NSW RFS 130 cat9

[bcj]

Driver training course - took some pictures of one of the Richmond rivers 130 c/chassis cat9 striker's.





shame they trim the rear crossmember to fit boxes, tanks sit nice and low- driver thought it was 600ltr (reckon it might be more myself)



stall recovery practice



cat1, cat7 & cat9



We would really like a cat9 (def 130) to compliment our 7 but way things seem they're not viable anymore and will be no new one's with cat 7 twin cab's fulfilling their roll ?

Brett
110 300tdi

[Radz]

Thanks for the photos bcj, looks a very capable and well set up vehicle. Should be more landrovers out there.

[towe0609]

Thanks for posting up those photos. They are of great interest to me given I recently bought this towe0609's 130 Dual Cab Jaffa

I have a few questions given the similarity - do you know how the tank is filled and what role the box in the centre closest to the cabin plays in that?

If you could find out who makes these custom trays for the NSW RFS that would also be of great assistance to me. I am keen to source the 'nozzles' boxes which were removed from mine before sale.

It looks a bit saggy at the rear - was the tank full? Mine is around 320ltr, but smaller due to it being a dual cab. Do you know what the policy is for turning them over. When I bought mine it only had 24,000kmn on the clock.

Thanks again.

[bcj]

Missed your post- towe0609- good score , have been asking about disposal myself, would like a twin cab
Tank is always full unless your on the way to fill it (no filter just strainer on end of suction hose which is stored centre top)
130 twin cab's had weight issues and lack of water as tankers ,our group catering drive a standard one & I've seen a few tankers round but not for a while, single cab's have lack of crew (need 3 min) and cost (?) issues, RFS bean counters now believe small twin cab 4x4 trucks (cat7) are better
Tank (600ltr) is filled via pump on rear, valves handles underneath to swich from drafting to firefighting- usually till water comes out top ( round vent centre behind rear window)- tank extends from rear to up between boxes.
Big box behind driver is hoses- I don't think it had boxes centre top like yours- though I can see "first aid" centre of rear in last photo above behind brush hook handle, first aid was actually in hose box
Alloy bodies were (well) built by a fella at Yamba I believe- will try & find out more- apart from 130's our cat7 has a alloy body as well (these have larger water capacity than steel body ones),but I believe new bodies are to be steel (this may be the cost issue)

Brett
110 300tdi

[towe0609]

Thanks Brett - will be keen to hear any more about the Yamba fabricator. My tray is in being 'flattened' now, and the local fabricator couldn't believe how well built is was - shame to cut it up, but I don't need a fire truck!

[cewilson]

We would really like a cat9 (def 130) to compliment our 7 but way things seem they're not viable anymore and will be no new one's with cat 7 twin cab's fulfilling their roll ?

Wait out on that one - the decision hasn't been made yet and there is a lot more areas to look at (e.g. ICS roles etc).

[Treads]

Wait out on that one - the decision hasn't been made yet and there is a lot more areas to look at (e.g. ICS roles etc).

Spot on

Just recently the RFS conducted a survey of members after the NE Zone put forward a proposal paper to retain Cat 9 strikers. We have about 10 of them in our district and they are used primarily for quick response to remote bush/scrub fires. They are absolutely essential in the gorge country on the edge of the escarpments here and Cat 7's have too tall a centre of gravity. Over the past 2 years we have purchased another 4-5 based on the new LC79 chassis. At present we are awaiting the arrival of another one that is due shortly.

We have around 4x single cab 130's with the Yamba built tray and a dual cab 130 RAFT support vehicle

When the next LC79 arrives it will replace a 130 from a local brigade, which will in turn be passed on to your truly as a Group Vehicle

[Bushie]

Biggest problem at the moment is finding a cab/chassis that will carry the load required for a cat 9. Land Rover are still in the running as they are about the only vehicle rated heavy enough. (I'll ask the engineer in our office where it's at) Weight gains in the past have seen things like wheels changed (from standard), and the alloy bars instead of steel.

Shame these were so poor in the braking department.



Martyn

[Treads]

Biggest problem at the moment is finding a cab/chassis that will carry the load required for a cat 9. Land Rover are still in the running as they are about the only vehicle rated heavy enough.

We came to the same conclusion. Defender 130 dual cab chassis is the only vehicle that will carry the load + go the places we need to go + carry more than 2 crew. Even the diehard Toyota fans conceded that it would be the best truck for the job

[dromader driver]

I have worked a few fires in the past 8 years where both bushies and sparks and wildfires (SW ) have been working in heavily timbered country. did some aerial burning with SW near mt wilson and mt tomah and over lunch had a long discussion on vehicles.

It was intesting to note during the 2003 fires that more than 30 tojo/defa traybacks were lined up outside the cooma RSL one evening as all of the bigger trucks were not compatable with the terrain. Supported with a number of rigid bulk carriers they were very effective.

The final summation was best given by the blue mtns SW who had chosen to go with a swb canter as it was not as heavily loaded and could go anywhere the Defa or Tojo could go.

Will be interesting to see what happens with the newer designs to meet the mandatory crew protection water requirement.

I think my Defa was an old SW vehicle as it has a cooma steel tray and bolt holes for a slip on.

Where I am living in SE queensland at the moment they have a patrol trayback and a tojo. Tojo is used offroad and the patrol is the preference on road. Both carry around 600 litres plus junk.

If anyone comes across an old SW slip on for sale could they let me know. Can use it at home.


Dromy driver.