Buying a fire truck sounds like an awesome idea to me. I don't care how old you are. Everyone would love to rip down the road in one with sirens blaring. I would have to say the craziest things I bought are a bunch of pinball machines. They are big, loud, expensive, and make no sense to anyone except pinheads.
Well...how many pins could u carry in back of that thing?? If it was a ladder truck it would make more sense, then you could get pins from higher stories. Lol 
great purchase!
Wife thinks the portable sandblaster I bought at auction is a crazy thing. I'm having a hard time convincing her that I really need it. I told her I'm getting too old to use elbow grease!
Of course, now I have to get a large enough air compressor to run it.
Reminds me of the following joke:
A blonde girl calls the fire station and says ‘Help, my house is on fire, please come quick!’ The fire captain says ‘Calm down Ma'am, just tell us how to get there.’ The blonde girl says ‘Duh...big red truck!’
Makes for a great service/delivery truck . Or you could be the first dentist to have a Dental Alarm set up , for those who are unable to get to your office
Quoted from Joker2415:I just remembered a few other dumb purchases....
When I lived at home with my Dad.....I had a little money in my pocket. A guy was selling a 29ft(or something like that) travco motor home. It was $1200. Of course I had to have it! I had visions of a rolling party house! Of course I looked past everything else! Finally got it home...It wouldn't fit down the driveway between the house and a tree. Stored it for a while and had to unload it on someone else with big dreams.
Was on a construction site...A guy couldn't get a huge scissors lift running right. I was on the same job and heard him say "I'd take $400 for this right now." Well!!!! Hey!! I have 400 bucks!!!
Big thing, old dry rotted tires, only two of the hydraulic drive motors worked. I borrowed a car trailer....Pulled it on the trailer and flattened it into the axles. Had to get a friend rent and bring a real trailer to move the thing......We went straight to the scrap yard with it since I couldn't move it on my own. Lost money on that deal by the time said and done and only had it for a couple days....
added.......Holy cow!! This thread and I'm banging my head knowing I've made some odd purchases!!!! The paperwork for the biggest one of my life is next to me!!!!!!!! I bought 40 acres of lake front property where the land is expensive!!! Like 60 thousand a lot..... So, I stole this at $2500 an acre!!!!? So, I thought........I've had it since around 05 and still haven't gotten a legal way in yet! It's land locked!
I was going to make huge money on that deal!!! And most realtors won't even touch it with no legal access. Maybe? I'll get it one day!
Maybe u could buy that guys gyro copter to get to the land
Quoted from OLDPINGUY:We wanted a van, stranger thing, Scooby doo
type party van
This isn't mine, but I saw this when i was driving by and snapped the picture.
Apparently someone else had your idea too.
Quoted from Grateful_Pin:What crazy things have you bought????????
My first pinball machine 
Yes, we bought a firetruck to take to the Giants Tailgate parties. It was huge! We mounted a 60" TV to the side with satellite. (I'll have pix later) We loaded it with water one time and had a 4 man wood burning hot tub delivered to Giants Stadium! We had posters made and reverse signs that said "We're Not Firemen, We're Idiots!"
Quoted from Sarge:"Where we are going, we dont need TIRES"
You will when you try to take off or land.
Quoted from spfxted:Yes, we bought a firetruck to take to the Giants Tailgate parties. It was huge! We mounted a 60" TV to the side with satellite. (I'll have pix later) We loaded it with water one time and had a 4 man wood burning hot tub delivered to Giants Stadium! We had posters made and reverse signs that said "We're Not Firemen, We're Idiots!"
With the season they're having there is a joke in there somewhere. 
Quoted from dontfeed:As a dentist, you could make it into the world's largest Waterpik.
Quoted from spfxted:Yes, we bought a firetruck to take to the Giants Tailgate parties. It was huge! We mounted a 60" TV to the side with satellite. (I'll have pix later) We loaded it with water one time and had a 4 man wood burning hot tub delivered to Giants Stadium! We had posters made and reverse signs that said "We're Not Firemen, We're Idiots!"
That is awesome!! I’ll have a 750 gallon water tank in mine and my police chief buddy mention a hot tub sorority party at a James Madison University tailgate. Haha
It also has a 40 gallon foam tank that woud be awesome to convert to fake snow for parades. I’m going to get a fake snow machine for this purpose actually.
Quoted from Grateful_Pin:That is awesome!! I’ll have a 750 gallon water tank in mine and my police chief buddy mention a hot tub sorority party at a James Madison University tailgate. Haha
It also has a 40 gallon foam tank that woud be awesome to convert to fake snow for parades. I’m going to get a fake snow machine for this purpose actually.
Check out http://www.froggysfog.com best place to buy fog, foam, and snow machine supplies. We order snow juice by the pallet for a snow machine we use for holiday events here in town. With the right equipment it's amazing. We over here people saying "I didn't know it was supposed to snow tonight" I'll see if I can find the model/information on the machine we have.
Quoted from Grateful_Pin:It also has a 40 gallon foam tank that woud be awesome to convert to fake snow for parades.
To hell with the hot tub party. Keep the foam and have a foam party. Here's the one in town we go to and have a blast.
Quoted from Azmodeus:I always wanted to buy some land and some earth movers to play with.
I'll sell you some land!
Quoted from Travish:To hell with the hot tub party. Keep the foam and have a foam party. Here's the one in town we go to and have a blast.
» YouTube video
I’ll have to inquire with my fire chief buddy if it’s possible/safe with truck foam for humans in this way. Would be awesome. Right now I’ve looked at the above mentioned snow machines but wonder what temperature needed outside to be ideal. They had heavy duty bubble machines, could us when too warm.
I’m gonna Rock the shit out of parades and events !!!
He’s bringing one of his trucks Thursday so we can figure out exact positioning on the lot. He recommends I pour a concrete slab for truck to sit on instead of gravel. 33,000 empty. About 43,000 with 750 gallons of water.
Just heard from a farmer off Craigslist’s that can deliver pallet size (2000lb I think he said maybe?) boulders for $275 each. Checking to see if this is a good deal. I’m gonna get 3 for the truck and 2 for home. Always wanted big boulders in my back yard!!
And got PM’d about a Fire! Champagne an hour away that I’m looking into. Would like another offer to compare if available.
All coming together but really adding up $$$. Wife’s been”in” so far
Back to the real world doing dentistry tomorrow. All this planning and spending money all week was way more fun!!
I've tried to block all of this out of my memory I guess......
I bought 100's of oak apple crates. Years ago, I stopped at a garage sale with my little brother. The lady was selling some apple crates from their retired orchard. 2 bucks each! I asked her how many she had and it was something like 3 or 4 hundred............My brother and I borrowed my dads truck and made trips the whole rest of the day and part of the next. We packed a storage garage to the ceiling and still had some left over.
We thought we were going to be rich! These things have to be worth at least $20 each!!!!!!!!
Ya....We ended up giving them all away and burning some after about 6 months of trying to sell the stupid things. I bought out a record store once too....They were closing and had thousands of 78 records. Yep....Same thing!
I'm sure more will come to me....I've been doing this my whole life! I tried to block it out!!
Quoted from Who-Dey:I bought an engagement ring once. No doubt the dumbest purchase I ever made.
This was actually a joke just for the record guys lol. My ex wife is actually a great person and we still get along well today still. There is nothing better than having a great companion or a great marriage. My statement could have easily been true in many many cases but in my case it was a joke for sure. I enjoyed being married and I’ve had some great women in my life that were worthy of marrying, so contrary to what a lot of people think, they are not all Beaches by any means.
Quoted from Who-Dey:This was actually a joke just for the record guys lol. My ex wife is actually a great person and we still get along well today still. There is nothing better than having a great companion or a great marriage. My statement could have easily been true in many many cases but in my case it was a joke for sure. I enjoyed being married and I’ve had some great women in my life that were worthy of marrying, so contrary to what a lot of people think, they are not all Beaches by any means.
Hey!? I bought about 5 engagement rings for my current wife. Long story!! We've been together off and on since 15 we are now 41.
No one else would put up with our crap! I'm jkg..
The truth of it is....We both have been through some stuff over the years and we kept putting it off, then we would start all over and start a plan and a major car wreck,deaths, etc....Would cause us to put it off "until next year".....It went like that for years! "had it all" and "lost it all" a few times. We are best friends and I couldn't imagine going through all of that with anyone else....
Quoted from Who-Dey:This was actually a joke just for the record guys lol. My ex wife is actually a great person and we still get along well today still. There is nothing better than having a great companion or a great marriage. My statement could have easily been true in many many cases but in my case it was a joke for sure. I enjoyed being married and I’ve had some great women in my life that were worthy of marrying, so contrary to what a lot of people think, they are not all Beaches by any means.
Lol, does she read these forums?
Quoted from Who-Dey:I bought an engagement ring once. No doubt the dumbest purchase I ever made.
Haha! I've bought two of them. First one right out of high school. Luckily the engagement didn't last long.
Second one was the charm. She even got me back into pinball 20 years ago.
Quoted from OLDPINGUY:Nothing wrong with Engagement Rings,
Just the industry with regard to cost and propaganda.
Kinda like Batman66 LE.
I'll bet there are some of us that see
that NIB, then the ring, then the game,
and think about swapping the ring out.
Not if you've dealt in "estate Jewelry". That rock is still the same age no mater what setting it's in!
Oh ya....Bought one of those stores once too! Coin/jewelry/watches type places Closed it a year and a half later. That made out though.
My gosh..If I start thinking I can fill the thread with crazy purchases, trying things I knew nothing about going in.
I need to stay out of this thread. Memory lane is starting to make me reconsider pinball projects!
Ok weirdest thing I bought:
I bought a real live alligator once. Lived in my walkout basement like a dog. Really! Had Mad Max for two years. He was almost 9 feet long.
Quoted from arcademojo:Ok weirdest thing I bought:
I bought a real live alligator once. Lived in my walkout basement like a dog. Really! Had Mad Max for two years. He was almost 9 feet long.
You just won the "craziest thing you've ever bought " thread, good job! Lol
Quoted from cosmicjim:Lol, does she read these forums?
No not at all lol, I'm just being honest because that's how I am. She's a great person but unfortunately her 2 adult daughters were a huge pain in the azz and it ruined our marriage. Long long story but that's the truth of it.
Quoted from mswhat:Also. Are you sure you need a commercial license to drive that?
https://www.dmv.org/va-virginia/cdl-faqs.php
Because the vehicle has air brakes,you will need an air brake endorsement which to my knowledge is only given with a cdl.
-Mike
Quoted from Grizlyrig:Because the vehicle has air brakes,you will need an air brake endorsement which to my knowledge is only given with a cdl.
-Mike
But a 90 year old guy, that can't see or hardly walk can jump in the biggest motor home you can buy and drive it down the freeway with no training.
Not that I'm against the above...But I thought there were some exceptions to the law.
I drove a Dump with air brakes for a Tree service for a short time. The owner claimed I didn't need a CDL since his business was actually a "Tree Farm". He claimed I was exempt. Who knows I could have been breaking the law, I just took his word for it.
I'd bet if you got pulled over in that fire truck, hardly any of the cops would know for sure if you needed a CDL or not. And...If your tight with the community? Sometimes, things get over looked if the truck stays local. I know I'd chance it. What does the first offense cost if it did actually come up? It use to be $500 or $1000.......That's how I'd weigh it out.
Quoted from Who-Dey:You just won the "craziest thing you've ever bought " thread, good job! Lol
Dude... Fire Truck! A gator vs a Fire Truck! The Truck for the win!
Fire Truck man is my F'ing hero.
Quoted from DaveH:Dude... Fire Truck! A gator vs a Fire Truck! The Truck for the win!
Fire Truck man is my F'ing hero.
Don't forget tugboat guy. Tugboat guy at a minimum gets a wildcard spot in these wacky purchase play-offs.
Quoted from Grateful_Pin:Unfortunately yes. Limit is 26,000gws and mines 33,000. My friend is the Fire Chief and said the fire truck exemption is only when used for emergency use. Hope he’s wrong but I doubt it.
My best friend is the Police Chief of a local town as well so I’ll exploit both friendships with mutual projects and opportunities
Yes, you really need to be a first responder to drive this without a CDL, it is not the vehicle that eliminates the drivers license requirement..(I personally know). If a first responder shows up at the station and there isn't anyone to drive the emergency vehicle then they are allowed to take this type of vehicle out, that is why most states eliminate the need for a CDL for emergencies. Some of you, I think are missing the point, if you drive this around in town and there is a need for this type of equipment, I'm sure you could not provide any help...and would most certainly cause more damage than any good....Please remove the "fire" decals" and get the correct license to drive something like this around.
Recreational and moving vehicles are exempt if for personal use.
Now, does a firetruck fall into "recreational vehicle" if it's not being used for anything other than advertisement and recreation? If "retired" can it get recreational status? And if "recreational" ?. plates and insurance may even be cheaper. "recreational" would be my starting point into looking for exemptions.
It would be stupid if I can jump into a loaded down moving truck, giant loaded down farm trucks and equipment, or a huge motor home and drive all over, but not a retired fire truck around town just for fun or parades on occasion. I don't see where this could cause any damage by driving it around. How? Unless you pulled it up to a fire and were in the way or something. I'm misunderstanding that part.
A CDL is such a pain to get and keep just to move a truck around.
Problem solved.....Turn it into a "camper".
Quoted from Jvspin:I recently purchased a completely impractical midi controlled music machine at an estate sale. It's like a player piano but has guitar, banjo, and various percussion instruments. All the valves are pneumatic.
That's a start - you have some work to do!
Quoted from Grateful_Pin:P.S. Some one sell me a minty/restored Williams Fire! or Fire! Champagne Edition to put in my office and share pinball with my team and patients!
Really sell me one please...the themes not complete until I put one in my office. And I get to play pinball at work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not mint or restored but go get it.
pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/for-sale-fire-champagne-edit
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