• Home
• Products
  • Type II
    • Ford: Standard
    • Ford: Silver
    • Chevrolet
    • Dodge: Sprinter
  • Type III
    • Ford 145
    • Ford 148
    • Ford 168
    • Chevrolet
• Why Choose Leader
  • Craftsmanship
  • Design
  • Testing
• Other Services
• Meet the Leaders
• Contact Us

Design

From A Mechanic's Point of View

• Where are the batteries stored on the other vehicle you might be considering? Leader batteries are always readily accessible for testing, cleaning and periodic replacement.

• What does your EMT crew do if they manage to drain the batteries on the other vehicle you might be considering? Leader vehicles include a separate set of batteries constantly charged by the vehicles electrical system for just this emergency. A simple flip of a switch "jump starts" the vehicle to complete the call. In addition, a tell tale red light illuminates and stays on to alert Fleet Service there has been a problem with the batteries.

• What if you need to trace some wires to help diagnose an electrical problem in the other vehicle you might be considering? Are the wires colour coded to a supplied list that comes with each vehicle? Are the wires imprinted with the circuit number also on that same list? Or are the wires imprinted every EIGHT inches with the function of the wire? They are all THREE with a Leader!

• Does the fiberglass roof of the other vehicle you might be considering have a fully grounded metallic mesh imbedded into it for proper radio antenna operation? All Leader type-II ambulances have a fine mesh screen imbedded into the roof as it is being made. The mesh is well grounded to the vehicle body at multiple points providing you or your radio shop an RF reflective surface on which to mount your communications antennas.

• How substantial is the fiberglass roof on the other vehicle you might be considering? Leader roofs are closely monitored to not be too thin nor too thick. The result is the lightest, sturdiest roof very able to support the weight of almost any radio antenna installer as he works on the roof. After initial installation of antennas this may not sound necessary but many a tree limb and light fixture in a covered garage have fallen victim after contact with a Leader roof!

• How are the "creature comforts" on the other vehicle you might be considering? "a happy crew is a contented crew". Leader vehicles include electric remote mirrors, cruise control on a tilt steering wheel. AM/FM CD player for between calls and staging for long hours. Cloth upholstered seats that actually recline due to a redesigned wall between the cab and the patient compartment. Leader vehicles have always had full travel in the cab seats, this is just something extra Leader provides for you crew's comfort. A comfortable crew is more likely to respect the vehicle they're in for eight to ten or more hours. Your crews and patients will appreciate the heavily tinted windows in the patient compartment as well.

• Uniformity. How many changes just for the sake of change has the other vehicle you might be considering gone through over the years? While some may say it's "old school" Leader vehicles have used virtually the same rugged components for over 15 years. Except for improvements in durability and reliability and of course chassis changes, our Ford QVM approved wiring has gone unchanged. We use the same tried and true easy to diagnose switch and relay electrical system. Our ducted A/C system comes from the premiere automotive supplier with unmatched warranty service available nation wide with just one seldom needed call to their 800 number. While the stock Leader type-II and III comes with Whelen lighting and siren you can request Federal Signal, Code-3 from PSE, Tomar or almost any other brand to fit your present fleet.

• Do you have any idea what type of material goes into the construction of the other vehicle you might be considering? Even with something as simple as the plywood sub floor Leader uses only top grade "solid & joined" plywood 23/32" thick. What this means is no, none, zero chances of a soft spot developing in your floor due to a void in one or more of the plies. Marine grade the others say? That applies to the adhesive used to bond the plies. There still may be voids waiting to fail. Leader also uses an automotive grade body filler to fill in depressions from the securing screws as well as the "puzzle piece" type of joint where the two sheets mate to form one solid sub floor! Leader even takes the sensitive electronic devices your crews use into consideration. Leader uses an RF shielded ballast in the fluorescent lamps so they don't interfere with your communications gear or patient diagnostic telemetry equipment.

• Take a close look at the cabinetry in the back of the other vehicle you might be considering. Does the aluminum trim look like trim, just glued or screwed onto the cabinet corners? You'll find on most corners of Leader cabinets that the aluminum "trim" is actually a structural member. It interlocks with the top grade laminate covered plywood (NO particle board, no blow molded plastics) to actually reinforce the cabinets against the rigors of you busy call load and the normal twists and shaking delivered by the roads in your area. The majority of the aluminum trim you'll find in a Leader vehicle is from Leader's own extrusion dies. Leader made the trim to fit the application and not try to adapt bathroom trim to an ambulance.

• Foresight. What has the other vehicle manufacturer done to lengthen the life of their vehicle and make your life easier? Wherever possible through internal engineering and customer input Leader has made all efforts to increase the longevity and reduce down time for "nuisance" repairs. Some examples are the tempered Masonite® panels used to cover the rear doors on our type-II's. They resist rain and impact to last longer for you. The wiring gauge and insulation rating in all Leader circuits is well beyond any regulatory agencies requirements. Leader floor covering used in the patient compartment is not only highest grade for durability but installed in such a way to virtually eliminate any fluid entry into unreachable (un-cleanable) areas. Even the back board storage compartment in the type-II's is all welded aluminum. Not just a frame at the opening that is all too common. No matter how hard your crews slam the back boards back in you'll never see any damage to the cabinetry. At the head end of the squad bench on the standard type-II's you'll find a secure place to keep you portable D or E oxygen tanks. No cumbersome straps or buckles to fumble with just a quick release lever to remove the tanks. Perhaps the one feature that sets Leader apart from all other type-II's is the location of the control switches, gauges and siren controls. They are all over head within easy reach of the driver and well out of the way of sodas, coffee and other non-electrically compatible items. Just above the cab overhead on a separate swing down board you'll find the majority of the flashers, strobe packs, relays, and circuit breakers making servicing a rare Leader electrical problem easy and very accessible. Locating the ambulance electrical switches, gauges etc. to the overhead also frees up space in the cab to remove the engine cover for routine servicing. Your crews will appreciate the additional room typically occupied by the switch panel commonly used. Obviously if needed Leader can meet your needs for a variety of storage or equipment mounting options for MDT's, multiple radio mounting or just a place for gloves, clip boards and a Big Gulp. Right over the driver and passenger seats you'll find a pair of speakers mounted and pre-wired in the overhead ready to be connected to your communications radio(s). Need to wire in something you hadn't planed on? Leader includes several "option" wires running to almost every spot on the vehicle. Consult the wiring call out sheets or a quick call to Leader and you'll be up and running in no time with a minimum of hassle. Even the siren speakers on a Leader were chosen not only for sound output but for easy serviceability when needed.

• So how does that other vehicle you might be considering stack up? Give a Leader vehicle a good close look even a "stock" one and see for yourself. Compare them item to item… better yet, find an old Leader that's been in the field where the real world is and see which ambulance conversion held up. You'll see why it's called a Leader.