Ran across a web site auctioning surplus government equipment.

Suppose you have a roofing business and want to make an impression. Pull up 
to your customer in a FIRE TRUCK that holds all your supplies, ladders, and 
crew. For example:

"1989 Seagrave ladder truck...It has a Detroit Diesel 8V92TA motor w/ 9,031 
hours and an Allison HTB741 automatic transmission. The vehicle was 
maintained every 5,000 mi. and is operable. The body has minor scratches, 
dings and tire condition is good. It has a functioning 12KW Onan generator 
and comes equipped with 10', 12',16', 20', 28'(x2), 35', 40' ground ladders 
and 8 pike poles: 2-6', 2-8', 2-12' and 2-16'. Emergency lights are in 
working order and the unit has black vinyl interior with some rips/tears and 
on-spot chains. "

Appx 80,000 miles with what looks like ~80' aerial ladder. Current bid: 
$3,700.00. Three available.

http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=11&acctID=2079

Or

"Up for bid is a 1960 Ford C600 Pumper truck. Everything on this truck is in 
working order right down to the gauge lights and the electric parking brake. 
It has 11,388 actual miles, a Ford 292 V8 gasoline engine, a 750 GPM 
Waterous PTO driven fire pump, electric booster reel and a 500 gallon steel 
booster tank (no leaks). The Fire body was built by Central Fire Apparatus 
in St. Louis, MO. This truck was purchased new by the City of Medford, OK 
and we purchased it directly from them in 1999. It served our department as 
a 1st out pumper truck until 2005 and remains in active service today as a 
reserve pumper."

Current bid: $2,500.00

http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=2&acctID=2421

-------------------

Bunches of ambulances that could easily be used for service trucks (don't 
turn on the emergency lights or sirens).

----------------

Check out this entire TVA carpenter shop of equipment, parts, etc.
http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=551&acctID=1577

-----------

The site even has a 1941 (non-running) locomotive available (current bid 
$4600). Do you need a horse trailer? 113 Voting machines? Hospital gurney? 
Training defibrillator? A step van (minor problems due to rollover)? 3,800 
Swiss Army Knives? 12-gauge shotguns (can't sell on Ebay)? School bus (from 
$600)? Farm tractor (from $500)?

Anyway, the basic site is

http://www.govdeals.com/eas/index.cfm

On Jun 19, 9:56=A0am, "HeyBub"  wrote:
> Ran across a web site auctioning surplus government equipment.
>
> Suppose you have a roofing business and want to make an impression. Pull =
up
> to your customer in a FIRE TRUCK that holds all your supplies, ladders, a=
nd
> crew. For example:
>
> "1989 Seagrave ladder truck...It has a Detroit Diesel 8V92TA motor w/ 9,0=
31
> hours and an Allison HTB741 automatic transmission. The vehicle was
> maintained every 5,000 mi. and is operable. The body has minor scratches,
> dings and tire condition is good. It has a functioning 12KW Onan generato=
r
> and comes equipped with 10', 12',16', 20', 28'(x2), 35', 40' ground ladde=
rs
> and 8 pike poles: 2-6', 2-8', 2-12' and 2-16'. Emergency lights are in
> working order and the unit has black vinyl interior with some rips/tears =
and
> on-spot chains. "
>
> Appx 80,000 miles with what looks like ~80' aerial ladder. Current bid:
> $3,700.00. Three available.
>
> http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=3D11&acctID=3D2079
>
> Or
>
> "Up for bid is a 1960 Ford C600 Pumper truck. Everything on this truck is=
 in
> working order right down to the gauge lights and the electric parking bra=
ke.
> It has 11,388 actual miles, a Ford 292 V8 gasoline engine, a 750 GPM
> Waterous PTO driven fire pump, electric booster reel and a 500 gallon ste=
el
> booster tank (no leaks). The Fire body was built by Central Fire Apparatu=
s
> in St. Louis, MO. This truck was purchased new by the City of Medford, OK
> and we purchased it directly from them in 1999. It served our department =
as
> a 1st out pumper truck until 2005 and remains in active service today as =
a
> reserve pumper."
>
> Current bid: $2,500.00
>
> http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=3D2&acctID=3D2421
>
> -------------------
>
> Bunches of ambulances that could easily be used for service trucks (don't
> turn on the emergency lights or sirens).
>
> ----------------
>
> Check out this entire TVA carpenter shop of equipment, parts, etc.http://=
www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=3D551&acctID=3D1577
>
> -----------
>
> The site even has a 1941 (non-running) locomotive available (current bid
> $4600). Do you need a horse trailer? 113 Voting machines? Hospital gurney=
?
> Training defibrillator? A step van (minor problems due to rollover)? 3,80=
0
> Swiss Army Knives? 12-gauge shotguns (can't sell on Ebay)? School bus (fr=
om
> $600)? Farm tractor (from $500)?
>
> Anyway, the basic site is
>
> http://www.govdeals.com/eas/index.cfm

What, No artilery, mini guns or anti aircraft?

On Jun 19, 9:56=A0am, "HeyBub"  wrote:
> Ran across a web site auctioning surplus government equipment.
>
> Suppose you have a roofing business and want to make an impression. Pull =
up
> to your customer in a FIRE TRUCK that holds all your supplies, ladders, a=
nd
> crew. For example:
>
> "1989 Seagrave ladder truck...It has a Detroit Diesel 8V92TA motor w/ 9,0=
31
> hours and an Allison HTB741 automatic transmission. The vehicle was
> maintained every 5,000 mi. and is operable. The body has minor scratches,
> dings and tire condition is good. It has a functioning 12KW Onan generato=
r
> and comes equipped with 10', 12',16', 20', 28'(x2), 35', 40' ground ladde=
rs
> and 8 pike poles: 2-6', 2-8', 2-12' and 2-16'. Emergency lights are in
> working order and the unit has black vinyl interior with some rips/tears =
and
> on-spot chains. "
>
> Appx 80,000 miles with what looks like ~80' aerial ladder. Current bid:
> $3,700.00. Three available.
>
> http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=3D11&acctID=3D2079
>
> Or
>
> "Up for bid is a 1960 Ford C600 Pumper truck. Everything on this truck is=
 in
> working order right down to the gauge lights and the electric parking bra=
ke.
> It has 11,388 actual miles, a Ford 292 V8 gasoline engine, a 750 GPM
> Waterous PTO driven fire pump, electric booster reel and a 500 gallon ste=
el
> booster tank (no leaks). The Fire body was built by Central Fire Apparatu=
s
> in St. Louis, MO. This truck was purchased new by the City of Medford, OK
> and we purchased it directly from them in 1999. It served our department =
as
> a 1st out pumper truck until 2005 and remains in active service today as =
a
> reserve pumper."
>
> Current bid: $2,500.00
>
> http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=3D2&acctID=3D2421
>
> -------------------
>
> Bunches of ambulances that could easily be used for service trucks (don't
> turn on the emergency lights or sirens).
>
> ----------------
>
> Check out this entire TVA carpenter shop of equipment, parts, etc.http://=
www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay.cfm?itemID=3D551&acctID=3D1577
>
> -----------
>
> The site even has a 1941 (non-running) locomotive available (current bid
> $4600). Do you need a horse trailer? 113 Voting machines? Hospital gurney=
?
> Training defibrillator? A step van (minor problems due to rollover)? 3,80=
0
> Swiss Army Knives? 12-gauge shotguns (can't sell on Ebay)? School bus (fr=
om
> $600)? Farm tractor (from $500)?
>
> Anyway, the basic site is
>
> http://www.govdeals.com/eas/index.cfm

Fire equipment is usually very well maintained, sounds like a great
deal for someone who can re-adapt it.

>Fire equipment is usually very well maintained, sounds like a great
deal for someone who can re-adapt it.

Yes, but ...

Ask yourself the question, why would a fire department spend $100k (just a 
guesstimate) buying something new that, in theory, they can get for $3,000 
used?

Could it be that they find that "something" breaks just about every time 
they take it out for a run?

That's the problem with old stuff:  it's not only the major items but it's 
the little things which can be expensive to repair.

John Gilmer wrote:
> 
> >Fire equipment is usually very well maintained, sounds like a great
> deal for someone who can re-adapt it.
> 
> Yes, but ...
> 
> Ask yourself the question, why would a fire department spend $100k (just a
> guesstimate) buying something new that, in theory, they can get for $3,000
> used?
> 
> Could it be that they find that "something" breaks just about every time
> they take it out for a run?
> 
> That's the problem with old stuff:  it's not only the major items but it's
> the little things which can be expensive to repair.

Nope, they are forced to upgrade to new equipment that meets new NFPA
standards.

"Pete C." <a...@snet.net> wrote in message 
news:4a3d2425$0$30230$e...@unlimited.usenetmonster.com...
>
> John Gilmer wrote:
>>
>> >Fire equipment is usually very well maintained, sounds like a great
>> deal for someone who can re-adapt it.
>>
>> Yes, but ...
>>
>> Ask yourself the question, why would a fire department spend $100k (just 
>> a
>> guesstimate) buying something new that, in theory, they can get for 
>> $3,000
>> used?
>>
>> Could it be that they find that "something" breaks just about every time
>> they take it out for a run?
>>
>> That's the problem with old stuff:  it's not only the major items but 
>> it's
>> the little things which can be expensive to repair.
>
> Nope, they are forced to upgrade to new equipment that meets new NFPA
> standards.

And some just seem to like new and shiny stuff 

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "Pete C." <a...@snet.net> wrote in message
> news:4a3d2425$0$30230$e...@unlimited.usenetmonster.com...
>>
>> John Gilmer wrote:
>>>
>>>> Fire equipment is usually very well maintained, sounds like a great
>>> deal for someone who can re-adapt it.
>>>
>>> Yes, but ...
>>>
>>> Ask yourself the question, why would a fire department spend $100k
>>> (just a
>>> guesstimate) buying something new that, in theory, they can get for
>>> $3,000
>>> used?
>>>
>>> Could it be that they find that "something" breaks just about every
>>> time they take it out for a run?
>>>
>>> That's the problem with old stuff:  it's not only the major items
>>> but it's
>>> the little things which can be expensive to repair.
>>
>> Nope, they are forced to upgrade to new equipment that meets new NFPA
>> standards.
>
> And some just seem to like new and shiny stuff

And it's not their money.