Fire Engines Photos

John, when a small town fire brigade get a Rapier, do they think all their 'Christmases have come at once'? (I don't know whether that translates to a NZ expression..).

Compared to a heavy old Inter or the like, it must seem like a racing car?

Barry.

Added by on 14 April 2007.

Nice livery. The Dennis Rapier design is quite impressive.

Added by Bomba995 on 14 April 2007.

Barry, This is the 6th Rapier to go into commission over here. Every single one of them has been a huge hit. In one town, Taupo a Rapier is used by both volunteer and permanent crews andis preferred to a near new Scania. We have a Sabre on the water at the moment and it will be interesting to see how that goes down

Added by John Walker on 15 April 2007.

Dennis's are great, much more user friendly then an Inter or other 6/1's; as for road handling - a smooth and confortable ride. Heaps of locker space, I guess you could say Christmas has come. We are into our second SS, the first given to a vollie station - who happen to love it to bits.
There is a view (by many) that the 'Scania' is the be all and end all of appliances, but I prefer a Dennis.

Added by FIRESQ on 19 July 2007.

WE were given a Dennis and the five months it was on station it went in to the workshop 4 times, one of those was from not being able to show water!!

Added by Steve Pudney on 15 October 2007.

We have an imported 1991 Dennis RS and its a heap of junk.Its only done 9000kms with around 5500 engine hours and it smoke's like a chimney, the transmission makes a hell of a noise and the godiva pump is hopeless.
Though it has fast pick up and is very easy to use...

I'd have a scania with a darley pump anyday!!!

Added by Jimi221 on 01 February 2008.

the trusty dennis the one we have does 3 call outs and then it brakes down Last Brake down front Windsheld fell out.

Added by Gavin on 18 March 2009.

Ar-Ohh, I hope these clinks are being sorted to everyones satisfaction,,,,?

Added by Pav on 25 March 2009.

Nah Pav, kiwis dont know how to treat proper fire engines!!

Added by John Stott on 25 March 2009.

These comments about Dennis products are nothing new.

Back in 1967 the Gloucestershire fleet management officer told me they were no more reliable than their Commers, and that spare parts were ludicrously expensive and difficult to get.

They were being replaced at the time by the first Ford D series we sold to a fire service - and they kept buying Fords!

The parts situation all the way around the World must have been a total nightmare for the Kiwi fleet managers' Dennises - no wonder Commers, Bedfords and Fords were so much more popular there.

If its in the shop, it doesn't matter how much fun it is to drive or ride in - just ask any Jaguar owner!

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 August 2017.

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