100' Ferrara Rear Mount Aerials

68jk09 · Oct 1, 2012

bstan270 said:
EVERY apparatus manufacturer has flaws and bugs in their apparatus and workmanship. You really can`t single out Ferrara. It all has to do with the custom build. Every rig is built by hand, and they are not truly tested over the long haul like cars and commerical trucks are. One would think with the amount of money these rigs cost that they would be perfect, but of course we know its not. I agree with FDNY and their warranty requirement. Make these manufactures stand behind their product. FDNY's warranty requirement actually indirectly effects apparatus made for other towns because the manufactures learn how these rigs hold up to severe punishment FDNY puts them through. That actually helps make better rigs in the future.
Does anyone how well garbage turcks and buses handle NYC streets? What is their lifespan?

.......The bottom line is that the ferraras now in FDNY service SUCK & it was a serious mistake to purchase so many w/out any field testing by the FDNY......I have no info on garbage trucks or city buses but if they fail to start or break down it will an an inconvience not a life threating occurence like w/a piece of Fire apparatus.

sandero · Oct 1, 2012

bstan270 said:
Does anyone how well garbage turcks and buses handle NYC streets? What is their lifespan?

I'm not sure about DSNY rigs, but MTA-NYCT Dept. of Buses conducts tests of prototype buses on their own shaker table at the Zerega Central Maintenance Facility in The Bronx. Recently, they purchased 30 buses from each of 3 different manufacturers as a 90-unit test fleet. (Apparently MTA believes that some prospective manufacturers build "special" demo units that are not truly indicative of actual production units.) The FTA (Federal Transit Administration) usually considers the life of a typical transit bus to be about 12 years. NYCT buses usually last about 15 years due to the Dept. of Buses advanced scheduled maintenance services.

Len90 · Oct 2, 2012

MTA does test busses before a big order. They also have to regionalize some things for a certain routes. An example would be luggage racks for routes that lead to the airports. The MTA seems to be on a current trend of starting replacements when a batch hits around 12-13 years. This will allow for the gradual transition onto the the routes. Generally speaking MTA is phasing out all buses right now that are model years 1998-2000.

I think DSNY also tests before a large contract. Their trucks seem to be rusted out by the time they are retired. It really makes me wonder why the FDNY did not get a demo built first.

fltpara16 · Oct 6, 2012

Is there anyway to cancel the contract for the remaining Ferrara rear mounts? There is not much that can be done with the units already deployed, but maybe the damage could be limited by not building and placing anymore of these underperforming apparatus in service. This may also be beneficial for Ferrara, as continuing to have to dedicate so much of their service techs and time to fixing these units has to, at some point, eliminate Ferrara's profits. If this continues, I would think this could place Ferrara in a very bad financial position and possibly drive them into bankruptcy.

68jk09 · Oct 6, 2012

If they wind up going under because they could not make a quality product then they would "join the club" of others who tried & failed ....i am sure it is not easy to build a rig but when so many rigs are involved quality & reliability is paramount.

grumpy grizzly · Oct 6, 2012

If Ferrara or Seagrave or Peirce goes out of business you diminish the pool of manufacturers. Supply and demand takes over, we bitch when gas prices go up because of limited supply and a constant demand. Less people making rigs would mean higher prices for a limited manufactured product. GG

firebuffkevin · Oct 6, 2012

According to Ferrara's "In Production" page, the eleventh unit of the second add-on order for 13 units is up as unit 5072

Bulldog · Oct 6, 2012

grumpy grizzly said:
If Ferrara or Seagrave or Peirce goes out of business you diminish the pool of manufacturers. Supply and demand takes over, we bitch when gas prices go up because of limited supply and a constant demand. Less people making rigs would mean higher prices for a limited manufactured product. GG

The pool has already greatly diminished compared to where it used to be, American LaFrance, Salsbury are a couple of the recent losses and Mack, Ward LaFrance a couple of the noted losses in the more distant past. The number going out of business is certainly much greater than any new entrants into this field (I can't actually think of any recent entrants).

IRISH · Oct 14, 2012

Ladder 80 & 84 at the Rock not sure if this info has being posted already

FDNYTRUCKScom · Oct 19, 2012

FFA production numbers are wrong in the second group of 10. starting with 165 they are sequenced in the 4600 range, 4617, 4618, etc... this also reflects the gap in time between the initial order of 10 and the first add-on for 10 more in Ferrara's production sequence.

kfd274 said:
Here is an UPDATED summary of the information I have been able to put together for the original order of twenty units:

Ferrara Numbering: Order of delivery according to Jack Lerch in FAJ In Service

4504 L 137 L 137 10/17/2011
4505 L 156 L 156 2/16/2012
4506 L 81 L 81 8/30/2011
4507 L 123 L 123 12/30/2012
4508 L 24 L 24 11/8/2011
4509 L 169 L 169 11/15/2011
4510 L 32 L 32 11/4/2011
4511 L 154 L 154 1/30/2012
4512 L 42 L 42 1/31/2012
4513 L 4 L 4 2/9/2012

4517 L 165 L 165 3/12/2012
4518 L 49 L 49 3/28/2012
4519 L 173 L 173 3/20/2012
4520 L38 L 38 4/13/2012
4521 L 29 L 29 4/5/2012
4522 L 8 L 8 6/26/2012
4523 L 113 L 113 5/16/2012
4524 L 132 L 132 6/21/2012
4525 L 11 L 11 9/28/2012
4526 L 3 L 3 7/19/2012

Total 20 units

ALL 20 units have been delivered and are "in service"

Courtesy FAJ:137, 156, 81, 123, 24, 169, 32, 154, 42, 4, 165, 49, 173, 38, 29, 8, 113, 132, 11, and 3. This is a 3 year order of 6, 4, and 10. Units will be assigned in order of delivery.

Updated: 9/30/2012

firebuffkevin · Oct 19, 2012

Ferrara Ladders 1st Add On Order of 21

Numbering according to Ferrara Delivery to FDNY Delivery Date

4907 L 61 At the Rock
4908 L 84 At the Rock
4909 L 80 At the Rock
4910 L 128 At the Rock
4911 L 125
4912 L 43
4913 L ?
4914 L151
4915
4916
4917 L 55
4918
4919
4920
4921
4922
4923
4924
4925
4926
4927

All 21 units are either "In Production" or completed according to Ferrara

Second Update: 10/19/2012

FDNY150 · Oct 23, 2012

I'll go looking tomorrow when I get to the Rock.

FDNY150 · Oct 25, 2012

I didn't see 128, but I did see 61 and 84. I will have pictures up tomorrow.

FDNYBuff97 · Oct 26, 2012

FDNY150 said:
I didn't see 128, but I did see 61 and 84. I will have pictures up tomorrow.

Any word on when 61 will get delivered ? I've been wanting to get over to Co-Op but haven't had time but want to go when the new rig goes in service.

FDNY150 · Oct 26, 2012

There ya go!!

firebuffkevin · Oct 27, 2012

According to Ferrara's "In Production" page, the twelvth unit of the second add-on order for 13 units is up as unit 5073

firebuffkevin · Oct 27, 2012

According to Ferrara's "In Production" page, the 13th and FINAL unit of the second add-on order for 13 units is up as unit 5074

Haggerty · Oct 29, 2012

kfd wasnt 10 trucks new rig supposed to be part of this add on order?

firebuffkevin · Oct 29, 2012

Haggerty said:
kfd wasnt 10 trucks new rig supposed to be part of this add on order?

I do not have a listing for L 10 and many other rigs on the add-ons

firebuffkevin · Nov 6, 2012

Ferrara Ladders 1st Add On Order of 21

According to Jack Lerch, the following units are scheduled to recieve one of the 21 add-on units:

10, 19, 27, 30, 43, 55, 56, 61, 78, 80, 84, 108, 116, 125, 126, 128, 134, 140, 151, 166 and 176

Numbering according to Ferrara Delivery to FDNY Delivery Date

4907 L 61 At the Rock
4908 L 84 At the Rock
4909 L 80 At the Rock
4910 L 128 At the Rock
4911 L 125
4912 L 43
4913 L ?
4914 L151
4915
4916
4917 L 55
4918
4919
4920
4921
4922
4923
4924
4925
4926
4927

All 21 units are either "In Production" or completed according to Ferrara

Third Update: 11/6/2012

100' Ferrara Rear Mount Aerials

Bulldog