Pioneer II Evolves and Upgrades Again

The Pioneer II Ambulance from FR Conversions has been on the market approximately 6 months, and has gone through various evolutions, making the product better and better.

The team at FR Conversions listens to the customer, and has been enhancing the Pioneer II over the past year and adding additional durability, functionality and versatility to an already amazing product line.

Lets take a look at some of the new updates that are not upcharges or price driven options that cost more money, but are features and benefits that enhance the "Value" in the standard Pioneer II package.

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The Flip up step was something that many people liked, added to the overall safety of the vehicle and was aesthetically pleasing. This feature was previously a $500 upgrade over the standard rear step, but is now part standard package.

With the Pioneer already being lower to the ground than any other Type II in its class (at 21") adding this step was an amazing upgrade. The versatility of being able to fold it up out of the way to stow while loading and unloading a stretcher, and still provide the extra depth needed to safely exit and enter the vehicle, this upgrade has made a huge difference in the day to day use of the vehicle.

Another feature we have enhanced or changed is the Stair Chair Stowage Drawer. The dimensions of this drawer maximized the space beneath the upper cabinets and provided a safe and unique storage option for the bulk of the standard stair chairs in use in the industry today.

As we showcased this feature off to many of our clients, we learned that although this was an innovative design and is user friendly, a less sophisticated option was more appealing and conducive to the multitude of various sizes, shapes and dimensions of the various stair chairs in the field.

Also many EMS teams are not "required" to have stair chairs on board so utilizing this space for other materials appealed to those customers.

FR Conversions elected to change the slide out drawer to a open channel, that is more durable, accommodates almost all of the available stair chairs in the field, and gives the end user more options when evaluating the storage space in the units.

This new stair chair channel, has a clean finish, is re-enforced for wear and tear over a life time of sliding units in and out and has a standard securement system similar to the ones used in the rest of the vehicle.

The slide out Stair chair drawer is still available, as an "upgraded option" if customers still enjoy the clean finish and the ability to stow and go. Ask your local Sales Representative about adding this option onto you Pioneer II.

Many of the changes and upgrades FR Conversions have made are items the average user will never see but are very important to creating an easy to maintain vehicle that has as few fail points as possible. Having a personal vehicle down for one day is problematic, having an Ambulance down for 10 minutes could mean the difference between life and death.

All too often the end user takes some of these things for granted until they do fail, or have a problem, and as a manufacturer not just an assembler of other vendor's parts, FR Conversions does everything we can to ensure we have the least amount of unplanned downtime possible.

Whether it is upgrading the Cat 5 connections all through the vehicle, to improving the O2 monitoring and solenoid shut off system, to better grab rails with more secure connection points, or enhancing the strapping systems found throughout the vehicle, both safety and reliability are constantly on the engineers minds.

From making the bench seat more ergonomic, adding gas shocks to ease the lifting and lowering process of the bench and the compartment beneath it, to adding diamond-plate kick plates along the floor to add to the fit and finish and prevent scratches and dents from the stretcher, FR Conversion is constantly innovating.

Something as simple as the Lexan used to make the glove storage box above the action station has been improved on to be a lighter weight and help close tighter and better to have a more secure fit.

The optional slide out ALS drawer and cabinet has been improved on to slide more fluidly, and is trimmed out to provide a more clean, finished look (once a standard cabinet is deleted) to make way for the additional electrical needed and the slide out drawer capability.

The standard Corian countertops in the action station, have also been improved with a cleaner finish and mitered top (something that would typically be an upgrade from other providers).

While we are talking about the action station we have added in a flow meter for no additional charge, and the Power Inverter Controller is now located in the action station not up underneath the panel where the inverter is located. The action station also now has a dedicated light switch for the overhead light for working on paperwork or additional visibility in the dark when you do not want to run the interior overhead lights.

The Fenix light bar has also been updated and improved to have a better seal, making it more water tight, and preventing whistling at high speeds.

Wait until you see what is coming next!!!

With 8-10 new enhancements being announced to the Pioneer II before EMS World in Nashville in October, and unveiling our newest Type II Ambulance, FR Conversions has allot more in store in the coming months.