INDIANAPOLIS — Spartan rolled out a 65-foot multi-functional aerial pumper at FDIC that will sell for $350,000 to $450,000 depending on the options. Spartan executives say the goal is to make aerials affordable to more fire departments.
“Price is holding them back from buying (aerials),” said Spartan President of Emergency Response Dennis Schneider. Aerial units can cost as much as $1.5 million.
The company used FDIC to unveil its prototype and plans to have the units ready for sale in August in conjunction with the FRI show in Chicago.
The MPA 65 is built on Spartan’s Metro Star chassis and is powered by a 300-horsepower Cummins ISC diesel. Despite its low cost, the truck comes with the company’s Advanced Protection System, which includes eight airbags, intelligent seat belts and external collision sensors.
The truck’s outriggers can stabilize the vehicle on as much as an 18-degree slant. The forward-mounted outriggers have a stance of just less than 13 feet.
The body has 400 cubic feet of storage area, can carry 1,000 feet of 5-inch hose and 400 feet of 3-inch hose, a 300-gallon tank and has pike pole storage. Two options include a 500-gallon tank and 115 feet of ground ladders.
The three-section ladder will operate 17 degrees below horizontal grade and has a 500-pound tip-load rating when fully extended in the horizontal position.
The pump can push as much as 1,500 gallons per minute and 1,000 gallons per minute through the ladder’s waterway.
One way the cost was kept low was by limiting the options, Schneider said. Another way was by using existing chassis technology from other product lines. He said the truck went from concept to production in about eight months.
Schneider added that Spartan is planning to introduce a low-cost pumper in the near future.