F. G. F. D.
FAVORITE GRANDPA
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Here’s
your opportunity to instantly become the favorite grandpa of the family! Even
the extended family- friends, neighbors, and complete strangers; if you drive
this rig around the neighborhood you will bring a smile to the face of any kid
between age 5 and 95. Fair warning- it takes two people to run this vehicle;
one to drive, the other to wave back to everyone you encounter!
This
“kei” class fire truck started out as a 1996
Mitsubishi Minicab bare chassis and had a custom fire service body built on it
when new. If you lived in Japan, you could buy one of these brand new today,
for about $30,000. This one is about as close to brand new as you can get, with
ONLY 2500 VERIFIED MILES (4000 kilometers) on the
clock.
It’s
a front-engine, rear-drive/4WD truck, with a 660cc 3-cylinder
water-cooled gas motor. There’s a 5 speed manual transmission in front of a
transfer case with selectable high and low range 4 wheel drive.It
has power brakes, front disc and rear drum, and power steering.
It
rolls on 5.00-12 Yokohama light truck tires with 8/32” tread depth. The light bar and PA system work, along with an incredibly loud
siren/bell system. There’s an AM/FM/Cassette radio and a battery cutoff
switch.
It’s 10.5 feet long, 4.5 feet wide, and 6.5 feet tall, and weighs
2340 pounds including the pump in the back.
These
kei trucks may be small but they’re no toys. They
show up on the auctions sometimes with over 300,000 kilometers on them, and
they run in tough terrain all over the world. Parts and service are readily
available, and they’re mechanically simple enough for DIY owners to maintain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Minicab
https://mitsubishi.epc-data.com/minicab/u42t/ynsv/
The
fire pump on the back is an impressive machine too. It has a powerful two
cylinder two stroke 650cc water cooled 50 horsepower gas motor, with its own
starting battery and charger, and backup recoil start. The exhaust system is water jacketed for
safety and cool operation, and the pump slides out for easy service access.
Shibaura
pumps are well known in the marketplace and well supported by the factory; you can buy the
current version of this one for about $12,000.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy4Pk6Z6CQU
https://www.shibaura-bousai.co.jp/english/catalog/pdf/SF651/manual.pdf
And what’s a fire truck
without a fire boat to tow behind it? This one was made by a former favorite
Grandpa somewhere in the Puget Sound area. It’s amazingly solid and sturdy and
well built. The transom has been extended back a foot or so, leaving the outboard
in a protected well and giving room around the motor for storage lockers
housing the toy fire pumps, battery, and gas tank.
The motor is a Mercury 5-HP
four-stroke that looks virtually brand new. Recoil start, with cable steering
and throttle controls at the steering station. There’s a Flojet
water pump with accumulator to power the hose nozzles in the bow and stern,
blue and white top-mounted lights, and a big chrome horn on the roof. The two
folding seats will accommodate 2 adults in reasonable comfort, and they swivel
around in case you want to go sturgeon fishing. There are 3 sturdy Samson posts
to make tying up easy, along with 6 dinky fenders. The boat is 10.5’ long, 5.5’
high, and 5’ wide.
The trailer is about 16’
long and in very good condition. New tires and wheels, bearing buddies on the
axles. It tows straight and easy, light enough that brakes are unneccesary. (Note also that there’s no electrical
connector for the trailer lights installed on the truck). Total length of truck
and trailer is 27 feet.
https://www.boatdesigns.com/9-Tubby-Tug-tugboat-for-kids/products/525/
Everything works on all the
machines, to the best of my knowledge. I’ve driven it in parades, but never put
the boat in the water (I’m on salt water) and only fired up the pump to be sure
it ran. Same with the outboard. Everything is
virtually new and has clearly had practically no use.
All paperwork is
in order and both truck and trailer have clean title/registration. It appears
that the boat was never registered, and will be sold on a bill of sale. Available for inspection by appointment. I can help with
shipping arrangements anywhere in the US or internationally.
Asking $17,500,
will consider offers. For that you get 3 conveyances (truck, boat, and trailer)
with 3 motors, and the combination equals your own mini-fire-department capable
of putting out a mini-fire anywhere. Or just having fun with
the rest of the kids.
