Transporting an old fire truck

Its sure the reason few repair anything, just replace. Its cheaper we are told.

 

The first 20 years of my career was fighting fires full time while driving/owning big trucks on my days off. Retiring from the FD after 20 and then driving and owning big trucks another 20 until I retired in February for what I thought was from everything.
A couple months into retirement I decided to relocate fire trucks for a regional service facility a couple days a month. I haven’t driven anything as bad as you just did because they are generally well maintained but I did spend a couple hours the other day in 100+ heat index in this beauty that was built pre A/C for fire trucks. It made me miss my ice cold air in my 389.
Fortunately this is the only one I moved that hasn’t had A/C. I took an aerial ladder 4 hours across the state the other day and I definitely missed my Pete’s creature comforts. The brand new ones I have driven are as nice as my Pete.

 

I drove this beauty for 10 of my 20 FD years. We drove the front for two weeks a then drove the back for two weeks. No A/C on either end or power steering in the tiller cab.

 

You had A/C in the tiller
Just open both doors good to go, always kept mine open, then had mechanic install a mini fan above the visor

 

Same A/C I had in our house until I was 10 years old which was what ever the wind produced. I didn’t mind it back then but I guess I have gotten used to A/C now.

 

I hired on the FD in 1985 and this old beast nicknamed the Roadwarrier was still used as an auxiliary piece when first line ladder trucks were out of service. The hood was as long as it looks and was fun to take down congested alleys. It’s currently owned by a retired Major who owns a small fleet of old fire trucks. This era of Mack’s were used until the early 2000’s and were my favorite rigs to operate. No A/C either and part of the reason my left ear is half deaf. We rode around with the windows down and the siren blaring, bouncing off the bldgs in the city.