KME Fire Trucks for Sale

You can buy a reconditioned, service-ready used KME fire truck without paying new-build prices or waiting years for it. KME, short for Kovatch Mobile Equipment, is a Pennsylvania builder founded in 1946 and known for heavy-duty, severe-service apparatus, now a REV Group brand, and Fire Truck Center sells used KME pumpers, aerials, and rescues that pass a 150-point inspection with third-party NFPA pump tests and aerial certification, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Used KME pumpers and aerials generally run from around $45,000 for older units to the mid-six figures for newer custom rigs — see the pumpers and aerials in stock now.

What are KME fire trucks known for?

KME fire trucks are known for heavy-duty, severe-service apparatus built to take hard use. KME stands for Kovatch Mobile Equipment, founded in 1946 by John “Sonny” Kovatch, Jr. in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, and the company has built more than 10,000 vehicles across fire, aviation, military, and industrial work. When a department wants a rugged truck built for demanding service, KME earned that reputation.

What sets KME apart is severe-service engineering on its own chassis. The names to know:

• Custom chassis — the Predator and Panther, KME’s own fire-service cabs and chassis.
• Commercial-chassis builds — KME also builds on Mack, Ford, Pierce, International, and Kenworth chassis.
• A broad line — custom pumpers, aerials, rescues, and specialty apparatus, including aviation and industrial rigs.
• A REV Group brand — KME is now part of the REV Group, one of the largest fire apparatus groups in the country.

That severe-service build is a big part of why a well-kept used KME is worth buying: these trucks were made to hold up.

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

Yes — used KME apparatus comes to market, most often as pumpers, with aerials and rescues showing up too. Fire Truck Center sources, reconditions, and sells them, so you’re not left hunting auction listings and hoping a truck is sound.

Because KME built so many pumpers, that’s where most used demand lands. If you need pumping capacity, browse the used pumpers we have in stock. If you’re after reach, our used aerial and quint inventory is where the KME ladders land. You can also see every truck we have for sale in one place.

A used KME doesn’t have to be old to be a smart buy. Plenty of pumpers and aerials come out of departments as reserve or second-line trucks — low hours, well maintained, and visually close to new.

What should you know before buying a used KME?

Before buying a used KME, know that the trucks are built severe-service tough, and that one thing has changed on the parts side: REV Group closed KME’s Nesquehoning plant in 2022 and now supports the brand through its national network. That doesn’t make a used KME a bad buy — it makes confirming parts lead times part of doing your homework.

A used KME tends to share a few traits worth knowing:

• The reliability is in the build. KME built severe-service apparatus for fire, aviation, and military use, on its own Predator and Panther chassis. A maintained KME has plenty of service life left in it.
• Parts and service run through REV Group now. Since the Nesquehoning plant closed in 2022, KME-branded production and support shifted to other REV Group facilities. Common mechanical and pump parts are rarely an issue, but confirm lead times on any chassis-specific KME parts before you commit.
• They hold their value. KME is one of the major apparatus brands that holds value well for parts and reliability, and a heavy-duty used KME is still a fraction of new.

On configuration, match the truck to your department:

• Pumper, aerial, or rescue. KME built all three, plus specialty rigs. A custom-chassis pumper carries more capability; a rescue is built around compartment space.
• Custom versus commercial chassis. A custom KME cab (Predator, Panther) is purpose-built and carries more electronics; a commercial-chassis KME is simpler and cheaper to maintain.
• Spec fit. Match pump capacity, tank size, and aerial reach to your department’s run card.

Get the truck type, chassis, and parts picture right, and a used KME will serve for years.

What should you check when buying a used KME?

On a used KME, check the frame and structure first, then the pump, the aerial certification if it’s an aerial or quint, and the electrical components — a severe-service truck has worked hard, so the wear history matters. 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 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 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 (KME pumpers commonly run 1,250 to 2,000 GPM).
3. Aerial certification. If it’s an aerial or quint, a current third-party aerial test to NFPA standards confirms the ladder is safe to operate.
4. Electrical and components. Wiring, warning lights, and controls checked, with any fault codes explained.
5. Drivetrain and miles. Engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension, with our guideline of roughly 100,000 miles and 10,000 hours as an upper bound.

Every used KME we sell goes through our 150-point inspection and gets its pump test and aerial certification 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 KME fire truck cost?

A used KME costs a fraction of a new one, with price driven mostly by apparatus type, age, and chassis. Used pumpers and aerials span a wide range — older units can land near $45,000, while newer custom rigs run into the mid-six figures. For a full breakdown by truck type, see what used fire trucks actually cost.

KME apparatus type	Typical used price range	Notes
Pumper / engine (Predator, Panther)	$45,000 – $350,000+	Custom-chassis rigs sit higher than commercial-chassis pumpers
Aerial / quint	$20,000 – $500,000+	Priced on reach, age, and hours; older units are a top value
Rescue / heavy rescue	$70,000 – $175,000	Depends on body and compartment build

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

The comparison that matters is used versus new. A new custom pumper now runs well into six figures, and a new aerial past a million, with build queues stretching two to four years. A reconditioned KME can be in service in a matter of weeks. You’re saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of waiting, on a heavy-duty truck that’s already proven itself.

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 KME from Fire Truck Center?

Because every truck is reconditioned and put through a 150-point inspection with third-party NFPA pump and aerial certification, 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 KME specifically, we also give you a straight answer on parts. Because the Nesquehoning plant closed in 2022 and support moved to the REV Group network, we help you confirm what’s available before you buy, rather than after.

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. Aerials and larger units are usually driven to your department rather than hauled, which protects the truck and often saves money. Most buyers come out to our Levittown, PA facility to inspect the truck in person first, then we deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is KME still in business, and who owns it?

KME (Kovatch Mobile Equipment) is a brand of the REV Group, which acquired the company and in 2022 closed KME’s original Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania plant, shifting KME-branded production to other REV Group facilities. So the brand lives on within REV Group, though its standalone factory has closed. For a used buyer, what matters is that parts and service now run through REV Group’s network.

Can you still get parts for a used KME?

Yes, parts for a used KME are generally still available through the REV Group network that now supports the brand. Common mechanical, pump, and drivetrain parts are rarely a problem, since many are shared across manufacturers. It’s worth confirming lead times on any KME chassis-specific parts before you buy, which is something we help with.

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

As a general guideline, we look for used trucks under about 100,000 miles and 10,000 engine hours. Many reserve and second-line KME pumpers come in well under that, because they saw light duty in their first life. Documented maintenance and a clean inspection matter more than the raw numbers.

Does a used KME come NFPA-certified?

A used KME from Fire Truck Center comes with a current third-party pump test and, on an aerial, an aerial certification to NFPA standards. Both tests are performed by an independent testing company, so you have documented proof the pump and aerial are safe to put in service. We won’t deliver an aerial without it.

Can you deliver a KME to our department?

Yes — Fire Truck Center delivers nationwide, and we’ve sent trucks to nearly every state in the lower 48. Aerials and larger units are usually driven to your department rather than shipped on a carrier, which protects the truck and often costs less. Most departments inspect the truck in person at our facility first, then we handle delivery.