Volunteers Convert Jeep To Inexpensive Minipumper
When the need for a minipumper became apparent, the cost of getting either a new or used vehicle impelled the Piney Green Volunteer Fire Department in Midway Park, N. C., to convert a surplus military Jeep for half the cost of a used minipumper.
The 1¼-ton Kaiser Jeep our department obtained through our local civil preparedness coordinator serves a dual role as a minipumper and a grass and woods fire truck. Depending on the nature of the run, it is manned by two or four men.
First of all, we had a brake and spring firm re-arch the rear springs and add another leaf to them. Then the shock absorbers were replaced with load-levelers because of the increased space between the axle and frame. Also, a brake booster power pack was installed to provide ample braking for the load placed on the truck. The braking is now excellent.
Metal cab top fabricated
A local firm fabricated a metal top for the cab, and the seats were lowered 1 ¼ inches to provide more room between the seat and steering wheel. The seats were padded and covered with black vinyl. The local firm also fabricated the rear step and beavertails and two side steps to reach the hose reel area. All the welding was done by volunteer fire fighters.
We put a 300-gallon tank and an electric booster reel with 1-inch hose on the truck and installed an air-cooled, gasoline engine-driven pump. A gated 2 1/2 x 1½ x 1 1/2 wye was placed on the pump discharge. One side of the wye was used to supply the booster reel and the other side was used for 1 1/2-inch hose. A tank water level gage was installed near the pump controls.
The tank fill and its cover and the tank sump were also fabricated locally. Two short posts were installed at the rear of the body to hold hose bed lights along with two grab rails on the beavertails and a transverse handrail. The lights we put on the rear of the truck include two flashing red lights and two brake and stoplights. Front and rear marker lights also were installed along with reflectors.
New grille purchased
The military appearance of the front of the truck was changed by buying a new Jeep radiator grille and replacing the blackout lights with red flashing lights. The grille guard and bumper were painted white, and the headlight rims and similar items were sent to a local plating firm to be chromed.
A fire radio, a CB radio and an electronic siren were placed in the cab. Behind the seats, we stow a first aid kit, a l 1/2-inch fog nozzle, a 5-pound dry chemical extinguisher, spanner wrenches and a hydrant wrench. Two 6-volt hand lights are in brackets atop the battery cover.
Two backpack pump tanks are carried in the rear of the truck, and alongside of the booster tank is 100 feet of l 1/2-inch hose in rolls. We also carry one 25-foot length of 2½-inch hose for refilling the tank. A D-handle shovel and an ax are mounted on the outside of the body. Two long-handle shovels, a short pike pole and two brush hooks are in a transverse compartment under the truck body.
Simple in design, this truck is reliable and functional. It does exactly what it was intended to do.
