Still more

 It now seems that there are a lot of domestic RVs on the scene, but they have a definite European air to them.

This ancient shorty Sprinter, from British Columbia, has many of the attributes of a stealth vehicle, but the roll up awning is a giveaway - maybe the surf board too.

When Chrysler had to give up the Sprinter, they came up with the Ram Van (which is a lightly disguised Fiat) and this 2500 model is a worthy replacement. The raised roof version gives it RV capability.

The big German RV maker Hymer, inserts their own logo on Fiat vans. Although common in Europe, this is first domestic Hymer I've seen - it carries Virginia plates and could almost be mistaken for a Dodge (especially with the hood up: How do you get spare parts for a Fiat?
Just follow another one around..)

 The RV season  must be coming to a close very soon, as cold weather is arriving and even the hardy Germans and Swiss are unlikely to want to be here in the winter.

.

More RVs

 The European RVs keep rolling in (by ship) and some domestic ones are begining to appear too as tourist season gets underway. 

The desire for "stealth" RVs is a bit of a current fad. The idea is to make the RV look like an anonymous  commercial vehicle, and thus attract no attention when parked for the night, perhaps in a dodgy location. Leaving the exterior plain white and without signs of conversion is a good "cover", but adding a ladder and extra windows is a dead giveaway.

 

A Dodge Ram 2500 ProMaster is a good start for a stealth RV, but this one will fool no one.

Not exactly stealth is a an ex military ambulance with red cross on the roof:

I can't begin to imagine how uncomfortable something like this must be - even on good roads. Magirus-Deutz is certainly a rare find in North America. Does that cab tilt?

There are two or three "native" Scanias in Atlantic Canada, so the number of RV Scanias likely outnumbers them as they keep coming in.

I cannot help but smile when it see this VW with Karmann camper body:

 

I dislike the word "cute" on principal, but I can think of no other. I suspect it must be pretty wobbly in a strong crosswind.

.

.

It's all down hill from here and other Vantastic tales

In hopes of atoning for neglecting this site for the past several months, here is a bit of catch up.

Euro RVS
Yes they are rolling again in large numbers. Those European RVs keep arriving in Halifax by ship but I only get to see very few of them. Here is a sampling:

Swiss Dude (who may have a web site - his name is Demian) drives this VW van. Tight quarters inside no matter the raised roof, but being Swiss I guess he has no problem parking on hills.

This Merc from Germany has a very durable looking Wochner RV body. Over the front windshield it says "Xantaro 470 B4 4X4".

Vantastic Conversions
This array of ambulance / van conversions is largely self-explanatory:

 

Malley Industries Inc of Moncton, NB produced this Dodge conversion for Ambulance New Brunswick.

 Tri-Star Industries of Yarmouth, NS produces ambulances for Nova Scotia EHS on Ford chassis.

 

Niagara Region runs Mercs with Demers bodies, built in Saskatchewan.

 

 Crestline, also based in Saskatchewan built this unit on a Ford chassis.

 

 Looks like an ambulance but isn't. Ferno uses this Ford to demonstrate ambulance equipment and patient handling devices.

 Stryker also produces patient handling equipment. They use this van to promote their product.


Best Looking Truck of the Week
This rig takes the prize this week - in part because of its matching trailer. Also because the driver is still waiting after three days for his load. Likely a piece of farm machinery from a shipment that arrived some time ago - maybe hung up in customs.

Wheeler Trucking of New Lothrop, MI runs this handsome low-rise Volvo.
\
Bus a gut
No matter where I was, I could not get a clear shot . Two layers of chain link fence forms a  fairly effective filter, but I did see that number 8147 is one of at least three new OC Transpo buses to arrive in the past week.

It appears to be an Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 model, an add on to the 43 similar units in the OC Transpo fleet. Two more are virtually invisible within the confines of the Fairview Cove container terminal.

Globetrotter hitches a ride
A Volvo Globetrotter arrived in port early in the week and waited outside the compound for a time until it was lashed down on its trailer.

Although it looked to be set up as a tractor for a semi-unit, it was fitted with an odd little scissor lift type dump body and was marked "Test Vehicle" in the rear. The contents of the non-IMO container will have to remain a mystery.

Watson keeps on rollin'
There are Watson trucks nearly every week now, hauling Bombardier airplane components.

 KW number W3895 sports a non-standard Watson paint job. Watson runs their own escort fleet.

 KW 3901 has the traditional mint green name on the cab door.

.

Going, going, ......

Go'in Fish'n

In the next few days I will be departing on my annual August break from computers. I doubt that I will be doing any fishing, but I will be absent from the keyboard until September.

This (mostly) Dodge pickup plays a role, along with Ned the Dog, in the upcoming move The Healer filmed recently in Nova Scotia. In these photos it was being transported to a shoot in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax. The containers in the background are stacked in the adjacent Halterm Container Terminal.

.

Big 3 Golden Oldies

Old trucks are everywhere, but some draw attention for various reasons

In the 1950s Dodge changed the look of their trucks every year just as they did with cars. Therefore this is pretty easy to identify as a 1958.The panel van was rarer than the pickup, and this decently restored model, but would have been a small portion of the 58,671 Dodge tucks produced in the US in 1958. This one lives in Miramichi, NB.
With the optional V-8 under the hood it would be a dynamite ride.

The much reviled Ford Cargo (which was later taken over by Sterling) is a rare sight these days. By the look of this tilt-deck, I wonder it if is a former fire truck. The white over red colour scheme would certainly suggest it. The double barrel horn in the bumper is another hint. Sighted in Burnside June 27.  

 I've trying to get a picture of this Jimmy for years, but it is hard to find it sitting still. The Cat powered C8500 spends is days hauling empty containers and container chassis around Halifax. The only single axle truck in that work, it is certainly a rarity on that count alone.

.

Dartmouth Fire Department

Pre-amalgamation in 1996, the City of Dartmouth, NS, maintained its own independence on the east side of Halifax harbour. Dartmouth was founded in 1750 (one year after Halifax) and still maintains its identity, as a community within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), but all services, including fire fighting, are carried out by the HRM.
When it was still an independent city it had a sizable fire department. Here is an album of some of its apparatus from the old shoebox (headings indicate the year the picture was taken)

1978

1. 1977 Ford-Thibault 1050 gpm pumper operated from Station 4 in lower Burnside.

2. This little 1950s International tanker was not typical of Dartmouth's roster. It was probably used as a brush truck.

3. 1976 Ford-Thibualt, rear-mount 100 ft aerial also ran from Station 4.

1979

4. Tower 2 ran this Mack CF, with Baker Aerialscope 100 foot mid-mount platform.It was built by Thibault in 1976

1982

5. No.14 Pumper operated this 1970 Thibault 1250 gpm from the Station 1 on King Street. The ubiquitous Cincinnati Cab was Thibault's custom cab.

6. No.18 Pumper ran a similar 1973 Thibualt 1250 gpm custom cab. Even though it was the first day of spring, both units were fitted with tire chains.

1982

7. Classic 1965 American LaFrance 1250 gpm No.11 seen at Station 2 in Woodside. Tire chains were standard in January.

1987

8. Checking out Number 4 aerial at station 4 - see also 1978 above.

1989

 

9. Dartmouth ran this Dodge rescue for many years. It carried number 24.

1989

  

10. 1981 Ford L9000 Pierreville 840 gpm pumper/ 1000 gal tanker/ 40lb foam carried several numbers, including 3 and 12 during its career. 

11. (undated possibly 1986)

1990

 

12. Thibault built this aerial on a Ford C chassis, and it was assigned to Station 4, replacing another 1976 Thibualt aerial on a Ford C chassis -see photoS above.

1991

13. Late model Ford C-Thibault (ca. 1987)was 1050/600 pumper number 1. Note the handrail around the back of the cab.

1994

14. Tibotrac built this emergency response unit on a Ford Cargo chassis.

15. Chev StepVan served as a mobile command unit.

1995

 

16. Another view of the newer number 4 aerial, see also 1990 above.

17. Metalfab built this pumper No.1 on a Ford Cargo chassis. The crew box has a side door.

BONUS

18. In 1982 this Plymouth Fury station wagon saw duty in a variety of roles. 

19. A sunny day view of No.11 LaFrance, in April 1979, with the chains off.

.