 | Does it really matter what ambulance that I buy?
Yes it most certainly does. By specifying a name brand ambulance does not guarantee you any safety level. You must evaluate two items. They are:
#1
How thick is the aluminum?
#2
Is the ambulance 100% welded? Many sales people and builders will say yes it is but if you are persistant and keep asking they will tell you that only the side perimeter corners are welded. It is not enough to simply pass the static roof load weight test to prove that the ambulance will survive a major impact to the side or rollover. If each side wall vertical tubing stud is not welded to the sidewall skin do not purchase it.
All ambulance builders can buy high quality thick aluminum and they can weld the entire ambulance without excessive distortion. Some use .090" skin which is so thin there is not any significant structural integrity to hold the body together with the skin.
Review the ambulance builders specifications and see if they use VHB tape or glues to hold the side panels. If they do not require vertical welds on each vertical tube welded to each side wall panel simply don't buy it.
Many ambulances are involved in collisions each year. This results in thousands of permanent severe injuries to EMS personnel, patients and family members. By selecting a Marque ambulance from Reliable you can increase the safety factor when you and your friends ride in the patient compartment.
|
| | How can I pay for my ambulance since funds are limited?
If you are a 501C3 non profit organization with taxing authority you normally are eligible for ZERO down payment financing. We can delay your first payment for up to one year. We will give you fair trade in value for your old ambulance and set you up with a flexible payment plan. If you are a startup or a private ambulance service we have a wide variety of financing plans available to put you into dependable vehicles designed to make you money.
|
| | Can you match a design so our ambulances are the same?
Absolutely! If you will provide us with your initial order and drawings we can match the interior and exterior layout of your fleet.
If you do not have existing prints etc you may email us photos of your units so that we can design from your pictures.
Not only will you have uniformity but there is a strong possibility that you will be upgrading the module safety, durability and enhancing EMS care with your new ambulance from Reliable.
|
| | If I lease an ambulance am I eligible to search for grants since I do not own the vehicle?
Most private grant foundations will allow you to apply for funds since you are renting an ambulance. Until the principal and interest is paid in full plus the final residual payment you are not considered the owner. If you are in doubt you may contact the grant foundation.
|
| | Why do most ambulance builders not weld the majority of their ambulances?
Over 85% of ambulance manufacturers do not weld the side wall tubing studs vertically to the exterior skin (this increases their profit margin by less manhours to build, plus shortens the true actual life and durability of the vehicle.
|
| | Are ambulances really tested the correct way and are they safe?
The Federal Government's KKK-A-1822 test only requires that 150% of the vehicles' weight be put on a stationary ambulance and if the doors open and close you basically pass this test.
This is a static "non moving" test and is very easy to pass even with 3-4 times the weight requirements since there is no movement. The problem occurs with force and motion.
Once tremendous forces are exerted in a collision glues and tapes peel away causing serious injury & death to occupants of the patient compartment.
Even if you are not in an ambulance accident the everyday wear and tear can separate the ambulance tubing on the sides from the skin plus create door misalignment, and stress fatigue throughout the ambulance body.
NOTE THAT ALL MANUFACTURERS OF AMBULANCES WELD THEIR FLOORS SO THEY WILL NOT PEEL AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS FRAME IN AN ACCIDENT. DOES IT NOT MAKE SENSE TO WELD ALL OF THE AMBULANCE?
|
| | How can I insure increased safety, durability plus a quieter interior for my patient?
This is quite simple by specifying side wall tubing to consist of .125" (1/8") thickness or greater thickness.
Next side skin of .125" vertically welded instead of tape, glue or adhesive provides additional strength in a collision and provides greater longevity of the module plus a quieter interior.
|
| | How strong is a precision high quality tig weld?
A tig weld properly applied to bond the side aluminum, floor structure, and roof provides 21,000 pounds of tensile strength protection in the event of a collision (21-30 TIMES STONGER THAN tape and glue).
|
| | How strong is glue or tape used by the ambulance industry?
Glues, adhesives, and tapes utilized by most ambulance builders only have a 1,000 pounds tensile strength rating to bond the side walls to the tubing.
This provides no major additional strength to the body when involved in a collision. The body can flex and literally come apart. Too much flexation can cause stress cracks to occur in the vehicle not even involved in an accident.
|
| | I tried remounting once but was told it was too expensive.
If you use thin aluminum on the ambulance module, doors and glues to hold it together it will be very expensive to remount. Our ambulance module is designed to be structurally sound for 20 years when properly maintained. A remount will normally save your EMS service from 30-40% off the price of a new ambulance. Would'nt you like to keep that extra money for higher salaries & benefits?
|
| | What is the difference between a Demo and a new ambulance?
Demonstrator ambulances are shown at trade shows, conventions, dealerships and off location to EMS services. They are not put into the ambulance service and used as ambulances.
Part of the chassis mileage warranty and time time that the chassis has been in service as a demonstrator may lower the amount of actual warranty. This is the reason that they may have very good discounts for the end user.
|
| | How can I tell if my ambulance is really a good one?
It is simple. Open and close the doors. Are they solid when you close them? Are there 2 latching points on all doors except for the battery compartment.
Is the side wall tubing welded to the skin? (slight waves on the side of the ambulance when previewing- not excessive distortion).
Is it quiet at 60-70 miles per hour in the patient compartment?
Are all electrical components easy to observe in the electrical comparment and are electrical troubleshooting diagrams with the ambulance.
Is the warranty an actual warranty for a specific number of years on the module structure? Is it transferable?
Are aluminum cabinets/squadbench available as an upgrade and are they covered under the module warranty?
How thick are the vertical corner post which connect the side wall skin, roof and floor together with the side wall tubing? We offer .450" thick aluminum at this location.
|
| | How many miles can I expect my chassis to be in service?
This depends on the type of preventative maintainence program you implement. With the proper program of changing transmission fluid/filter, oil/synthetics, shocks, alignment belts and hoses it is not uncommon to obtain to receive 250,000 miles with a 1-1/2 ton chassis (E450, F450 or C4500). A 1 ton E350 or F350 can perform well for 150K miles or more if taken care of. It is important to used chassis manufacturer guidelines for service service use. If you wish to establish a program we can assist you and provide with additional information.
You should have a rigid program in place and itemize each area plus log all repairs and maintainence items.
Consider EVOC driving courses and other measures to train and recertify drivers to understand how to take care of the equipment so it will last longer.
Have proper safeguards in place to limit abuse and increase safety.
|
| | What do we do when a service issue occurs?
We provide you with a toll free phone number to a warranty trouble shooting specialist. He will ask you your 4 digit stock number off the ambulance, the mileage plus several questions about the problems you are experiencing.
Next he will forward service and parts to a local repair facility in the area close to your operation. Most items can be repaired at a chassis dealership such as electrical, or air conditioning etc.
Body shop items can be performed at your local body shop. Welding can be subcontracted at a local aluminum welder in your area.
Repairs are easy to be obtained to get you running again in a short amount of time. We have customers world wide which are able to get service in this manner. This keeps you from having to drive a long way to our facility if you are far off.
|
| | If I have a trade in how much is it worth?
We will provide you with a trade in condition report to complete. Also we need exterior and interior photos of your ambulance plus a documented list of all known items that have been replaced.
Items such as problems, dents, previous collisions need to be exposed before we provide you with a final trade in price. If you are close to our location we may want to drive your trade in.
If you want more for your trade in than we can offer you may want us to sell it for your outright on consignment.
|
