Ambulances with Generators

[Guest guest]

So henry do you like Frazer's? LOL

They are nice trucks I can see that.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

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[Guest guest]

Henry Barber said it perfectly. We are strictly a Frazer Ambulance service

and have no complaints at all. If Mr. would expand his business, he

would find another world of success, but he likes it like it is.

Andy Foote

Beaumont EMS

[Guest guest]

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at cschneider@....

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

[Guest guest]

I am very pro Frazer Ambulance and have been running them since 1997. We are in

the process of beginning our 3rd generation of remounts. Since 1997 we have not

had one complaint from a single crew member complaining about the Ambulance.

Problems with the Frazer side of the ambulance has been almost non existent.

Heating and cooling issues do not exist. I haven't replace an alternator in a

ambulance Chassis since 1997. Some others out there will say they have generator

powered ambulances, but Frazer is the real deal. On top of everything else the

folks at Frazer are extremely professional top to bottom.

Mr. and his staff are folks of their word that refuse to sell you

anything less than a quality product. If you want a cheap, made non reliable

ambulance go somewhere else. The initial cost of getting into a Frazer may be a

little more. However over the life of the box or 20 years your cost in remounts

and almost non existent repair cost will save you many times over.

Let me tell you that I am not an easy guy to please.... I am extremely pleased

with our Frazer units. My commissioners court while doubting at first have seen

the light and the savings of $$$$ over the years. Now it is up to you whether or

not you run gas or diesel. We have always run gas trucks and have had good luck

with very little problems. Understand up front that you can not judge Frazer by

the chassis. You can however once you have a Frazer go to the chassis folks and

say " The problem is now in your product, we know it is not a Frazer issue " .

Sincerely,

Henry Barber Call me if you have questions.

Ambulances with Generators

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at cschneider@....

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

[Guest guest]

Henry said it all.

The only thing I would add is that Frazer is proactive to issues that they

find, if they come upon an issue after production, they correct it. Their

service department is second to none.

The professionalism that Henry mentions is incredible.

I am a Ford fan, Henry likes his Chevy's, either way, the repair orders from

the chassis fill a couple of folders while the repairs on the box and

generator are nonexistent.

Preventative maintenance is the key.

But I guess you already know how I feel about the Frazers huh???

Hatfield FF/EMT-P

www.canyonlakefire-ems.org

" Ubi concordia, ibi victoria "

Re: Ambulances with Generators

I am very pro Frazer Ambulance and have been running them since 1997. We are

in the process of beginning our 3rd generation of remounts. Since 1997 we

have not had one complaint from a single crew member complaining about the

Ambulance. Problems with the Frazer side of the ambulance has been almost

non existent. Heating and cooling issues do not exist. I haven't replace an

alternator in a ambulance Chassis since 1997. Some others out there will say

they have generator powered ambulances, but Frazer is the real deal. On top

of everything else the folks at Frazer are extremely professional top to

bottom.

Mr. and his staff are folks of their word that refuse to sell you

anything less than a quality product. If you want a cheap, made non reliable

ambulance go somewhere else. The initial cost of getting into a Frazer may

be a little more. However over the life of the box or 20 years your cost in

remounts and almost non existent repair cost will save you many times over.

Let me tell you that I am not an easy guy to please.... I am extremely

pleased with our Frazer units. My commissioners court while doubting at

first have seen the light and the savings of $$$$ over the years. Now it is

up to you whether or not you run gas or diesel. We have always run gas

trucks and have had good luck with very little problems. Understand up front

that you can not judge Frazer by the chassis. You can however once you have

a Frazer go to the chassis folks and say " The problem is now in your

product, we know it is not a Frazer issue " .

Sincerely,

Henry Barber Call me if you have questions.

Ambulances with Generators

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at cschneider (AT) ps (DOT)

<mailto:cschneider%40ps.lockhart-tx.org> lockhart-tx.org.

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

[Guest guest]

I've replied off-list, but having ridden in Mr. Hatfield's personal Frazer, I'll

second (and third) everything Henry and Mike both say...

-Wes

Re: Ambulances with Generators

I am very pro Frazer Ambulance and have been running them since 1997. We are

in the process of beginning our 3rd generation of remounts. Since 1997 we

have not had one complaint from a single crew member complaining about the

Ambulance. Problems with the Frazer side of the ambulance has been almost

non existent. Heating and cooling issues do not exist. I haven't replace an

alternator in a ambulance Chassis since 1997. Some others out there will say

they have generator powered ambulances, but Frazer is the real deal. On top

of everything else the folks at Frazer are extremely professional top to

bottom.

Mr. and his staff are folks of their word that refuse to sell you

anything less than a quality product. If you want a cheap, made non reliable

ambulance go somewhere else. The initial cost of getting into a Frazer may

be a little more. However over the life of the box or 20 years your cost in

remounts and almost non existent repair cost will save you many times over.

Let me tell you that I am not an easy guy to please.... I am extremely

pleased with our Frazer units. My commissioners court while doubting at

first have seen the light and the savings of $$$$ over the years. Now it is

up to you whether or not you run gas or diesel. We have always run gas

trucks and have had good luck with very little problems. Understand up front

that you can not judge Frazer by the chassis. You can however once you have

a Frazer go to the chassis folks and say " The problem is now in your

product, we know it is not a Frazer issue " .

Sincerely,

Henry Barber Call me if you have questions.

Ambulances with Generators

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at cschneider (AT) ps (DOT)

<mailto:cschneider%40ps.lockhart-tx.org> lockhart-tx.org.

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

[Guest guest]

Go with the Frazers - you won't be disappointed. It's been

said by several others, but I'll say it again. The customer

service is outstanding. The s are great people to do

business with.

Maxine

hire-Pattison EMS

[Guest guest]

Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on a

Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the box.

In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this time we

bought a Chevy 3500.

I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics to

work.

The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

department.

The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it warm

for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

quickly.

One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on it

and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

manufacturers.

I recommend Frazer.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

Interesting comments by and Henry regarding chassis issues...and that is

what it all boils down to. Even with a Ford F-450 chassis (or the equivalent

Chevy) these boxes (not Frazer but ALL modular boxes) put the chassis at the GVW

weight (or very close) throughout its life. The max GVW is the chassis maximum

weight it should be allowed to work at...no chassis is prepared to operate at

its MAX GVW under severe conditions for its whole life...and that is why the

chassis' fail...

When Frazer started manufacturing ambulances in the mid-80's (the old milk

trucks) the chassis' were not as big as they are today, had a much inferior AC

system, alternators of approximately 130 to 170 amps and incandescent (and then

strobe) lights, the idea of a generator made some sense...for the extra

power...so the extra maintenance, extra issues with a second engine, and the

extra weight was worth it...but things have changed...chassis' are bigger (F-450

and 550), alternators are larger (270-280 amps) and many chassis manufacturers

place " ambulance packages " in their chassis' much like a heavy duty package

available at a dealer, but with a second AC compressor exclusively for the

patient compartment...really starts to make us wonder if the extra weight of the

generator (and extra costs, maintenance, issues, etc) are worth it...

Also, and I am speaking from ignorance here (bet y'all never thought you would

hear me say that) but when boxes get heavy...manufacturers (in general...not any

specific one, especially not Frazer) have a tendancy to make cuts in the hidden

parts of the truck...that we never see...the support columns, ceiling

componants, floor joists, etc....so that they can stay below the GVW...

Additionally, I am not a fan of remounts...chassis' get hurt and abused

throughout their lives...just like Henry's post on tires...hitting curbs, speed

bumps, and the one thing we never think about is what happens to the box each

time the chassis takes a hit....the box moves, twists, bends and pops just like

the chassis...but it has no real moving parts (outside the doors) that show the

wear and tear...and since the point of the remount is to save costs, don't often

see the boxes taken apart, all the welds inspected and re-welded, bent

structural members replaced etc...

In the past 2 to 3 years there have been several catastrophic ambulance

accidents that a vehicle should be able to survive...but in these accidents the

box came completely apart spilling the occupants out onto the pavement...the

most recent in Colorado where the entire front wall of the box came apart....so,

if the moving parts of the vehicle needs to be replaced due to wear and tear, we

replace the box because we owe that level of deligence to our folks to make sure

that they not only have a cool looking, well running truck...but one that will

stay together when the catastrophic unexpected accident occurs...

Come see the videos I have at the conference...and check out the safety features

we have employed in our new unit...it will be at the exhibit hall too...

I agree with Jane, I don't care about the manufacturer...Frazer, Wheeled Coach,

AEV, 's Ambulance Boys, Inc....it is about the safety and low cost of

performance....

Y'all have a good night.

Dudley

Re: Ambulances with Generators

I am very pro Frazer Ambulance and have been running them since 1997. We are

in the process of beginning our 3rd generation of remounts. Since 1997 we

have not had one complaint from a single crew member complaining about the

Ambulance. Problems with the Frazer side of the ambulance has been almost

non existent. Heating and cooling issues do not exist. I haven't replace an

alternator in a ambulance Chassis since 1997. Some others out there will say

they have generator powered ambulances, but Frazer is the real deal. On top

of everything else the folks at Frazer are extremely professional top to

bottom.

Mr. and his staff are folks of their word that refuse to sell you

anything less than a quality product. If you want a cheap, made non reliable

ambulance go somewhere else. The initial cost of getting into a Frazer may

be a little more. However over the life of the box or 20 years your cost in

remounts and almost non existent repair cost will save you many times over.

Let me tell you that I am not an easy guy to please.... I am extremely

pleased with our Frazer units. My commissioners court while doubting at

first have seen the light and the savings of $$$$ over the years. Now it is

up to you whether or not you run gas or diesel. We have always run gas

trucks and have had good luck with very little problems. Understand up front

that you can not judge Frazer by the chassis. You can however once you have

a Frazer go to the chassis folks and say " The problem is now in your

product, we know it is not a Frazer issue " .

Sincerely,

Henry Barber Call me if you have questions.

Ambulances with Generators

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at cschneider (AT) ps (DOT)

<mailto:cschneider%40ps.lockhart-tx.org> lockhart-tx.org.

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/9/2006 2:15:25 PM Central Standard Time,

cschneider@... writes:

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at _cschneider@..._

(mailto:cschneider@...) .

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

Might want to contact Acadian Ambulance Service...they have been putting 3Kw

gen sets on their Type 1 boxes for several years now..it allows them to run

their box A/C units without the rig engine running if they have to sit for a

long time in the South Louisiana sun.

ck

[Guest guest]

Go with Frazer. So far in my limiited carrer, they are the best truck I have

worked in. Hopefully we will purchase another Frazer within 18-24 months, and

then after that, will start with remounts. We currently have 2, one on a Ford

truck, and one on a Chevy truck. I recommend getting the Chevy truck. The Ford

truck has had to many problems, and after our truck got struck by lighting, we

have had nothing but problems with the Ford side of the electrical system.

Hobbs

Shackelford Co. EMS

wegandy1938@... wrote:

Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on

a

Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the box.

In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this time we

bought a Chevy 3500.

I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics to

work.

The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

department.

The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it warm

for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

quickly.

One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on it

and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

manufacturers.

I recommend Frazer.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

Many moons ago, when I worked for a different agency, we toured the Frazer

facility in Houston and spoke with Mr. . Much to my dismay, my agency

didn't purchase Frazer ambulances because they weren't the low bidder. You get

what you pay for. Go figger.

Anyway, one of the things I learned from Mr. is that the reason their

products are so sturdy is because they started their company to build specialty

vehicles for oilfield exploration, geosurveying, etc, and the boxes and power

systems for those vehicles had to be even more bulletproof than for ambulances.

Once his company was set up to build bulletproof oilpatch rigs, building tough

ambulance boxes came easy.

I don't know about 2006, but Mr. told us (in 1994ish) that his company

had remounted ambulances for the Houston Fire Dept that went out of service in

the morning, got remounted, and were back in service that evening. Pretty

impressive.

phil

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[Guest guest]

Call me

I use 2 different styles and have an opinion on them with experience to back

it...

Weinzapfel

castrouble1 wrote:

We are in the process of purchasing a new ambulance. A couple of the

paramedics are very pro having an on board generator, in particular

Frazier ambulances. If anyone has any experience with this ambulance

and/or on board generators, I would like to hear your opinion, good or

bad. Please email me off list at cschneider@....

Thanks in advance for your response.

Cheryl Schneider

Director, City of Lockhart EMS

---------------------------------

Access over 1 million songs - Yahoo! Music Unlimited.

[Guest guest]

In all fairness to Ford though, but not defending them at the same time, If

lightening were to strike your Chevy ambulance, don't you think you would have

the same problems with it? Lightening does some weird things to electrical

components, some fail immediately, some over time after the strike. There are

many more components to the chassis than there are to the box. I don't want to

start a Ford vs. Chevy debate, but I would classify this one as highly unusual

and any auto repair shop I think would have a hard time justifying replacing

each and every component after a lightening strike to the vehicle until the

component does fail. And that means repeated trips to the mechanic.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Re: Ambulances with Generators

Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on a

Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the box.

In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this time

we

bought a Chevy 3500.

I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics to

work.

The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

department.

The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it warm

for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

quickly.

One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on it

and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

manufacturers.

I recommend Frazer.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

You could go one further and say that it isn't a 'Ford vs. Chevy' thing, but

a customer service vs. customer service thing. Which dealership is more

responsive, name brands aside. To me it's less of a 'Ford/Chevy didn't fix

the problem, and more the dealership itself is the one who dropped the ball.

I can't remember having to take the box to Frazer for repairs except when we

had a major generator issue, at which time the generator got replaced. As

far as any other issues, 99.9% of the time, a phone call, a volt meter, and

some patience and they could walk you through diagnostics and the part would

be on its way the same day.

Just my humble opinion...

Hatfield FF/EMT-P

www.canyonlakefire-ems.org

" Ubi concordia, ibi victoria "

Re: Ambulances with Generators

In all fairness to Ford though, but not defending them at the same time, If

lightening were to strike your Chevy ambulance, don't you think you would

have the same problems with it? Lightening does some weird things to

electrical components, some fail immediately, some over time after the

strike. There are many more components to the chassis than there are to the

box. I don't want to start a Ford vs. Chevy debate, but I would classify

this one as highly unusual and any auto repair shop I think would have a

hard time justifying replacing each and every component after a lightening

strike to the vehicle until the component does fail. And that means repeated

trips to the mechanic.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Re: Ambulances with Generators

Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on a

Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the

box.

In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this

time we

bought a Chevy 3500.

I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics

to

work.

The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

department.

The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it

warm

for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

quickly.

One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on

it

and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

manufacturers.

I recommend Frazer.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

I would say " yes " if it had not been for the repeated problems with the

computer, the injectors, and numerous other problems with the Ford that they

never

could figure out. It drove the dealer crazy, and Ford itself was less than

helpful. So it's not just the lightening strike. It's the whole maintenance

history of the Ford. It has been out of service for weeks at a time because

Ford couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Little things like suddenly

going dead while you were transporting a patient. Minor annoyances like

that. <eg>. BTW, I have driven Ford pickups and cars for years, currently

have a Windstar that's the best vehicle I have ever owned, so it's not an across

the board problem. Just with that chassis.

That is why the Chevy was chosen this time.

Gene G.

>

> In all fairness to Ford though, but not defending them at the same time, If

> lightening were to strike your Chevy ambulance, don't you think you would

> have the same problems with it? Lightening does some weird things to

electrical

> components, some fail immediately, some over time after the strike. There are

> many more components to the chassis than there are to the box. I don't want

> to start a Ford vs. Chevy debate, but I would classify this one as highly

> unusual and any auto repair shop I think would have a hard time justifying

> replacing each and every component after a lightening strike to the vehicle

until

> the component does fail. And that means repeated trips to the mechanic.

>

> Just my 2 cents worth.

>

>

>

> Re: Ambulances with Generators

>

> Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on a

> Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the

> box.

> In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

> Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

> flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this

> time we

> bought a Chevy 3500.

>

> I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

> to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics

> to

> work.

>

> The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

> truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

> on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

> off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

> when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

> department.

>

> The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

> limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it

> warm

> for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

> quickly.

>

> One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

> cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on

> it

> and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

> nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

>

> The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

> treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

> manufacturers.

>

> I recommend Frazer.

>

> Gene G.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Phil,

The man that came up with the idea, works for ford as a salesman in

Marble Falls. Forgot his name but was real interesting to talk to. Elaine

Phil Reynolds wrote:

Many moons ago, when I worked for a different agency, we toured the Frazer

facility in Houston and spoke with Mr. . Much to my dismay, my agency

didn't purchase Frazer ambulances because they weren't the low bidder. You get

what you pay for. Go figger.

Anyway, one of the things I learned from Mr. is that the reason their

products are so sturdy is because they started their company to build specialty

vehicles for oilfield exploration, geosurveying, etc, and the boxes and power

systems for those vehicles had to be even more bulletproof than for ambulances.

Once his company was set up to build bulletproof oilpatch rigs, building tough

ambulance boxes came easy.

I don't know about 2006, but Mr. told us (in 1994ish) that his company

had remounted ambulances for the Houston Fire Dept that went out of service in

the morning, got remounted, and were back in service that evening. Pretty

impressive.

phil

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

,

I agree completely...and in any ambulance...it is about who you are buying it

from, their reputation and service, who you are buying it from (the local folks

or factory direct).

I will again echo what you said...it isn't a Ford vs. Chevy thing...or Wheeled

Coach vs. Frazer...you gotta get the truck your crews feel the most comfortable

in...but when the time comes to purchase...the days are behind us of just

believing what the sales folks tell us...we need to start demanding to see crash

test results, construction methods verified by folks OUTSIDE of the company you

are purchasing it from...etc.

Dudley

Re: Ambulances with Generators

In all fairness to Ford though, but not defending them at the same time, If

lightening were to strike your Chevy ambulance, don't you think you would

have the same problems with it? Lightening does some weird things to

electrical components, some fail immediately, some over time after the

strike. There are many more components to the chassis than there are to the

box. I don't want to start a Ford vs. Chevy debate, but I would classify

this one as highly unusual and any auto repair shop I think would have a

hard time justifying replacing each and every component after a lightening

strike to the vehicle until the component does fail. And that means repeated

trips to the mechanic.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Re: Ambulances with Generators

Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on a

Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the

box.

In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this

time we

bought a Chevy 3500.

I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics

to

work.

The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

department.

The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it

warm

for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

quickly.

One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on

it

and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

manufacturers.

I recommend Frazer.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

Dudley,

In another post you reflected on not remounting and mentioned hidden flaws under

the skins of units. A few years ago one of my crew members decided to drive a

ambulance into a parking garage. The only problem with the decision was that the

entrance to the parking garage was about 10 inches lower than the top of the

box. Even at 15 mph she just couldn't get it to go in. By the way she didn't

take a second shot at it.

The impact decimated the Whelen Edge bar and crinkled the skin a little. It was

a substantial impact so we elected to dismount the box and remove the skin to

determine if we had hidden structural damage. We found that we had one slightly

bent beam and no cracked welds. My point is this : Frazer builds their units

very strong with the intent of the box lasting 20 years. Prior to going with

Frazer I went to Houston and toured the plant. I spent plenty of time looking at

welds. Of course this was not my first Rodeo and believe me I had seen some

pretty poor welds at another Ambulance Manufacture that we had previously used.

(That is another story) I was impressed by the welds and the complete process of

how they were jigged and prepared for welding. I did not see one poor weld. No

dirt daubing. It was very obvious that the welders working for Frazer were

tradesmen, professionals. After getting to know Mr. it became obvious to

me that he would not have accepted anything else.

I believe that a Frazer unit is built tough enough to last 20 years and that any

administrator would be foolish not to consider the savings over the 20 year

period in regards to remounting vs replacing. In January we will be remounting 2

ten year old Frazer units. We will be replacing the generator, paint job and

floor on this go around.

The four trucks we replaced prior to going with Frazer were electrical

nightmares that caused us more down time and patient time sitting on the side of

the road than could be tolerated. These trucks had less than 50,000 miles on

them when taken out of service. All that heartburn went away when we went with

Frazer.

Since 1997 we have only had a couple of issues where an ambulance broke down and

left us sitting on the side of the road. All were Chassis issues and none were

electrical.

Henry Barber

Re: Ambulances with Generators

Shackelford County just bought its second Frazer. The first one was on a

Ford, and we have had nothing but problems with the truck. None with the

box.

In fact, when lightening struck the truck and fried the electrical system,

Frazer fixed it quickly and efficiently. Not so for the truck. Ford has

flunked the test for taking care of the problems that truck has, so this

time we

bought a Chevy 3500.

I love working in the box. It is big enough, with a center mount stretcher,

to allow free access to the patient from all sides and for multiple medics

to

work.

The generator has been great. We have had NO alternator problems with this

truck. I'm somewhat suspicious of alternators, having replaced multiple ones

on former trucks without a generator. Granted, LEDs take some of the burden

off, but what I like is that you can run the stuff with the generator even

when the truck is parked, such as when we're doing rehab for the fire

department.

The environmental system is great. With the shoreline it stays within the

limits for drugs, and it is always the right temp inside. If you want it

warm

for trauma patients, it responds quickly and reaches the desired temp

quickly.

One thing that I think they could add (maybe they have this) is a warming

cabinet for blankets and fluids. We use a heating pad, put the IV fluids on

it

and cover them with blankets to keep fluids and blankets warm. It would be

nice for Frazer to add a warming cabinet.

The people at Frazer are tops. They seem to understand ETHICS, and they

treat their customers the way they ought to be treated, not like some other

manufacturers.

I recommend Frazer.

Gene G.