Sometimes being one of the most dependable and reliable trucks for 60 years isn’t enough. Being upfitted as a first-responder vehicle or dozens of other work applications for people who rely on their trucks is great, but what else can the 2011 Ford Super Duty® do? A the 2009 LA Auto Show, this F-550, outfitted as a fire department first-responder truck, will generate donations for the Los Angeles County Firefighters Widows and Orphans Fund.Ford will donate $10,000 to kick off contributions to the fund. It will then donate $10 for those who visit and participate in the Ford display and $20 for those who test drive a Ford vehicle at the show, for a maximum of $6,000 a day throughout the entire run of the show.
“This is one small way we can give back to the families of these heroes and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow citizens,” said Doug Scott, Truck Group marketing manager.
Two key additions to the redesigned truck – the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V-8 turbocharged diesel engine and the new heavy-duty six-speed TorqShift automatic transmission – underscore why more municipalities count on Ford trucks than any other to perform their most demanding and critical jobs. Ford is ranked No. 1 in the Emergency Vehicle Segment based on R.L. Polk & Co. Class 2-7 emergency Vehicle Vocation registrations.
“The Los Angeles County Fire Department is grateful to Ford for remembering the family members of our fallen firefighters,” said Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman. “We support their efforts to raise funds for the Los Angeles County Firefighters Memorial Committee.”
The all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel was designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford and will deliver significantly improved torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy. The increased power is especially important on applications such as fire fighting.
The apparatus on the F-550 chassis cab first-responder unit includes:
- 300-gallon water tank
- 8-gallon foam cell
- Two pumps
- Electric rewind hose reel with 150 feet of hose
- Three-stage winch with 8,000-pound capacity
- 100 feet of wire rope
The all-new heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission offers available Live Drive Power Take Off (PTO) for diesel customers. This application allows the transmission to power auxiliary equipment, and the power is available any time the engine is running – and the truck is moving.
The Live Drive PTO is critical in fire-fighting applications because it allows the truck to spray water onto a brush fire or grass fire, for example, while the truck is stationary or moving. This is the first time Live Drive PTO has been offered in this segment.
The 2011 Super Duty will be built at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, and goes on sale in the spring of 2010.