Fire Engines Photos

It seems from what I have heard from firefighters in Belgium that they really liked these Dennis appliances, but had enormous problems getting spare parts for maintenance and repairs, especially as they grew older. A problem with custom vehicles in any country, but especially problematical when they are in an export environment where many components are just not available locally.

As I understand it, the decision to end building Dennis fire appliances was a forced error, resulting from the front axle assembly being discontinued from production by the supplier, Renault, as the truck it was primarily intended for was being replaced. It was just too expensive to replace with another axle, requiring extensive and time consuming engineering changes even if an axle supplier could have been found.

Added by Rob Johnson on 24 August 2023.

Yes Frankfurt FD faced same issues when they had Dennis trucks!

Added by Jacques PETER on 25 August 2023.

Oh for the days when Dennis made almost everything. Guess one of the economies of scale is the number of makers.

Added by Peter McCombie on 25 August 2023.

Totally right! Loads of independent custom fire engine manufacturers have disappeared, merged or been bought out by bigger truck builders in many countries, not least here in the US - which is a huge market. We have lost American La France, Mack (still making commercial trucks), Hahn, Maxim, Ward La France, Pirsch, Crown, FWD, Ford, Dodge and GMC (all still making light trucks), Boardman and a few others, while Seagrave and Pierce survive but were bought out by larger firms. It seems the winners have been commercial truck builders who offered version of their chassis which were suitable for fire appliances - Mercedes, MAN, Volvo, Scalia, Iveco and Renault. Numerous truck manufacturers from the fifties and sixties have also disappeared in every country. I once saw an article that the U.K. had over 20 truck brands after WWII, but now has only one!

Added by Rob Johnson on 25 August 2023.

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