How to Decipher Crown Firecoach Model Information
By Mike Britt, CFE President and Historian
All vehicles manufactured by the Firecoach Division of Crown Coach had a builder’s plate which Crown called the “Vehicle Record Plate” located in the driver’s compartment of the vehicle near the accelerator pedal. The information on this plate is useful in identifying characteristics of the vehicle and registering the vehicle for licensing. There were several changes to the look of the Vehicle Record Plate over the years. On Firecoaches built up through the late 1960’s, the vehicle record plate was rectangular and contains only basic information, with a couple different plate masters used. From 1969 to the 1981, the Vehicle Record Plate is larger containing slightly more information, also with a couple different versions. On Firecoaches delivered from 1981 and on, the large Vehicle Record Plate has the long VIN stamped on it instead of the Crown “F-
FIRST LETTER
Examples: CP-125-109; FP-100-53
C – Chassis manufactured by Crown Coach
F – Ford cab and chassis
GM – GMC cab and chassis
M – Maxim cab and chassis
O – Oshkosh chassis with TCMI cab
For other makes (Chevy, Dodge, IHC and Jeep) “CP” was used, and the vehicle model put before or in place of the Engine info. Example: CP-15-CJ-5 (Jeep CJ-5)
SECOND AND FOLLOWING LETTERS
Examples: CP-125- 109; CPTSQ-150-75-56D
A – Aerial (mid-mount)
AP or PA – Pump + Aerial (mid-mount) [AP was used in 1960’s; PA in 1970s]
AR – Aerial Rear-mount PAR – Pump + Aerial Rear-mount
ATD – Aerial Tractor Drawn
FB – Fire Boat
HPHW – High Pressure Hose Wagon (no tank)
HPTHW – High Pressure Tank Hose Wagon
HW – Hose Wagon (no pump)
P – Pumper (included triples, patrols, brush, and quick attacks)
R – Rescue (includes squads and heavy rescues)
RT – Rescue + Tow package (Honolulu units that towed boats)
S – Snorkel SP or PS – Pump + Snorkel [SP was used in 1960’s; PS in 1970s]
T – Transport (Note: PT or PT was a Tanker. Tankers had pumps).
TP or PT – Pump + Tanker [TP was used in 1960’s; PT in 1970s]
PSQ – Pump + Squrt (All Squrts had pumps so there was no SQ)
TSQ – TeleSqurt PTSQ – Pump + TeleSqurt
TW – Tank Wagon
PW – Wagon with (standard) pump W – Wrecker
NUMBERS
The meaning of the numbers is determined by the letters in the first group:
• When the vehicle has a Snorkel or aerial device, the first numbers indicate the height.
• When the vehicle has a pump, but no Snorkel or aerial, the first numbers indicate the pump capacity.
• When the vehicle has both a Snorkel or aerial and also a pump, the
first number is the height and the second number is the pump rating in
GPM.
•.In all cases, the final set of numbers is the engine model. If
a vehicle had no Snorkel, aerial, or pump, this will be the only set of
numbers.
Pump rating, for “P” vehicles (in GPM):
Examples: CPS-100-50-81; CPTSQ-150-75-56D
15 – 150 GPM
75 – 750 GPM
100 – 1000 GPM
125 – 1250 GPM
150 – 1500 GPM
175 – 1750 GPM
200 – 2000 GPM
Silver Trumpet – 2017, Vol. 3