Reboxing Ambulances

[Guest WolfEMT]

Recently, my Squad has come to the realization that we must replace 2 of our 5 ambulances. At a cost of about $130,000 each (for a total of about $260,000), we can get two brand new E-350/Braun Type III rigs. However, my township's administration is pretty much against whatever we do, and although they rave about us in public, they pretty much laugh at us behind closed doors (which is where most of the township meetings take place, but that's another story). So as a cost-saving measure and as an alternative, my Squad has started to investigate the possibility of reboxing the two rigs that need to be replaced. For the cost of one brand new rig, we can have two reboxed and completely refurbished rigs. Has anyone here ever attempted this? If so, what are some of the pros/cons?

[mfc2257 464]

Yes... This practice is very common in both paid/volley and rich/poor towns... Doesn't matter it's done all over the country.

Essentally you've got a perfectlly good box that simply needs to be repainted outside and have some updated equipment installed inside that is running on a tired chassis of a van or pickup or light commercial chassis.

This is a great way to save money. Buy which ever chassis is the best fit, pay a little extra to make sure it's a diesel if you were running a gas fired plant before and maybe even go 4x4 if you have a need.... Two old boxes on new chassis even if you get a top of the line chassis are still cheaper than ordering a new rig.

Just make sure that before you to do this that you inspect the box for structual integrity and be sure that it will actually swap without much fabrication to a new chassis.

Then sell the old chassis to a someone who can use it as a work truck (landscaper, commercial building, DPW, etc.)

[Guest]

I have to go against utilizing the old box. In my dept. our ambulance was involved in a mva years back, and now we have a ridiculous ambulance. CFD 55B1 is like lifting a pt. into a hi-rise. It is a safety hazard and this is proven. A few years back a PD Lt. was assiting lifting a pt. at a scene, and blew his back out. Bad idea, if you do it , please do your homework and look into it first. Maybe smarter to spend the extra $$ and get a new bus.

[mfc2257 464]

If there is a factor that makes using the old box a problem, such as an accident, then don't use it.

However, if you have a standard type 1 or 3 box that is free of problems and just sitting on a tired chassis there really should't be a problem putting it on a new chassis.

The best interests of everyone involved ought to be looked at.

Example... IF you have a commercial chassis (FL112 or Topkick for example) and everyone hates the rig, when it's time to replace it, get a brand new rig. On the other hand, if you've got a 1998 F-350 that everyone loves, but it's blowing smoke and the tranny is about to drop... Assuming that no one complains about the box, why not upgrade to a new F-350, 450, 550 and keep the box.

Just my opinion.

[Guest WolfEMT]

All of our trucks are identical - they are Ford E350 vans with a Type 3 box. The only problem is that our members have a tendency to abuse the equipment, especially since like 90% of them think that they are Mario Andretti. If they've been involved in MVAs, then they have been slight and as far as I can tell, the boxes are pretty much sound.

[JBE 328]

Would putting the box on a new chassis be more or less cost effective??

[Guest WolfEMT]

Probably more because our boxes really aren't in bad shape. It's the actual truck that they're on that is getting tired and beaten. If we were going to go this route, the boxes would be completely refurbed; however, I just found out that my Squad wants two completely new rigs, which to me, doesn't make too much sense. I mean, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

[Guest NYTruckie]

Vista FD just rechassed one of their ambulance's. Also the major ambulance co in Louisiana (forgot the name), I believe will rechassy each ambulance twice, prior to retirement.

Later