observer Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Seems ambulances are having problems with the snow and ice; would it help if all emergency vehicles were 4x4s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Not many 4 wheel drive large vans on the market for them to base a 4x4 ambulance on - unless they were to go for a heavily modified military vehicle, and they would cost silly money both to buy and to run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 modified Range Rover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Way too small for anything other than a "scoop and run". That's all the military landrover based ambulances do. The St. John's Ambulance have a few. There's a few pics on here:- http://www.adrianstomcat.co.uk/LandRover127.htm There's no chance of actually being able to treat a patient while moving. There's not enough space, and - due to the off-road suspension - the ride is way too bouncy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Tractor and a trailer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Maybe if the councils actually ploughed and gritted the roads there wouldn't be a problem in the first place.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 The national grid use many 4x4 transits which could easily be ordered as ambulances. I think the problem is the cost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Its always cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 I think most of the old Transit ambulances were based on the front wheel drive transit so as to allow them to have a low, wide and flat floor inside with no prop shaft going to the rear wheels. The 4WD version has a higher floor to allow for the prop shaft. The Merc Sprinters and Fiat Ducatos now in use most places are also bigger than even the long wheel base Transit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Arn't most. if not all. Army vehicles 4X4s? With 3ton plus trucks, that if modified should provide sufficient room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 4 x 4's go into the ditch as well Observer - take it from someone that lived in the frozen North for 20 yrs. It takes a very good driver and a decent road grit crew to keep you safe in winter. In places like Colorado - where there are mountains, they are allowed to have chains on their tires. Doubt that would be very practical for the Ambulances over there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Some Euro countries allow studded tyres, unfortunately I reckon our roads would fall to bits if they let them over here! I am on winter tyres and they are brilliant....... I would recommend them to anyone who needs to drive in this weather. Just get a set and swap them like they do in Germany. A cheap tatty set of wheels isn't that expensive so having a second set of wheels is the easiest way to go. Just swap them over in November or December and they will last for a few years plus they save the tread on your summer tyres too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 What's the difference between a winter tyre and a summer tyre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Winter tyres are made of a different rubber compound which offer more grip in snow and icey conditions (up to 50% more in some cases) In Germany, up to 50% of drivers swap their tyres to winter ones! I bought mine as a complete set with wheels too from EBay Germany. They were shipped over and I fitted them myself in about 30 minutes. Buying the whole set including postage was cheaper than buying the tyres alone over here! My "summer" tyres will be re-fitted at the end of February and the winter ones put away until November Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Baz thats the most sensible suggestion I have heard for a long time, I'm allways wittering on to our family about when I worked one winter in Finland and how it is mandatory to change to winter tyres in November (studded tyres there though) and why we don't do it here, never entered my head to do what you have done definitely sort something for next year now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Just be ready to chop and change between your winter and summer tyres several times over the winter! If we have mild spells during the winter next year and there's no ice on the roads then the softer rubber used in winter tyres will wear out in no time flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Yer just can't win! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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