out, and mounted onto the chassis. If I had to guess all interior components are new as well including seats, and electronics.
#9 by John on March 27, 2019 - 3:50 PM
That is crazy, 2 years…. Thats gotta be quite the story.
#10 by Marty Coyne on March 27, 2019 - 1:28 PM
John, that is the truck and wreck. OOS over 2 years.
#11 by John on March 27, 2019 - 10:46 AM
Was this from 2016? Or another incident?
http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2016/11/chicago-fire-department-news-19/
#12 by John Antkowski on March 27, 2019 - 7:21 AM
Probably was part of the glider kit to add the new cab.
#13 by Mike C on March 26, 2019 - 8:23 PM
What’s the story behind a new cab? Must’ve been substantial damage to replace it.
Are the 3 light heads above the rear rollup door added after the rig was built or did it come like this from the factory?
#14 by Martin on March 26, 2019 - 4:48 PM
That’s a completely new cab.
#15 by harry on March 26, 2019 - 4:09 PM
it does appear to have new light bars
#16 by Luke Jackson on March 26, 2019 - 4:04 PM
Good to see truck 47 back in service. Was the cab replaced or repaired? I’m surprised if the cab was replaced they haven’t put chevrons on the front bumper.