Refurb Vrs New

So, in reading a few of the articles on the front page of FFN today, I came across an article about a department in New York that wants to purchase a new ladder truck. Now I don't know all of the information as far as call volume on the ladder truck, if it was refurbished by the manufacturer or by a local company. That being said I am a big fan of volunteer departments refurbishing apparatus. Not only is it cost effective, I think the last figures that I saw on a factory rebuild were around 100k for a rebuild when a new apparatus would have cost about 300k if not more.

Now in reading that article it seems like the truck was rebuilt a few years ago so a new truck would just be adding onto costs that to me are a waste, again not having all the information on the truck itself. I know of a department in my area that had a few old Mack pumpers that were sent for factory rebuild in like 1996 that are in their reserve fleet and still being used in training and if a front line apparatus goes down. As well as a large department in the next state over that is still using an old Ladder truck from the 70s that has been rebuilt a few times as a reserve apparatus.

So with that being said what is your take on the situation..

Rebuild apparatus or Purchase new