As great as big red fire trucks are, they aren’t always the quickest or most versatile. Hence the development of the Quick Attack fire truck. These smaller rigs are based on standard road-going trucks with the capacity to carry a few hundred gallons of water, rescue equipment and the ability to go just about anywhere! This Ford F-350 Stepside was built to go places big trucks can’t and has seen just 12k miles since new. You can find this sweet truck here on eBay in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
Getting this truck, firefighting equipment, plus 200 gallons of water down the road takes some serious power. Under the hood is a 352 cui V8 paired to a 4-speed transmission. The seller states that this truck can comfortably cruise at 60 mph. And between the all-wheel-drive system and the dually rear end, you should be able to go just about anywhere!
The interior is in immaculate condition and still features all of its original equipment, sirens, and lights, which are all said to be working. Around back, the fire pumps and water tank are present. Think of all the fun you’ll have playing with all these switches and buttons!
With a tune-up and service to the pumps, this rig could probably be put back to work fighting fires, but something like this really deserves to be preserved and shown off! So, would you leave this truck as a working fire engine or would you turn into a streetable show truck?
wow…..
This would have been the way to show up at our Mendocino Complex fire just over the hill. Not! but i love a 65, and a 65 F350 4×4 beats everything else.
That’s one of the few trucks that can make me think “Maybe something other than a Power Wagon is OK…”
And you’re over the hill, eh? I’m in Santa Rosa; how about you?
Wow keep it like it is and show it
VERY cool rig! – but I’ll bet it “drives like a truck”.
How many of those who drive a newer crew cab,4WD’s
do you think could stand to drive something this spartan?
If I could afford it,I’d buy it,strip off the tank/pump,
& drive it like an old truck,while still taking care of it.
Yes, drives “like a truck” – no power steering or brakes and probably 8 or 9 mpg.
Being a Ford guy, and a firefighter…I LOVE THIS!!!
I second that……always love fighting a fire in a Ford apparatus…👍
Sweet old ford
That first photo is amazing; this might be my favourite BF to date.
Ive been trying to convince our local Fire Safe Council to get one for local yard defense freeing up CalFire to head to the hills…….no luck yet!
I love this! First thing I would change would be that single circuit master cylinder. Best to have a dual system – shouldn’t be too hard to find something that will work.
– John
Extra Cool!
Man this is a cool rig!
Very cool rig. Would be an attention-getter at the local cruise-in. Nice write-up Josh, though since it is a Ford it would be more appropriate to call it a Flareside instead of a Stepside.
A sweet rig, for sure, but even though it looks nice, that motor probably has thousands of hours on it. I have to think 60 mph in this would be challenging, to say the least, and it’s designed as more of a stationary( or slow going) pumping unit. This truck, and all old fire trucks, for that matter, has more than paid for itself, and should be donated to the poor folks in California. Even if it saved one house or a life, be worth it. Or I suppose someone could spend the $8g’s, and have it sit and they can polish the fenders.
That’s true for bigger firetrucks but not the case for this one. Most smaller trucks like this have a separate gasoline engine in the bed that’s run for firefighting. If you look at the pictures you will see that this one does also.
Thanks, I didn’t see that. Still these usually got to a brush fire,( maybe 4 miles away) and were driven slowly, as another operated the hose or idled for hours with the overheads on. Not a lot of road miles, but I bet the engine is still tired.
What a beautiful old fire truck. it would be great to have the truck and just go to show and shines with it. I hope it finds a good home.
The bid price is now at $8300, and I think it is a real deal at that price. I have all the stuff my yard can hold, so it is not an option for me.
Bob
Don’t forget the “Reserve Not Met” bit… This won’t sell, I don’t think, unless the right buyer catches wind of it and bids high. It is indeed unique, and appears to be generally in great shape. The seller is expecting big $. BIG!
Highest bid I could see was $19,052.00
But the auction was ended by the seller, “no longer available”
Looks like someone made the offer that couldn’t be refused!
I love this thing! And it could come in quite handy (I’d hope not but…) hanging around my (soon if all goes well) new (to me) house. “Rural” 5 acres with my own well might end up being a real lifesaver (again, I hope not) and go where the big trucks can’t get to easily.
What a nice old fire truck. The only thing with these like someone said above is that if it had an idling hour gauge it would probably equal a couple hundred thousand miles.
Definitely leave it as is! Shame on anyone who would do anything, but clean it up and show it off!
4 WD dually & pre owned by a municipality…almost all boxes checked!
4 WD dually & pre owned by a municipality…almost all boxes checked!
Some1 could use as is (commercial camp, club, sm town, corporation) or how bout an ’80s bronk body Todd (“jus a joke son, jus a joke”)?