Was at the "buff" show at the coliseum yesterday. Saw a bus made by "Osage". I have never heard of them before yesterday, but really liked some of the features on their bus. Has anyone heard of them, used them, etc. Looking for whatever info I can get on them
But what they said at the show was definitely interesting. I couldn't find that on the website but just some of the of the safety features they mentioned... sound's good.
they're decent, its not a road rescue or a horton but its comparable to pl custom, wheeled coach, mccoy miller, that level of vehicles
Perhaps you could publish your list of ambulance manufacturers, in rank order, along with the criteria you used to arrive at these ranks, so as to enlighten the rest of us?
Perhaps you could publish your list of ambulance manufacturers, in rank order, along with the criteria you used to arrive at these ranks, so as to enlighten the rest of us?
I am light, but regretfully I'm also getting older, and was genuinely curious as to the current opinion, especially from younger ranters, on what constitutes a quality ambulance. I apologize if my post came off as snotty, snooty, or otherwise confrontational. It used to be, (for me at least) : Braun, Wheeled Coach, and Horton. Anything less was considered second rate. This may have changed and I was curious as to the ranking the original poster used, so I'll put it out there to all you ranters: What is your ambulance of choice and why?
second i have first hand experience with every brand being the fact that my family owns numerous ambulance sales+service centers and the fact that i am a paid and volunteer tech
I know nothng about this company but I do know a little about ambulance construction. The construction pictures look very much like the wheeled coach vehicles I sold in the early 80's. The top extrusion which appears to be gusseted and at a 45 degree angle rather than a radiused piece was originally a wheeled coach design. Today the real difference between any of these units is the quality of the weld, fit, form and finish as well as the most problematic issue with any of these units, the electrical system. I wasn't at the show what did they says was so unique about their products?
second i have first hand experience with every brand being the fact that my family owns numerous ambulance sales+service centers and the fact that i am a paid and volunteer tech
I'm interested in your opinion, but I want to know what factors influenced it, especially if your family is in the business. I'm acknowledging that I'm on the back side of the EMS part of my career, and that younger ranters may have some info and knowledge on the subject that I want to know about. My department will be shopping around for a new bus soon and it has been suggested that we depart from the brand we have traditionally used since 1979. I'm not familiar with Road Rescue, have mixed feelings about Hortons, used to think W/C was great, but the last few I've seen have been awful, etc.... What makes up your list? I think issues like structural integrity, build quality, and customer service come first. Anyone?
I'm interested in your opinion, but I want to know what factors influenced it, especially if your family is in the business. I'm acknowledging that I'm on the back side of the EMS part of my career, and that younger ranters may have some info and knowledge on the subject that I want to know about. My department will be shopping around for a new bus soon and it has been suggested that we depart from the brand we have traditionally used since 1979. I'm not familiar with Road Rescue, have mixed feelings about Hortons, used to think W/C was great, but the last few I've seen have been awful, etc.... What makes up your list? I think issues like structural integrity, build quality, and customer service come first. Anyone?
mariskafan can probably explain it better, but they were saying that their ambulances are 100% seamless. The salesman showed pictures of their ambulances completely rolled over and in virtually perfect condition.
And on most ambulances, the cabinet to the top left of the CPR seat is perpendicular with the seat. If you were in an accident, your head would hit the cabinet and stop, but your body (neck/torso area) would keep going. (broken neck) On the Osage ambulances, they are set up differently as to prevent this from happening.
braun is def. a nice box (depending on which type) Some of them are a little too big such as the new county buses (but i also think that has to do more with the chassis then the box per say, most of the boxes i see now are all about the same length/width save a few)
i enjoy certain aspects of the ambulances i have been in.
For instance the one dept. i run with has 2 buses both the same ford E-350 chassis and different types of braun boxes.
the second dept. has 4 buses. 2 are your normal Ford E-350 Chassis w/trauma hawk boxes (i will check when i get there tmrw), the other two are virtually Dodge Sprinter chassis w/trauma hawk boxes (again i think)
as far as braun boxes go, i enjoy my old school slant side. its small enough that i can grab whatever i need quickly and easily but its also big enough that it holds everything you'd need. the only problem is standing room and if you have to do cpr on a pt while someones trying to get an IV. probably the only down side/advantage to the bigger box.
however the bigger county style box that we have is just a pain in the ass, it's too heavy, too long, and too wide when you have to park it.
the trauma hawks w/dodge or ford chassis i think have the best of both worlds. they are small but tall, wide yet easy to maneuver, good space for when you have to ride up front and almost no electrical problems that i know of. but id be willing to bet that braun probably has something along those lines as well.
as far as chassis go - get a sprinter. its more comfortable, fuel efficient and has the guts that you miss with the newer ford chassis.
is your bus up for replacement or is something up with it?
And on most ambulances, the cabinet to the top left of the CPR seat is perpendicular with the seat. If you were in an accident, your head would hit the cabinet and stop, but your body (neck/torso area) would keep going. (broken neck) On the Osage ambulances, they are set up differently as to prevent this from happening.[/quote]
its not different at all, any builder can do any other builders layout it just needs to special ordered. and the new standard is going to be no cpr seat at all.
also sparkyoutofbedrock, the county has had the same boxs for the last 5 years+, they remount them every couple years onto new chassis, the boxs on the chevys now are the same from the original F and E 450s. also traumahawk is not a brand it is a model and they do not hold up under real 911 use
also sparkyoutofbedrock, the county has had the same boxs for the last 5 years+, they remount them every couple years onto new chassis, the boxs on the chevys now are the same from the original F and E 450s. also traumahawk is not a brand it is a model and they do not hold up under real 911 use
i had a feeling that's what the case was with the county, and as far as not holding up, idk what to tell ya but they've been using the same boxes for awhile now and they are in "real 911 use" getting over 2000 calls a year and they swear by them.
I'm a little late to the party but I will say, I have found my Osage to be more solid than the PL Custom. The bus had its problems on order just like any other company, a few shorts here and there and a compressor problem IIRC. Osage was on par with Medtec.
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