New Ambulance Question

S

svfd21emt

Forum Ride Along
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
0
My Company is looking at replacing our 2 ambulances. We would like to buy 2 matching units. Is there any specific type of ambulance you would recommend? We dont exactly cover the nicest area. We have to travel down alot of roads that are full of potholes and most of the drvieways that we have to drive into are really narrow and when its winter they aren't plowed. Give me some ideas so that I can take them to our next board meeting.

Thank you very much,

Also we are looking at getting a custom light package for the new ambulances. Any suggestions?
 
svfd21emt said:
My Company is looking at replacing our 2 ambulances. We would like to buy 2 matching units. Is there any specific type of ambulance you would recommend? We dont exactly cover the nicest area. We have to travel down alot of roads that are full of potholes and most of the drvieways that we have to drive into are really narrow and when its winter they aren't plowed. Give me some ideas so that I can take them to our next board meeting.

Thank you very much,

Also we are looking at getting a custom light package for the new ambulances. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

You have to tell us a little more about your service, and what you're looking for.

Where are you (state, climate, terrain)?
What type of service are you (Private, Third Service, FD, Rescue, Details, etc)?
What level of care are you providing (QRS/EFR, BLS, ILS, ALS, CCT/SCT)?
What is your standard staffing (#EMTs/Medics? Non-Medical Driver?)
Transport time/distance to Hospitals?
Where are you stationed (Garage? Posting during the day?)?
What do you currently have (and what do you like/like to change?)
Access to Diesel? Gasoline? Biodiesel?
Budget?

Assuming you are in the US, any vehicle you buy domestically has to (and will) conform to GSA requirements, found here:
http://www.deltaveh.com/f.pdf
 
http://www.demers-ambulances.com/products/mirage-ex-sprinter

If you're plowing a lot of snow without a 4 wheel drive vehicle, one without dual wheels is a better option. I've gotta go with USALSFYRE's recommendation of the sprinter, but I'm gonna offer up a different company. Demers has a better U.S. support network, and they might be cheaper with great quality units.
 
If a type 2 fits your needs Im gonna suggest Sprinter as well. The Demers rock and get my choice. I still want to spend some time in the Care Flite Crestline layout though as I think it's a nice alternative to using a box for CCT stuff.

If you want a box Ill suggest Excellance and Frazer. Over the years these have been the ones that held up the best. Wheeled Coaches are nice as well but in my experience they all became rattle traps way too soon.

For truck chassis take your pick. Ford, Dodge and GM are becoming equal and they all require DEF with the diesels.

In the van chassis cabs Ford is only doing gas motors. GM offers the Duramax but it has all the emissions crap like the trucks. Beware of potential maintnance issues with them.
 
Where are you (state, climate, terrain)? State, We see every season.( Most of the time at its worst.) Rough Terrain. (Meaning mostly all dirt roads)

What type of service are you (Private, Third Service, FD, Rescue, Details, etc)? Privately Owned, Fire Department, Heavy, Rescue, HAZMAT, EMS, Volunteer.

What level of care are you providing (QRS/EFR, BLS, ILS, ALS, CCT/SCT)? BLS
What is your standard staffing (#EMTs/Medics? Non-Medical Driver?) EMT's - 15, Medic's - 1, Non-Medical Drivers - 3-4

Transport time/distance to Hospitals? 40 - 80 mins (Depending on which hospital the patient wants to be transported to. There are 7 that we transport to on a daily basis.)

Where are you stationed (Garage? Posting during the day?)? Garage, Volunteer.

What do you currently have (and what do you like/like to change?) 2000 Ford F-350 Type II, and 2004 Freightliner Ambulance Type III

Access to Diesel? Gasoline? Biodiesel? Diesal and Gasoline. (Both Trucks currently run off of Diesel.)

Budget? $65,000 - $100,000

Call Volume - 500 - 600 Calls Annually
 
Just thought I'd toss this info in there for you to compare or services.

svfd21emt said:
Where are you)
Click to expand...

Rural Saskatchewan, Canada. We travel on paved highway, gravel roads, logging roads, and off road. Wet, muddy, frozen, dry, snow, ice.

svfd21emt said:
What type of service are you
Click to expand...

Privately owned full time, on call staff service with specialization in water rescue.

svfd21emt said:
What level of care are you providing
Click to expand...

ALS/ILS 911 response, BLS/ILS Interfacility with BLS/ALS Critical Care IFT.

svfd21emt said:
Transport time/distance to Hospitals?
Click to expand...

IFTs are between 100 and 150 miles one way, locals could be as far as 30 miles and back.

svfd21emt said:
Where are you stationed
Click to expand...

Units at the Garage with staff on call.

svfd21emt said:
What do you currently have
Click to expand...

Type III X 2, Type II X 1

svfd21emt said:
Access to Diesel? Gasoline? Biodiesel?
Click to expand...

All of the above.

svfd21emt said:
Budget?
Click to expand...

My annual income before expenses is $750,000 ish. Vehicle replacement budget is about $60k.

svfd21emt said:
Call Volume - 500 - 600 Calls Annually
Click to expand...

Same
 
Dodge Sprinter.... For the Win ^_^

Though they are a little top heave which causes alot of sway around corners... theyre great for headroom and are a fantastic ride.
 
Wheeld Coach Custom Series, Inexpensive and durable. As far as Chasis, its all up to you.
 
Our Road Rescue Ultramedics are nice. I like the Chevy more than the Ford but maybe that's cause all our Fords are old and the Chevys are new :ph34r:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Fish said:
Wheeld Coach Custom Series, Inexpensive and durable. As far as Chasis, its all up to you.
Click to expand...

If you want a diesel type III you'll be stuck with Chevy. Merecedes makes a Sprinter chassis cutaway, but I have only seen them on AEV's website. Incidentally AEV makes a good, no frills truck that's fairly durable, certainly more durable than our Marquee units. The Marquee Type IIs aren't bad, but the build quality is not quite as good as the AEVs.

The medics love our Demer's Type IIIs.
 
Tigger said:
If you want a diesel type III you'll be stuck with Chevy.
Click to expand...

I love our new Chevys. Try sitting in a parking lot for 2 hours with the high idle of a 6.0 or 7.3 powerstroke ruining your attempt at some R&R :rofl: The high idle on the new unit is quieter than the Fords at regular idle :wacko:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
NVRob said:
I love our new Chevys. Try sitting in a parking lot for 2 hours with the high idle of a 6.0 or 7.3 powerstroke ruining your attempt at some R&R :rofl: The high idle on the new unit is quieter than the Fords at regular idle :wacko:
Click to expand...

With our one powerstroke, as long as you don't set the parking brake the high idle won't activate. I'm not sure that's good for the truck, but I have not been told either way so I defer to the way that keep hipsters from accosting me at post and admonishing me for destroying the environment. I care about the environment, but I also care about not roasting in the cab during the day. Plus those EpiPens have to be kept at a certain temperature!

Most of our fleet is gas, those trucks are so quiet at idle I forget they're on half the time when I am awaken from my nap to go somewhere. Sure they get like 4mpg, but we're in an urban area, and no ambulance does well fuel wise in a city.
 
SOP is to set the brake to start the high idle when posted :/ The low idle was loading up the EGR valves and blowing them constantly.
 
wheeled coach, braun, frazer and horton are my personal favorites, very roomy inside and comfortable as well as plenty of storage
 
Horse and buggy?
 
NVRob said:
I love our new Chevys. Try sitting in a parking lot for 2 hours with the high idle of a 6.0 or 7.3 powerstroke ruining your attempt at some R&R :rofl: The high idle on the new unit is quieter than the Fords at regular idle :wacko:
Click to expand...

thats because they idle on 3 cylinders :ph34r: no joke, the 2010 and later "green diesels" that chevy makes idle on 3 cylinders.
 
The CON's of a Sprinter no one talks about are:

- it's a throw-away (once you've miled it up, there's no value and no options for re-powering). Forget about trade in value down the road...
- parts and service are WAAAY more expensive (that is, if you can find someone to work on it)
- cramped, no storage space, feels like you're working out of a box
- if you're traveling sub-standard roads, you'd better be wearing your seatbelt because you're going for a ride; most likely in the ditch.
- MANY, MANY MORE...

If you want more truck for the money, check out your other options...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top