What's On Your Tanker #68? - Repurposed Pumper Chassis - Ramona, South Dakota

Last week, we highlighted a new wildland tender in our coverage. This week, our focus is on a functional, older wildland tender. During ourJune 2026 seminars at the South Dakota State Fire School in Watertown, South Dakota, we utilized Ramona Fire Department's 2,000-gallon tender for water hauling.

This vehicle uses a repurposed Ford pumper chassis, which has been converted to carry 2,000 gallons of water, a dump tank, and provides wildland support using a small pump and hose reel. The tender features two 10-inch dump valves, allowing for rapid tank emptying, and performed reliably during our classroom exercises.

As we have often emphasized, fire apparatus does not need to be large or elaborate to be effective. Reliable, well-maintained equipment can be just as valuable in meeting operational needs.