Make:

How about turning it into a very big <a href="http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=1336">foam factory</a>?

The Make: Warranty Extinguisher.

I would suggest you turn it into a mobile bio-fuel maker and pump. Then you could help promote environmentalism, making, and fill-up cars on the move(don't try this at home). Besides, how cool would it be if the truck could make it's own fuel. I don't have a name for it sorry.

This truck definitely needs a respectable amateur radio setup. Perhaps we could even make it out to be a special event station for the actual Faire?

I would say turn it into a mobile workshop stocked with everything a Maker could ever want: tools, supplies, testing equipment, you name it. It would be the ultimate Open machine shop.

Do you want to keep the firetruck look and feel, or can suggestions depart from that?

A firetruck that makes fires rather then puts them out?

Ok, the biofuel truck idea wins IMO.

Another vote for alternative fuels, preferably vegetable oil! You could make it a veggie-powered wardriver, mobile Wi-Fi access point, or a mobile low-power FM station like in Pump Up the Volume.

As for the name, how about Nikola?

The Elsbett kits were made originally for Mercedes diesels, and modded to work with any diesel.

Run Straight Vegetable Oil as fuel, with a start/stop tank full of biodiesel, both of which could be gathered/processed in the vehicle (or elsewhere) as additional Makey goodness.

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html
http://www.elsbett.com/engl/index.htm
http://www.prairiefirebiofuels.org

I also second the low power FM station idea. Or TV perhaps? Simulcast to web, of course!

Obligatory name suggestion:

Painted on truck:
MAKE: FIRE truck

Laid out just that way. A serious airbrushed (not cut in) flame paint job to go with it.

Mods of choice, but at least one major flame thrower on the roof (propane, for showy effects) --as in Fahrenheit 451 [Bradbury].

Nice MOG. Wish it was four wheel drive. Those came with portals and a sometimes a PTO transfer case.

A PTO would be nice for some more interesting mods. I like endif's thoughts, between that and a PTO powered generator, you could power a chunk of the faire AND have it smell like french fries all the time.

For more ideas, see these guys: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=28

Of course expect them to call you names if you don't read up a bit.

Go, Green, go BioD. Not only is it fun but then you can show different ways to process and make it.

Under the roll up door, should have a nice flat screen and a wii.

Cool, I use to ride in these Fire trucks during my tine at the volunteer firefighter time in Germany. Good memories!
This is a very verstaile vehicle, first convert it to Bio Diesel, then make it to an action fire truck, stock with tools and worktable that can be pulled out for making things and hacking stuff. The way it is build (all aluminum) in the body it is easy to configure and make it fun. Make a real maker truck. Do you still have the horn and the emergency lights are working? And do you still have the pump?
If you contact the "Freiwillige Feuerwehr" in Wiesmore you may get more info about the truck! Good luck, post pic's during the process.

Looks more like a "MODster Truck" Than a firetruck. What do you think?

Alright, So Start off LASER ETCHING The MAKE LOGO mirrored like an ambulance writing. Get someone with access to a six axis laser cutter to make a niice chrome grill with the make logo, diamond plate or honeycomb mesh material. Widen the wheelbase to make it look aggressive and i love the idea for the flamethrower, make fires not put them out. Its all in the theme of make. Steam punk the back of the machine with a fake boiler and smoke stack out of the top. Add on the Ibump and a nice set of speakers for some upcoming events. Convert the rig to biodeisel. My list is endless. Nightvision dash display with infared highbeams. My list is endless

Holy I just read the low powered Fm Transmitter idea,, LOVE IT
just make something that can go over any frequency, and constantly play the make podcast, Imagine rushour traffic and everyone is listening to make in a 20 meter radius, they look around wondering what make is and BAM The firetruck!!!

Or put on a big jammer to knock out everyones radio and cellphones and gps, lol

Air Cannon ontop powered by onboard compressor, Add on a potrable mig setup and homemade alternator arc welder. Solar roof, maybe even a green roof (sod or flowers) Under the rollup doors turn it into a Make: Merchandise/ Ticket booth/ Newsstand with a nice lcd screen with the daily articles on makezine.com.

The first thing I saw was those two blue lights on top.

Hook 'em up and turn them into a morse signalling system. You could either use left and right as dot and dash or have them both using on and off as dot and dash so you have a two channel comms system.

Since the truck is going to be visiting Maker Faires and other events I'd turn it into an OB and comms truck. Wireless access points, video editing and podcast creation, perhaps even wireless links to the 'net. How about adding a net appliance so it could serve as an instant onsite webhost for forums, calendars and other useful online tools for event attendees. Imagine hacking up a wireless transmitter for a video camera so it could use 802.11n to pipe live from a camera to the truck and out to the net.

If you used as much open source software and hardware as possible it would also provide both an example and a platform for Makers to improve.

# Tony

Needs some reflective stripes down the side to give it that authentic look.
http://www.colebrothers.com/

For name, how about:
MAKE: Location Translator

ok, first graphic entry? I posted the image to the make pool on flickr - I also created a "clean slate" white version so others can mock up their own color scheme or graphics...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyenobite/473922570/

LOVE the fire truck. Classic. I have (or 'had' as I am about to sell it) this ambulance: http://www.growdown.com/Ambulance/Ambulance.html, which is also diesel. I've been running it on BioDiesel, which is cool, but I think like some others that you need to go full veggie oil. And not just veggie, but waste veggie. A full heated filtration system would be awesome, and then you could literally poor fry grease into it from restaurants. Those roll ups could then open into a whole educational display about running the truck essentially off of trash. Is it true that it gets 18-29 mpg? That's pretty amazing if so. My E-350 gets 15mpg on the highway. Gotta hand it to Mercedes.

Well, the one mod I always wanted to put on the ambulance was an ipod jack for blasting tunes out the siren. I'm not sure your fire truck has an electronic siren though, it looks classier as if it runs off of compresses air and reeds? In the same spirit then, tuning those siren horns (by switching reeds, or cutting them shorter?) so each one gave a different note, and then doing some electrically valved compressed air, then they could play music via MIDI control or similar. I suppose they could blow fire and be a fire organ as well. You're gonna be in parades now right? Ya gotta have something for parade time.

For a name, I'd like to suggest the Synthia. I also urge you to be cautious with altering her look. She's incredibly beautiful right now, so I suggest subtlety in terms of cosmetic alterations. My two cents. Beautiful choice, congrats Make.

Tough to resist the WVO conversion, & hooking up the siren to audio input would go well with a projector for guerrilla drive-ins. Mobile presentations with a tiny project projected up onto a wall, makers gathered around back in the mobile workshop? Or if it strikes anyone, city-wide dot-matrix printer. You could mark the streets by pressure-washing them, which fits pretty well for a firetruck.

Name suggestion: Sparky, of course.

A bio diesel conversion would be nice, also the idea of a rolling workshop.

I'd also suggest some kind of video screen and sound system on the outside so that various "Maker" videos could be constantly played.

Maybe even a video projection unit that could project those same videos on the sides of buildings, etc.

Name: MAKE:Fire
Bent purpose: Make cumbustable fuel for itself or for other vehicles. Bio-diesel, hydrogen, or some other alternative fuel. MAKE:Fire could serve as rolling lab for public education on MAKEing skills and alternative energy sources.

Now that's a nice looking ride, and it has a lot of potential for some major mods. Those large metal roll-up side doors, look like ideal candidates for some motorized openers controlled via a wireless remote control or wireless computer control. The smaller passenger doors might also have the possibility of automatically opening with the push of a button. You should also be able to turn on and off the emergency lights and siren via the wireless control. Some of the 4 sirens on top should be modified into speakers capable of broadcasting some of your podcasts. And you could add some scrolling LED message displays.

Name suggestions:

Makemobile
Make Modster
Mod Pod
Podster
Mod Buggy
Mod Wheels
Modrider
Motormod
Modbox
Mod 1.0
Modster M1
Boxster

Fit a big "airzooka" on top, run by a crank, and turn the water hose into a big bubble-blower (not foam, bubbles).

Replace the first-aid O2 tank with helium, leave the face-mask on.

Well, I think the bio-diesel and veggie oil has some good merit, but how about hacking it into an electric vehicle? As a volunteer firefighter, I have inhaled my share of diesel fumes. Keep in mind however, that the powerplant should be able to run the pumps too, if it has any, for a reasonable length of time. That would be, perhaps, an hour running full-out. If this rig has no pumps, problem solved.

The other idea I have is to add 4-wheel steering. That's being offered on a lot of new apparatus, particularly aerial ladders and other long vehicles that must navigate narrow streets. Not that this one would have an issue with narrow streets and tight corners, but it would be a fun hack--particularly if it could be modified to so both front and rear wheels can steer at opposing 45 degree angles so it could essentially rotate in a tight circle.

Oh, and running audio through the speakers will likely be disappointing as the sirens and PA system are generally very utilitarian. Anything resembling music would sound like garbage. My thought is to keep the siren and PA intact and add speakers for music in a separate system. Though it would be fun to add some various input systems (light and/or sound patterns, motion detectors, etc.) that would trigger lights and/or siren.

Looks like a giant Swiss Army Knife waiting to happen - Big corkscrew on top and everything.

F.R.E.D.Y.

Pronounced -Freddy-

Firetruck
Rallying
Entrepreneurs &
Do it
Yourselfers

I know its a stretch for the last part, but I like the idea of a truck named FREDY.

Sparky is a good name, gotta have the remote control water cannon on top, though.

Big screen plasma on one side to demo projects (turn into road show rig) and maker tools & projects on the other side underneath the rollups.

I also second the idea of it running on biodiesel...great idea. Electric would be great, too and would make it a ton more quiet.

Finally, in the back, have room for tools and such, welders, cutters, generator, air compressor, etc. and a minifridge.

Maybe go as far as a mobile sat+wifi base station so that you can blog and broadcast on the go.

Throw some extra TV gear in there as well (robotics, tripods, cams, live switcher, cables, comms, mics, etc.) so you can go full-out at maker faire.

Another possibility: paint it black and make it look like 'The A Team' van.

Heh, the MAKE Team.

How about a mobile fab shop. Outfit it with a couple of rapid prototyping machines (stereolithography and a 3D printer, maybe), a laser cutter, a benchtop CNC, some hand tools, and electronics goodies. With a WiFi connection, people at an event could upload parts and have them made. You could crank out little robot kits for kids to assemble. Print out full color 3D vervions of the truck as MAKE: promo items. I think a MAKE: truck pretty much <i>has</i> to make things.
And be powered by Biodiesel.

My suggestion is quite simple...

<IMG SRC="http://zeckalpha.googlepages.com/makebus.jpg">
<BR><BR>
EDIT: I know it's not on flickr... I don't have an account anymore...

How about a mad-powerful TV killer? Or an EMP generator? And bio-diesel, of course, with a solar backup (gotta run all those computers and soldering irons somehow).

I loved your recent post /"Workshop" Bus Trains Hobbyists/. If you look in the picture, see that they called that streamlined happy van the "Aero King Modeliner". How fun was that?
Absent the fine aerodynamics, imagine styling your vehicle's name after that beauty with something along the lines of "Makeliner"; "O'Reilly Makeliner"; or honor your sister publication with the almost lyrical "Craftliner"
What a ride!

It's red, it's for making and playing, it's from Germany, so: "Das feuerrote Spielmobil"! And I also second the bio-diesel option - but to adapt it to bio-diesel is IMHO more difficult than to adapt it to vegetable oils.

While this thread has been dormant for a little bit, I would like to submit my naming idea.

Name: Necessity
(Necessity is the mother of invention, right?)

Mods: FM transmitter of reasonable strength (Basically, as strong as can be without a dedicated permit, since it is a mobile station)
built-in small CNC table or lathe
plotter printer, something compact that doesn't need it's own dedicated footprint. Maybe some conductive or glowing inks?
some packet radio gear

When I saw this question come up in my RSS feed, a two-tank veggie oil conversion was the first thing that came to mind. Glad to see so many others agree! An automated shutdown controller, which flushes the lines with petrodiesel before killing the engine, would be pretty sweet. (Bonus points if it integrates with the GPS nav system so it knows when you're nearing the destination and switches over at just the right time.)

I'd caution against trying to put too many end-product capabilities in the truck, though. Between the radio station and the CNC equipment and the biodiesel digester, there's no space left for humans! Rather, make the truck a flexible platform to support modular functionality.

Upgrade the alternator and add some deep-cycle batteries, with an isolator/combiner so you don't drain the starting battery when parked. Add a beefy inverter with a cord-reel, and an air compressor with a hose-reel, so you can support whatever needs arise.

Then make the other parts portable. A 3d lathe? Sure, put drop-down wheels on it like a gurney, so it can be transported in the truck but set up some distance away.

Rather than building a gonzo radio station into the truck, simply add a telescoping mast of some sort, and equip it with antenna mounting points and feedlines that terminate at a panel in the base. Then you can drop functionality in as appropriate. Maybe strap a PTZ camera up there too.

Those air horns have to play music, though. ;)

Well, I have no idea on how to do this, personally, but I've seen on Mythbusters several times where they've rigged full-sized cars to operate by remote control. They're able to make devices that operate brakes, gas, and the steering wheel, but I bet you guys could do even more. Phantom sirens, anybody?

Imagine: having it running down back roads (best to keep it off the highway) with nobody at the wheel (the driver might be in a chase vehicle or in the back if s/he's brave). Or maybe just around a parking lot.

The problem I see with this is that the devices would probably make driving the truck manually difficult or even impossible. Usually on Mythbusters they rig a failsafe so that if the radio control goes out of range or otherwise fails, it hits the brakes.

Great truck,
I have this 1980 ex firetruck:
http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j12/jvanhousen/?action=view&current=frontqtrvic.jpg
and would like to contact the poster named Ryan who also has one.
Thanks!
Jeff

Two words -

Spinning Rims.

:)