As we continue to see more and more fire departments purchasing rescue vehicles and multipurpose apparatus, there’s been a lot of discussion about how to maximize these rigs’ storage capabilities. Rescue vehicles are known for having bigger, better, and more diverse storage options than other apparatus types, and basically serve as mobile fire equipment storage lockers.

With so many different storage options and configurations to choose from these days, it’s vital that departments research potential layouts, and design their rigs with their current equipment in mind. By outfitting your truck with storage compartments that are specifically designed to haul your department’s equipment, you’re able to maximize your storage space efficiency, and create a rig that’s perfectly suited for your department’s unique needs.

Need help selecting the best storage compartment designs on your next fire apparatus? These tips will help you make the most of your apparatus’ storage space:

1. Equalize Compartment Sizes

At Marion, we like to design our apparatus with equal-sized storage compartments. Why? Because no one really knows what type of equipment you’ll be carrying 20 years from now, and equal compartment sizes allow for a flexible design.

2. Demand Wall-to-wall Equal Sizes, Not Just Door Openings

By designing each compartment to be the same size on the inside and out, you make it easy to swap out shelves and trays between compartments, ensuring your ability to adapt as your needs change.

3. Measure and List Your Equipment for Layout

By figuring out how much storage you’ll need to accommodate all of your equipment beforehand, you’ll have a better understanding of how you should design your storage space to fit it all. In fact, the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) even has a free weight and cube calculator to help you balance your equipment’s weight.

4. Consider Extra Venting for Gas-powered Equipment

If you plan on storing any gas-powered equipment on your truck, make sure you add extra ventilation to those compartments in order to avoid any gas fume buildups.

5. Layout Equipment by Your Needs/Strategy

When you’re on the scene, you can’t afford to waste any time searching for equipment. By grouping all of your extrication components with other extrication equipment, for example, you’ll know exactly where to look when the time comes.

6. Use Tool Boards for Long and Handle Storage

Long tools like axes, shovels, sledgehammers, and bolt cutters are known to cause storage headaches due to their awkward dimensions. By using a swing or pull out tool board, however, you can maximize your storage space and keep these tools well organized.

7. Pull-out Trays for Heavy and Low Equipment

Loading and unloading heavy equipment from the lowest storage compartments can literally be a pain in the neck for firefighters. Help make things easier and faster for your crew by installing pull-out trays so the equipment extends out of the compartment for lifting.

8. Tip-down Trays for Light and Higher Storage

Tip-down trays for light and higher storage to maximize full height areas to bring the equipment out and down making it easier to reach.

9. Transverse Racks to Secure Long Boards, Stokes, and Telescoping Shoring Equipment

Having all of these long components accessible from each side of the apparatus gives you access in multiple locations and stored to maximize the space.

10. Use Mesh Nets to Hold Cribbing Stacks in Place

Keep your cribbing stacks from shifting around and crashing into other equipment or against roll doors by using mesh nets to hold them in place.

11. Tool Mounting Brackets

Plan Commercial-purchased and Custom-made tool brackets for tool mounting with the purchase, so equipment is ready and secured. Rather than figuring out how to mount your equipment to the tool boards yourself, coordinate plans with your manufacturer so they’re already installed and ready for use.

12. Consider In-cab Storage Cabinets

With so much emphasis on your equipment storage, departments often forget about storage inside the cab. Keep your maps, binders, and other important information handy and safe by installing custom-made storage cabinets inside your cab.

Want to learn more about the different storage options available on a Marion apparatus? Talk to your nearest Marion dealer, or contact us personally at (715) 754-5261.