Very popular specification for German volunteers and a standard feature of their fleets for many decades, these had a nine person crew and rather limited space for equipment, although the front mounted pump did create enough room for the portable pump in a rear compartment. The limited GVW of 7.5 tons meant they could be driven by a volunteer without a HGV license, but it also did mean that there was no way a water tank could be included in the specifications. While many were built on this Opel base, by far the most common LF8s were based on Mercedes vans.
The version with a portable pump was most common in communities which had outlying areas without hydrants, and the crews relied on finding open water somewhere fairly nearby. The lack of a water tank was often compensated by a light water tender, usually with an 1800 liter tank and also built on a 7.5 ton chassis.
The version with a portable pump was most common in communities which had outlying areas without hydrants, and the crews relied on finding open water somewhere fairly nearby. The lack of a water tank was often compensated by a light water tender, usually with an 1800 liter tank and also built on a 7.5 ton chassis.
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 August 2026.