Building Unit Six

Department members have started working on another truck project.  Unit six will not carry any water but will carry a lot of loose equipment that will be very vital for both firefighting and accident scenes.  A utility box has been purchased with dance fund and currently is being transformed into a air.light and equipment truck.  Members will be doing the majority of the work themselves to keep cost down.  Check in as we will keep track of the progress on the work being done.

Unit five will be replaced in May with a new 2005 Pierce Contender Tanker.  The chassis for this truck will serve as the chasis of unit 6.  The truck will have a utility body mounted on it and hold the air supply system as well as both fireground and accident/rescue scene equipment.

Currently when there is a need for  large amounts of air for the S.C.B.A the department has to hook onto this trailer to bring the supply with them.  When unit six is completed the air supply will be mounted into the truck.  This will help safety out because their will not be a chance of the trailer un hooking on a call.  It will also help on accident scenes when air tools or bags are needed.

Fire Department member found this utility box from Alltec Corporation in St. Joseph Mo. it used to be mounted on a line truck for a power company.  After a lot of looking this box fit our price range and our needs the best.  Member Charles Roberts and Toby Watts made the 600 mile round trip journey to pick up the box.

This picture shows where the air system, drop tank, extra cribbing and vent fan will be stored.  This picture is taken after a lot of cutting and grinding have been done to remove the pieces we did not need.

Another view of the box after all lights have been removed all wires have been taped up for sand blasting.

Final grinding before sand blasting of the body.

Setting outside ready to be sand blasted by Dave Scott.  Keep in touch with this page as work keeps progressing.  2/20/05

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This picture is some what what the new unit five will look like.  It will be mounted on a 2005 Kenworth chassis with a 2000 gallon poly tank.  It will have a 315 Cummins Diesel with a Allison Auto Transmission.  It will also contain a 500 gallon per minute p.t.o. pump with pump and roll capacity. May is the expected delivery date.

Dave Scott sandblasting unit sixes utility body.

Finishing up blasting.  Thanks goes out to Dave for doing the blasting so quick. (2/22/05)

Body back into hall ready for modification needed.

Another view of body.

While Dave was set up he also blasted the wheels.  Unit six is also going to get new paint on the cab.  Inspector Carson checks out the work.

Member Rick Rieck starts to prime the wheels Tuesday Night (2/22/05).

Wheels all in primer not the best color combination.

Rick starts to cover wheels with 2 coats of white.

Wheels with final coat applied.  Red accents will be added when cab is painted

Tuesday February 22, 2005 comes to a close.  More updates on progress to come.  Thanks for checking in.

Setting outside ready for Dave Scott to sand blast. (2/20/05)

Tim Althouse weld and straighten the back of the body well Rick Rieck cuts patch pieces.

Rick and Tim cut and weld , Andy Roberts finishes up the sanding on the doors.

Rick does some straightening on the body.

Tim finishes the patch pieces inside the box.  Next to come is the painting.  The new tanker is expected in less than 1 month.  Check in again for more changes. (5/22/05)

Summer time is here so progress has been slow.  This picture was taken in June.  Rick is applying the primer on the box.

Primer is shot on the inside of the box as well.

Box completely primed ready for paint.

During the July meeting several member removed the box and tank from the truck.  Meanwhile the pieces for the air bottles have been cut out and are ready to weld.  We hope to have the truck up and running by October. (8/7/2005)

Rick starts to to paint the utlity box.

Box painted and ready to add the tread bright and air bottle rack. Getting closer to the October goal of completion.(8/20/05)

Ryan works on adding the tread bright to the box.

Ryan, Andy,Tim A. and Toby work on the box Saturday While Rick is starting to paint the cab of the truck.

Box with bottle rack and tread bright in place cab is painted and ready to go next is putting box on chassis.  Plans are to try to finish truck @ the September  meeting. (9/24/2005)

Box is ready to be mounted onto the chassis.  Thanks goes out to the Polk County Rural Public Power District for allowing Andy and Justin to bring their truck over for the switch.

The box is balanced out and moved onto unit 6's chassis.

Box is now setting on the chassis and truck is ready to be put back together.

Ryan, Tim and Tom work on the tread bright and Justin starts the task of rewiring the lights.  Thanks goes out to Kent Johansen of Johansen Repair for allowing us to use his metal working shop for shearing and braking the tread bright.

Carson shows his approval.  Truck is ready for finishing touches tomorrow @ the monthly meeting. 9/28/2005

The final details have been added.  The truck was worked on until 2:30 a.m. on Thursday's meeting.  A few minor details need to be finished up but Unit 6 is ready for calls.

Rear of unit 6 shows the 6 bottle 2216 p.s.i. cascade system,  stokes basket compartment @ top and 12 volt lighting for night time fills.  A extra dump tank,  positive pressure fan, and extra cribbing will also be placed in the bed of Unit 6

Unit 6 is complete and ready to answer the call.  A total of 375 volunteer man hours where logged in by the department members to make the truck a possibility.  It should be a very valuable piece of equipment for Osceola Department and the surrounding departments to use.