BME Fire Trucks for Sale

You can buy a reconditioned, service-ready used BME wildland fire truck without paying new-build prices or waiting years for it. BME, short for Boise Mobile Equipment of Boise, Idaho, has built wildland apparatus since 1990 and is now partly owned by Pierce, known for its Type 3, WUI, and Type 4 engines and its 4×4 tankers, and Fire Truck Center sells used BME and other wildland rigs that pass a 150-point inspection with a third-party NFPA pump test, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Used wildland engines and tankers generally run from around $55,000 for older units to the low-to-mid six figures for newer builds — see the wildland and brush trucks in stock now.

What are BME fire trucks known for?

BME fire trucks are known for wildland firefighting. BME stands for Boise Mobile Equipment, based in Boise, Idaho, and it has built wildland apparatus since 1990 — Type 3 and Type 4 engines, Wildland Urban Interface rigs, mini pumpers, and 4×4 tankers made to reach a fire over rough ground and get the crew home. When a department fights brush and interface fires, BME is a name it trusts.

What sets BME apart is purpose-built wildland engineering. The things to know:

• Type 3 and Type 4 engines — the workhorse wildland engines, built on heavy-duty commercial chassis with tubular bodies for strength and weight savings.
• WUI engines — Wildland Urban Interface rigs designed to fight both structural and wildland fires.
• Mini pumpers and 4×4 tankers — smaller, nimble rigs and off-road water tenders for terrain a standard truck can’t reach.
• Now partly owned by Pierce — Pierce Manufacturing took an ownership interest in BME in 2021, so the brand is backed by one of the largest fire apparatus groups in the country.

That wildland focus and rugged build are a big part of why a well-kept used BME is worth buying for a department that fights brush.

Can you buy a used BME fire truck, and what types come up?

Yes — used BME and other wildland apparatus come to market, most often as Type 3 and Type 4 engines and 4×4 tankers. Fire Truck Center sources, reconditions, and sells them, and we build our own brush trucks in-house, so you’re working with people who know wildland rigs rather than hoping a listing is sound.

Because BME builds wildland engines and tenders, that’s where the inventory fit lands. If you fight brush, browse our used wildland and brush trucks. If you need mobile water, our used tankers and tenders are worth a look. You can also see every truck we have for sale in one place.

A used BME doesn’t have to be old to be a smart buy. Plenty of wildland rigs come out of departments with low hours, because they run seasonally, so a used one can be visually close to new.

What should you know before buying a used BME?

Before buying a used BME, know that these are purpose-built wildland rigs — Type 3, Type 4, WUI, and 4×4 tankers — built for rough terrain, and that BME is now backed by Pierce for parts and service. The work on your end is matching the rig to how and where your department fights fire.

A used BME tends to share a few strengths worth knowing:

• The reliability is in the build. BME builds tubular-body wildland engines on heavy-duty chassis for off-road use. A maintained BME has plenty of service life left in it.
• Parts and service are backed by Pierce. Since Pierce took an ownership interest in BME in 2021, parts sourcing and support run through a large national network, which matters on an older wildland rig.
• They hold their value. Good wildland apparatus is in demand, especially heading into fire season, so a used BME is a solid buy, still a fraction of new.

On configuration, match the rig to your department:

• Type 3 versus Type 4. A Type 3 is a mobile wildland engine with a larger pump and tank; a Type 4 carries more water at lower pump pressure. Pick based on your terrain and water strategy.
• WUI versus straight wildland. A Wildland Urban Interface engine handles both structural and brush fires; a straight wildland rig is lighter and more focused.
• Tanker and tender needs. For areas without hydrants, a 4×4 tanker keeps water moving to the fire.

Get the type, tank size, and drivetrain right, and a used BME will serve on the fireline for years.

What should you check when buying a used BME?

On a used BME, check the frame and structure first, then the pump, the water tank and plumbing, and the 4×4 drivetrain — a wildland rig works hard off-road, so the chassis and running gear take more punishment than a truck that stays on pavement. The frame and the pump are what cost the most to get wrong.

Here’s how our founder frames the priority, from years of buying, building, and reconditioning these trucks:

“Structural integrity — making sure the frame is in solid condition with no problems. Checking the motor for leaks and performance, the transmission, and all the other electrical components.”

Work through the truck in this order:

1. Frame and structure. The chassis and tubular body checked for cracks, corrosion, and repair history. This is the make-or-break check on any used apparatus.
2. Pump. An NFPA pump test — no leaks, holds vacuum, flows its rated GPM, including any auxiliary or pump-and-roll setup.
3. Water tank and plumbing. The tank, valves, hose reels, and plumbing checked for leaks and corrosion.
4. 4×4 drivetrain and off-road wear. Transfer case, axles, suspension, tires, and undercarriage checked for the extra wear wildland service puts on them.
5. Engine, electrical, and miles. Motor, transmission, and wiring, with our guideline of roughly 100,000 miles and 10,000 hours as an upper bound.

Every used wildland rig we sell goes through our 150-point inspection and gets its pump test from a third party before it leaves the lot, so you get documented proof on each of these points rather than a promise.

How much does a used BME fire truck cost?

A used BME costs a fraction of a new one, with price driven mostly by type, age, and configuration. Used wildland engines and tankers span a range — older units can land near $55,000, while newer builds run into the low-to-mid six figures. For a full breakdown by truck type, see what used fire trucks actually cost.

BME apparatus type	Typical used price range	Notes
Wildland engine (Type 3, Type 4, WUI)	$55,000 – $200,000	Priced on chassis, pump, tank, and hours
Mini pumper / brush truck	$55,000 – $150,000	Lighter, nimble rigs for rough terrain
4×4 tanker / tender	$50,000 – $300,000+	Priced largely on water capacity

These are Fire Truck Center’s general used ranges by apparatus type, not BME-specific quotes — every truck is priced individually.

The comparison that matters is used versus new. A new wildland engine now runs into six figures with a build queue, and demand spikes every fire season. A reconditioned BME can be in service in a matter of weeks, right when you need it. You’re saving real money and months of waiting, on a rig built for the fireline.

Financing is available through lenders that specialize in emergency vehicles, so the up-front number doesn’t have to be the whole story for a department on a tight budget.

Why buy your used BME from Fire Truck Center?

Because every truck is reconditioned and put through a 150-point inspection with a third-party NFPA pump test, then backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and nationwide delivery. That combination is rare in used apparatus, and it’s built to answer the one fear every buyer has: getting a lemon.

With wildland rigs, we also know the trucks from the inside — Fire Truck Center builds its own brush trucks, so we know what hard off-road service does to a chassis, a pump, and a tank, and where to look on a used one.

The 30-day satisfaction guarantee is the part almost nobody else offers. If the truck isn’t right, you return it within 30 days for a full refund, for any reason. Fire Truck Center pays the return freight, and the truck comes back in the same condition it went out. Thirty days is enough to confirm a used fire truck is mechanically sound.

Delivery is handled the same way — carefully. We drive or ship depending on the rig and the distance, and most buyers come out to our Levittown, PA facility to inspect the truck in person first, then we deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns BME, and where are BME fire trucks built?

BME (Boise Mobile Equipment) builds its wildland fire trucks in Boise, Idaho, and Pierce Manufacturing took an ownership interest in the company in 2021. BME has built apparatus since 1990 and specializes in wildland rigs. That Pierce backing is part of why parts and service support stay available for older BME trucks.

What’s the difference between a Type 3 and Type 4 BME engine?

A BME Type 3 is a mobile wildland engine with a larger pump and a moderate water tank, while a Type 4 carries more water at a lower pump pressure. Both are built for off-road wildland use on heavy-duty chassis. The right one depends on your terrain, your water supply, and how your crew attacks a fire.

How many miles or hours are too many on a used BME?

As a general guideline, we look for used trucks under about 100,000 miles and 10,000 engine hours. Many wildland rigs come in well under that, because they run seasonally rather than year-round. Documented maintenance and a clean inspection matter more than the raw numbers.

Does a used BME come pump-tested?

A used BME from Fire Truck Center comes with a current third-party NFPA pump test. The test is performed by an independent testing company, so you have documented proof the pump flows its rated capacity and holds vacuum. We won’t deliver a wildland engine without confirming the pump.

Can you deliver a BME to our department?

Yes — Fire Truck Center delivers nationwide, and we’ve sent trucks to nearly every state in the lower 48. Depending on the rig and the distance, we drive it or ship it. Most departments inspect the truck in person at our facility first, then we handle delivery.