Hi all,
I am new here, tried to find my own answers but had no luck. So here goes:
My Fire Department is building a new brush truck on the F550 chassis, 4 door cab, 4x4. We are trying to decide on gas or diesel. Obviously we want something that will last long and take a little abuse. This vehicles primary use will be off road (mostly flat ground) and will likely see a lot of idle time since we will not have any PTO driven items. Also, this will be a low mileage vehicle. By low mileage I mean maybe 25,000 miles over the next 15-20 years. I am leaning toward the gasser for cost savings and maintenance savings. Also we could be driving over hot spots, which could cause damage to diesel exhaust sensors.

Thoughts?

 

Gas will be the best application I think. Lighter..for the off road and the emission will be compatible with extensive idling.

 

The 6.8l would be a much better choice for that application IMO. The particulate filter on the 6.7l is quite big and see very high temps during regen thus could be a problem in high dry brush. Plus large amounts of idle time is not really good for the 6.7l.

The 6.8l 2V and 3V have been proven reliable since they have been out a long time. They often see fleet use and high idle times in application like shuttle buses. It is also currently still available in the F-650.

 

Another vote for the V10 it should serve your dept. well

 

When I was working as a custom combiner gas vehicles were not allowed in the fields because of the really hot catalytic converters starting wheat stubble fires which are much like dry brush. I would definitely go diesel for a fire truck.

 

But now trucks have a dpf..which is worse.

 

Diesels have been coming with catalytic converters for years now. The 6.7l comes with a cat and a dpf like senix said. The setup is long and heavy. You can see the cat, dpf and etc that is under a 6.7l in the link below.

1105Dp 2011 Ford F350 Project 6 7L Power Stroke Stock Exhaust Photo 3

 

My old vfd has a 12 f350 v8. Much better for that need to get up and go application than the 6.0 in the ambulance.

 

I would vote gas also. The DPF when generating will be a lot hotter than a cat from a gas engine could ever get. I would worry about letting a Diesel sitting around and not being used. I don't even let my Diesel sit for more than a day without driving it.

 

3V V10!!

 

I am A Cooperator for the NJ bureau of forest fire management. Division B section 8 our firehouse 36-2 custom built our own brush truck from a surplus military 6X6 2 1/2 ton, we subbed out alot of the tube work, built a custom tank and use a high pressure pump. It has a cat 3126B motor and with ten wheels it will go anywhere, we didnt have the budget to by new and then add ten to 20 worth of goodies, we did it on the cheap and lots of donations, including the paint job the lighting and others that I cant think of right know, it is an awsome beast and cant be stopped. Not only did we built it for under 10 grand, it bought the fireman closure together on the build. Everyone added what there special tee was and it looks teriffic, I will post some pictures when I down load them. So im a diesel guy and always will be.

 

Another vote for a usually bullet proof V10 gasser. It will run for way over 100K miles with only normal run-of-the-mill maintenance which is a bunch less expensive then the diesel.

 

I'll add another vote for the v10. I drive a 2011 f450 v10 4x4 every day and I believe this setup would suit you well. It goes surprisingly good off-road and has no issues with high idle times. Mine has 76,000 miles on it with nothing but oil changes. Just make sure to get the 4:88 limited slip rears on it.

 

There was something about critical service vehicles and a waiver on
the some of the emissions equipment. You may want to look into that
and if you can get the waiver.

I for one would not want a cat on any truck that is going to be in brush.
If the system can be removed or set up so it only does a regen in a safe
location. Like at the shop or on pavement.The other option would be a
Diesel Particulate Filter that has to be removed and cleaned in the shop.

If not then gas with extra heat shielding may be the better fuel.

Sean

 

I may be wrong but if your ordering your f550 new, there is an option on the order form(forget it's name) but it is like Manuel Regen, meaning you choose when it regens