7 Things to Consider When Buying a Used Fire Truck
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If you’re shopping around for a used fire apparatus, you’ve come to the right place. Everything to help you find the best truck is discussed.
Financing
Make note of the financing options you’ll get. Fire apparatuses cost much more than regular vehicles. Even if you are buying used, you’ll probably not be able to afford to buy the truck up-front. Make things easier for yourself and work with someone that offers financing options. You could pay the sum off for a couple of years.
Size
Whether you’re going to buy new or used, make sure that the apparatus would be able to carry your crew easily. The seller should be able to tell you the max amount of people as well as the weight the vehicle would be able to handle. Generally, the smaller units are the most affordable.
Hose
When people think of fire trucks, the first thing that comes to mind is the water that they shoot out. The apparatus you’re interested in should have a fully functional pump.
What brand and model would you be buying? The one you’re interested in should let you swap default parts out for custom ones. You could get much stronger streams of water with special water cannons as a result.
Parts
As the truck is second-hand, it might be a model that was released years ago. There isn’t anything wrong with this except that getting parts for it might be hard – they are just not made anymore.
Moreover, depending on the model you bought, getting parts for it might be pricey. You could find that its hoses cost almost double than another truck’s.
Testing
Considering fire apparatuses come with thousands of parts, you need to make sure that they are all working well. The best person to buy from would offer certifications for all the parts to ensure that they are in good shape.
Additional Training
To drive a fire apparatus, you need training. For one, the vehicle is large. And there would be a lot of features and tools that require qualifications to work. Unfortunately, you may be about to purchase an apparatus with features that whoever you’ll be getting to drive would not be not qualified for.
Warranty
Like with any vehicle, make sure that the truck comes with an extensive warranty. It would cost a lot, so money would be flushed down the drain otherwise. You can make sure of expert coverage by working with popular sellers.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to fire apparatuses, there are a plethora of things to keep in mind if you want to purchase them used. From the things mentioned, the most important would be whether the vehicle is in a good condition or not. Carefully assess it before buying. And make sure that you’re buying from a certified dealer – you’ll be limiting the possibility of you getting ripped off.
If you’re going to be buying a unit with special features, make sure the person who you’ll be getting to drive the truck should be qualified.