this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2025
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[–] Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz 39 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I recently helped work on a firetruck at a shop that works on existing trucks. They repair/rebuild their bodies, and do a lot of custom work. It's common for firestations to buy decommissioned trucks from other stations, and have this shop rebuild them rather than buying a new truck.

The truck I was working on had a light tower on it, with 6 led lights. During the work, one of the employees there asked me how much I thought the individual lights on the tower cost. An equivalently bright LED light would normally cost around $100, but because it was going on a firetruck I guessed it would have a premium price and guessed $300-400. Instead he told me each light was about $1500, making the set of 6 lights worth $9000.

The whole job was interesting, basically everything they had to buy new was way overpriced compared to the non-firetruck versions of the parts.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So manufacturers are milking those juicy government contracts. Isn't America the fucking best.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago

But capitalism told me that private contracts were the least wasteful and most efficient?

Why would the people who profit from lying, lie to me?

[–] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 7 points 1 week ago

So are you telling me it's like the wedding tax but for firetruck?

[–] theuniqueone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 1 week ago

To no ones surprise its monopolization and corporate greed.

[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

Spoiler: corporate greed

[–] ileftreddit@piefed.social 9 points 1 week ago

It’s corporations realizing that fire trucks are an essential necessity, one that thousands of local departments need, and like a restaurant hearing “wedding” they’ve increased prices as much as they want

[–] SpicyLizards@reddthat.com 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Isn't the quick answer capitalism?

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Back in the 1950s, they were largely just trucks outfitted with special add-ons — ladders, pumps — to differentiate them from the vehicle that might deliver your furniture. Family-owned businesses sprung up across the country to serve a region’s specific needs, and competition kept prices low.

that sounds like capitalism too :/

[–] lemmy12369@midwest.social 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

NJB did this amazing video on fire trucks Firetrucks

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 week ago

This is an amazing video about the difference of approach between Europe and north america for fire trucks.

[–] Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Put the wet stuff on the red stuff, sparky.

❤️

https://youtu.be/0HAGMb_jAdU?

[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

capitalism makes things more efficient, and reduces prices, that's why it costs 2 milli