DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

2007

 

We at Emergency Vehicle Sales & Service would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Except for Ford making our year hectic, it has been another good year.

 

Ford is back producing E-450 cutaway chassis again in the 2008 model year. They seem to have their problem with Nava Star solved for the time being. The engine being used is the same 6.0 liter since 2004. That is the bad news. The 6.0 is still a pre-emissions diesel and will be used through 2009. The new emissions 6.4 liter used in the F-series will not fit in the new chassis. I don’t believe Ford ever intended to use the 6.4 in the new E-450 cutaway chassis. No one knows what is going to happen in 2010. There will be another new Federal Emissions Standard in 2010. That standard will really give chassis manufacturers something to worry about.

 

The good news from Ford is a new front 5,000# axle replacing the 4,600#. A total GVW of 14,500# in lieu of the old 14,050#. It has a new brake system front and rear with larger rotors, calipers, pads and master cylinder. All things Ford needed. The Ford has a front sheet metal change. They are 5” longer from the front axle forward. No more room in the cab and no more room under the hood in the engine compartment. They just added 5” of room in front of the radiator.

 

There will be a new chassis from GM in 2008. The 2009 Chevrolet G4500 will be available in July. We will be able to order in April. The G4500 will be a 14,200#, 159” wheelbase with the ambulance package. Package similar to Ford except the alternators are 145 amps each. It will have the Duramax diesel, 250 HP. The transmission is GM 4-speed HD transmission 4L85E. IT IS NOT THE ALLISON AUTOMATIC. Some ambulance manufacturers have told their customers they are getting the Allison and that is not true. This chassis will compete with the Ford E-450. Although 300# less GVW, the Chevrolet chassis will have 150# more payload than the Ford. Life Line has built on the Chevrolet G3500; however, it only had enough GVW for the 139” wheelbase. I had a 139” demo and I was very impressed with this unit.

 

NEW REMOUNT FOR SALE: I have a 1995 Type I Life Line Paraliner body remounted on a new 2006 F-350, 4-wheel drive and Link air ride. All white, ready for a paint stripe. All remounted by Life Line. New LED light bar. New Whelen LED load lights. This unit has a Ford $6,700.00 government rebate. Save some money over new. We also have a 1995 Life Line Superliner remounted on a new 2006 E-450, 158 wheelbase chassis.

 

Life Line Ambulances *  Used Ambulances * Ferno Washington

 

Gene Draper, Salesman