Keith Browning Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 So our new owners are beginning to bring new accounts to our location and it starts off with the NYFD account and a Dodge ambulance on a chassis cab unit comparable to a F450/F550. Had a broken fuel return line at the 60 gallon aft-axle fuel tank... which is PLASTIC by the way. No rust there. The truck has a Cummins in it. Nice engine, truck looks far less rugged than a Ford. One thing I noticed was the rear suspension was ripped out of it and it has an airbag system that not only adjusts ride height but allows it to squat in the rear. I know we discussed this in the past related to the demise of the Econolines and diesels. I wonder if we might start seeing more Fords with this type setup on F-Series chassis in the future. That Transit Connect looks like a weak platform and I cant see a full bodied ambulance on that platform. Maybe Ford will come out with a usable Medium duty chassis for such applications. Heck I see Navistar ambulances! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I keep hearing the rumor more and more that we will see the full size Transit in North America very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Oh it ain't a rumor my friend. The E-seies is GONE and the Transit IS coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeA Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I wasn't much a fan of Dodge trucks when I worked there, but I really can't fault the 4500/5500.. Magna front axle, Dana Mexico rear axle, AISIN trans. The truck was built tough, and the worst I seen go wrong with them was front axle shafts. Only tranny's we ever did in them were because of oil starvation (case/pan cracks).. Guys in the hotshot business love them because they take a beating unlike the 2500/3500, which would fall apart around the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 That is good to hear. That hopefully means we won't get pounded with trucks fallinfg apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I was at the Detroit Auto Show this week and the FMC rep "said" there would be several versions of full size Euro Transit vans heading our way soon. He also stated that the small V8 diesel program (4.7 Land Rover based?) for F150/250 was being revived, just before telling me that early 6.7 diesels had aluminum oil pans. I'm not sure what to believe with this guy. His name was Neon, very tall dude with a German accent. He said zero changes in the 6.7 for this year, that's how the oil pan topic came up. I was really disappointed with the Ford truck display- only one 6.7 sitting there, with no extra diesel exhibits around it. FMC has at least two 6.7 cutaways that I know of, why didn't they have one there? Isn't the 6.7 one of their profit leaders? Overall, I was very disappointed with the whole show. It's been a few years (6-8?) since I went to the Detroit show last, but it was MUCH larger with much larger exhibits back then. They did have a 6.2 Raptor on a lift with the body removed which was cool, but didn't do much for me. This is the whole truck display- what a disappointment. I told the guy that, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmorris Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I don't see any hold down straps attached to that cab lift. So much for safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Saunoras Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 that aint a cab lift, that's an whole body lift. I think I see some velcro holding that to the rack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmorris Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 that aint a cab lift, that's an whole body lift. I think I see some velcro holding that to the rack So what is holding the box to the cab...geez did not notice that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Saunoras Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I know, I didn't notice it at first either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I would have liked to get much better pics but was behind a barrier keeping the public back. I do believe the lift supports were bolted to the cab/bed, though, from what I could see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 I am sure that PROP has some sort of framework that tied the bed and the cab together to form a single unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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