From Crossroads Ambulance Sales and Service, LLC:
The Hazel Crest Fire & Rescue Medwerks Ambulance Remount module from Alexis Fire Equipment Company is back from paint and waiting patiently in line to meet its new chassis!
Crossroads Ambulance photo
Crossroads Ambulance photo
thanks Martin
#1 by ttguy on September 18, 2022 - 7:30 PM
Typically this comes down to C/A (cab-to-axle) measurements. An E-450 has a 100″ C/A with most having a walk-through configuration. Most F-series, Internationals and Freightliners today are 108″ CA with a pass-through configuration. Altering a C/A can be done, but often the end-user must accept or be willing to accept responsibility for any drive-line issues (ie: vibration and/or alignment) that may develop. Depending on who does the C/A adjustment, this may also NOT be covered by the OEM warranty. The other issue is body skirting. Take an E-450 body without any drop skirts and put it on an F-series chassis. Often looks like a complete cluster with the floor sills so high in the air. Most modifications can be tackled, but generally it boils down to cost – both financially and feasibility.
#2 by Tim on September 17, 2022 - 11:04 AM
Orland used to re-chassis rigs for a few years. They were saving about $40,000 each. Their Road Rescue modules they would re-chassis would fit a medium duty chassis even though they were built on E-450s.
#3 by Harry on September 17, 2022 - 8:43 AM
Waukesha WI has been remounting their ambulances for quite a few years now a lot of east coast depts remount tolland ct is one they keep an ambo for 4 years and when the bo exceeds 100000 miles the box gets remounted now there 2016 f550 is there plow truck now
#4 by Mike on September 17, 2022 - 8:19 AM
Mike I think it’s not pushed a lot because it’s more work for the builder and of course supposedly if you changed chassis or there was a redesign then the box wouldn’t fit. When I started we had freightliners and switched to ford E450’s and were told the box couldn’t be mounted. Then later we were told road rescue couldn’t mount on med tec, and then we switch to F series were told again we found not mount a box from an E series to an F series.
And of course you also hear “the wiring is old and blah, blah, blah.” So I think most places just don’t want to do it because they want new. Remounts save 50-100k and if the box isn’t damaged I don’t know why you wouldn’t consider remounting.
#5 by Mike C on September 17, 2022 - 5:34 AM
Why is it that so few municipalities, fire departments, etc. re-chassis their ambulances?
#6 by crabbymilton on September 15, 2022 - 11:37 AM
Actually that’s not a bad idea. A bit abstract but it would make some sense.
The ambulance would last many years and the pickup truck would be easy to replace when it gets old instead of going thru a remount.
#7 by Chuck on September 15, 2022 - 11:12 AM
Who needs a chassis? Just keep it on the trailer and just tow it around with a pickup truck. Now THAT would be an apparatus that would draw stares.