Rapier's baptism at FIRE 93 show
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Dride of place at the fire industry's FIRE 93 show at .1C Glasgow's SEC this week was taken by the Dennis Rapier, with a new stainless-steel crew cab.
The six-man cab is built of Cromweld 3CR12—the material already used for the Rapier's space-frame chassis—which replaces the previous mild-steel panels. The dashboard has been re-designed with quadrant gear selection for the Allison automatic gearbox; the heating/ventilation system has been replaced and trim and equipment levels in the cab have been uprated. Access to the cab has also been improved with wider-opening doors and quick-action handles.
Hello DE headlamps are standard and a hydrodynamic retarder is available as an option. Scania showed an unusual combined pumping appliance and hydraulic platform. The Wiltshire Fire Brigade's vehicle, built on a P93ML6x4R 280 chassis, is said to be the first in the country to fill both first-strike roles. Based in Swindon, the 4.6m wheelbase, 21-tonne GVW 6x4 appliance has a 1,000litre water tank, a 29m Italmec hydraulic platform and a 5conia six-man steel crew cab.
• A full report on FIRE 93 will appear in next week's issue.