When the Mariaville Fire Department (MFD), located in Patterson, N.Y., decided to replace an older mini-pumper, they chose Swab Wagon Company to seal the deal. Based in Elizabethville, Pa., Swab has been around since 1868, originally building farm wagons. Although Swab may be a smaller player in the industry, it builds high-quality vehicles of various sizes for fire departments all over the area.
Speccing for Their Needs
“When we originally started looking into replacing our 20-year-old mini-pumper approximately two years ago, we solicited several fire apparatus manufacturers,” says MFD 2nd Assistant Chief Dave Schaub. “Swab was the only manufacturer that really took an interest in what we wanted and needed for our community.”
That community is, for the most part, rural. “We have a lot of farms, a small grocery store and an elementary school that was recently closed and combined with another school in the area,” Schaub says. The smaller, older-style homes located around a lake in town have been giving way to larger, more modern structures. The town’s population is around 5,000.
The MFD’s vehicles are replaced on a 20-year cycle; the department maintains four front-line pieces of apparatus and replaces one of them every five years. The MFD’s 1987 brush truck was the next in line to be replaced.
“This time around we wanted the vehicle to do more than just be a brush truck,” Schaub says. “Since we have virtually no fire hydrants in town–with the exception of two dry hydrants–we needed the vehicle to be a water supply pumper to supply our other engines. We rely heavily on drafting from ponds and lakes in the area.”
The MFD funded the vehicle through a combination of township taxes and membership fundraisers that took place over the last several years.
Working with Swab
The local dealer for Swab in the area, VRS Sales, was instrumental in helping the MFD with the design and purchase of this vehicle. “Our apparatus committee wanted to make some changes from the old vehicle and didn’t necessarily want an off-the-shelf truck,” Schaub says. “We decided we wanted a larger pump. So we went with a 1,000-gpm pump, a bigger water tank, a diesel engine and a preconnected squirrel-tail suction.”
The vehicle was also designed to be a top-mount pumper, which is a bit unusual for a mini-pumper, but the MFD wanted it to match its two other pumpers for ease of operation.
The apparatus committee traveled to the Pennsylvania factory twice to see the construction of the vehicle first-hand. “We liked the fact that it was small enough to see how the vehicles were being built at various stations within the factory from ground up,” Schaub says. “Our members were able to spend time with Swab employees at each area, and they explained in detail how they were assembling the pumper.”
The committee also got some ideas from other vehicles they saw being built at the same time, resulting in a few modifications during the build process. “Their engineers were really receptive to all our ideas,” Schaub says. “Before we took delivery, we were even able to take the vehicle down to a local river and pump the truck. It worked really well.”
The time from order to delivery: about 6—7 months.
The MFD was quick to put the vehicle into service. “We’ve used it a few times since we took delivery at our own fires and at several mutual-aid alarms, supplying water from some ponds and lakes to other pumpers,” Schaub says. “The only problem we had was with a water-level gauge. VRS Sales took the vehicle, repaired the gauge and brought it back the next day–great service after the sale.”
Score One for the Little Guy
Large apparatus manufacturers get a lot of the publicity, but it’s a mistake not to at least consider the little guys when you’re beginning the apparatus design and purchase phases. Some departments are intimidated by dealing with larger manufacturers and actually get more for their money with the smaller companies. Remember: Design and purchase what’s needed for your community, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. It’s your money, so be careful with how you spend it, especially in these difficult economic times. And most importantly, don’t let an overzealous salesperson dictate what you get.
The MFD designed a fully functional vehicle for their department’s needs, adding some options that will help them be more productive on the fireground. Dealing with a smaller manufacturer that had their best interests in mind during the entire process also saved them some money, which is a definite plus these days.
If you know an apparatus purchase is coming up because of a longevity date, start planning accordingly. Don’t wait until the last minute, especially if you need to raise money for funding. Holding community fundraisers and writing/requesting a grant are time-consuming activities and require proper planning–and a little of that never hurt anyone.
Mariaville Specs
- 1,000-gpm W. S. Darley LSE-1000 engine-driven pump
- 175-hp Deutz TCD 914 L06 air-cooled engine
- 650-gallon water tank
- 320-gallon UPF tank
- Class 1 top-mount control panel with Akron valves
- 25 feet of 5″ pre-connect hard suction hose
- 200 feet of 1″ Hannay booster reel
- Hosebed for 500 feet of 4″ hose, with cover
- FRC 12-volt front body pole lights
- Warn XD9000i portable winch
- Whelen LED light package
