Ellsworth Air Force Base, located
in the southwestern corner of South Dakota and near
Mount Rushmore, is home to two wings of B1 Strategic
Bombers. Ellsworth AFB needed a larger body than the
other U.S. Air Forces Bases that have purchased Hackney
DF0773 bodies. Their need was predicated on the vast
terrain and area of coverage and the added amount
of equipment required for those responses. Thus, the
DF0973 body was chosen to fill their need, which features
610 cu.ft. of useable storage space.
The body is mounted on an International
4800 with 300 hp engine, MD3060 Allison automatic
transmission, front drive axle (4x4), and four-door
crew cab. Mounted on the extended front bumper is
a 12,000 lb. Ramsey winch. The OEM steel bumper was
replaced with a mirror finish stainless steel bumper
to facilitate mounting of two Stuttertone air horns,
Q2B siren and electronic siren speaker. On-Spot automatic
chains are fitted under the rear axle for added traction
in those deep South Dakota snows. A utility air hose
reel with 150 ft. of 3/8" hose is mounted in
the left and right front compartment, connected through
an auxiliary air reservoir to the chassis air compressor.
A 25kw Onan PTO generator is mounted
in the right front compartment, protecting the generator
and components from corrosive road and salt spray.
The generator powers a 6000 watt Will-Burt light tower,
front and rear mounted 500 watt telescoping flood
lights, two cord reels, 240VAC hydraulic rescue tool
power unit and multiple outlets.
The rear drop compartment measures
73" high x 42" wide x 40" deep and
is set up for all hydraulic rescue tools and power
units. At floor level is a 600 lb. slide-out tray
that accommodates the portable hydraulic pump, spreader
and cutter. Above is a slide-out and tilt-down tray
for rams, hoses, chains, fuel, etc. Above that tray
is an adjustable shelf for the 240VAC power unit and
miscellaneous tools. In the top of the compartment
are two (2) electric rewind hydraulic hose reels with
slide-out roller guides that prevent the hose from
being pulled down the side or corners of the body.
All this critical access equipment is conveniently
located in one compartment!
The wheelhouse compartment is specially
configured for long equipment requiring transverse
access. In the top are tunnel compartments for a stokes
basket stretcher, four long backboards, rescue tripod
assembly, extra tripod flood light, and attic ladder.
At floor level are two (2) 35" wide x transverse
1000 lb. rated trays that slide out either side of
the body. Above the aft tray is a 42" deep slide/tilt
tray, one street side and one curb side.
The intermediate left compartment
measures 40" wide x 73" high x 40"
deep and is equipped with three (3) 68" high
x 36" deep two-sided slide-out tool boards. The
opposite curb side compartment is equipped with a
slide-out SCBA rack that accommodates four (4) complete
SCBA's with back-up and go capability. All other compartments
are configured with an array of adjustable shelves
and slide trays. The left and right wheelhouse panels
house four (4) spare SCBA bottle storage tubes with
hinged doors.
The roof is equipped with two compartments.
The left compartment accommodates a 24 ft. two-section
ladder and 14 ft. roof ladder that can be loaded and
unloaded via roller assemblies on the upper edge of
the roof. The right side compartment, aft of the light
tower is 92" long with a hinged lid for storing
a larger rescue tripod assembly. Access to the roof
is via an OSHA compliance fixed ladder on the right
rear of the body.
The lighting system is Whelen all-strobe
system compliant with NFPA 1901. A Code 3 ArrowStik
traffic directing light bar is on the rear of the
body.
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