The Dennis RS/SS series was a range of fire engine chassis built by Hestair Dennis (later Dennis Specialist Vehicles), produced from 1978 until the early 1990s.
| Dennis RS/SS series | |
|---|---|
A Devon Fire and Rescue Service Dennis RS | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Fire engine |
| Manufacturer | Hestair Dennis |
| Production | 1978-early 1990s |
| Assembly | Woodbridge, Guildford |
| Designer | Ogle Design |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | Cab over engine |
| Related |
|
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Transmission |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,800 mm (149.6 in) |
| Length | 7,334 mm (288.7 in) |
| Width | 2,286 mm (90.0 in) |
| Height | 3,072 mm (120.9 in) |
| Kerb weight | 11,700 kg (25,794 lb)[1] |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | |
Internally codenamed Retained, Steel, the Dennis RS series was first launched in 1979, initially not offered with a tilting cab due to a belief that few fire stations at the time could accommodate a tilting cab. A lower-cost alternative named the Standard Specification, or SS series, was launched shortly afterwards, however at the request of the London Fire Brigade, this would be fitted with a tilting front cab as standard to improve ease of maintenance.[1] The all-steel cab, designed by Ogle Design,[2] replaced the older fibreglass and wood construction of the previous appliances it succeeded, such as the Dennis D and Dennis R, increasing the strength of the cab overall in the event of a collision.
The first of the Dennis RS/SS fire appliances were fitted with Perkins V8 diesel engines, either the V8-540 or the V8-640, with or without turbochargers; by 1987, the RS and SS could be specified with Cummins C-series engines.[1][3] Early appliances were bodied in-house by Dennis at their Woodbridge factory, but when in-house fire engine bodying was discontinued in 1985, the bodying of the Dennis RS/SS series and derivative products was outsourced to other coachbuilders, primarily to Carmichael Fire.[4] The RS could also be fitted with a variety of bodies by other coachbuilders including HCB Angus,[5] Fulton Wylie and Saxon Specialist Vehicles.
Over 1,750 Dennis RS/SS fire engines would be produced, being sold to nearly all fire brigades across the United Kingdom as well as being exported to various worldwide fire brigades.[6] As the appliances aged, RS and SS series appliances were known to suffer from corrosion particularly around the cab doors, nicknamed "Dennis Disease" by mechanics.[citation needed]
All chassis came with a choice of a 500gpm or 1,000gpm two-stage Godiva fire pump, depending on application, and a 400 imperial gallons (1,800 l) emergency water tank.[1]
...during the 1980s some 40 DS and RS chassis were bodied by [Angus], mostly as water tender ladders.
Dennis vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Buses |
|
| Fire engines | |
| Trucks |
|
Category | |