Seagrave Fire Trucks for Sale

You can buy a reconditioned, service-ready used Seagrave fire truck without paying new-build prices or waiting years for it. Seagrave is the oldest fire apparatus manufacturer in the United States, founded in 1881 and built today by FWD Seagrave in Clintonville, Wisconsin, known for building its own heavy-duty chassis and aerials, and Fire Truck Center sells used Seagrave pumpers, aerials, and quints that pass a 150-point inspection with third-party NFPA pump tests and aerial certification, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Used Seagrave 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 Seagrave fire trucks known for?

Seagrave fire trucks are known for being the oldest name in American fire apparatus, built heavy-duty and to last. Seagrave was founded by Frederic Seagrave in Detroit in 1881, which makes it the oldest fire apparatus manufacturer in the United States. The company moved to Columbus, Ohio, then in 1963 was bought by FWD, the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, and moved all operations to Clintonville, Wisconsin, where FWD Seagrave still builds today.

What sets Seagrave apart is that it engineers and builds its own chassis and its own aerials, rather than sourcing them. The names to know:

• Marauder chassis — Seagrave’s own heavy-duty custom cab and chassis.
• Aerials — Seagrave builds its own aerial ladders, rear- and mid-mount platforms, the Aerialscope, and tractor-drawn aerials (the classic tiller trucks).
• A full line — custom and commercial pumpers, pumper-tankers, rescue pumpers, heavy rescues, and aerial quints.
• Heritage buyers — Seagrave has long been a choice of large career departments that run trucks hard for decades.

That heavy-duty build and long service life are a big part of why a well-kept used Seagrave is worth buying.

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

Yes — used Seagrave apparatus comes to market, most often as pumpers and aerials, with quints and tractor-drawn aerials 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.

Seagrave’s aerials are its signature, so that’s often where used demand lands. If you’re after reach, browse our used aerial and quint inventory for the Seagrave ladders, platforms, and tillers. If you need pumping capacity, the used pumpers we have in stock are worth a look. You can also see every truck we have for sale in one place.

A used Seagrave 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 Seagrave?

Before buying a used Seagrave, know that the trucks are built heavy-duty for a long service life, that Seagrave builds its own chassis and aerials, and that parts and resale value hold up because FWD Seagrave is still operating. The work on your end is matching the configuration to your department.

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

• The reliability is in the build. Seagrave engineers and builds its own chassis and aerials for heavy-duty, decades-long service. A maintained Seagrave has plenty of life left in it.
• Parts and service stay available. FWD Seagrave is still building in Clintonville, Wisconsin, so parts sourcing and service support for older trucks are steadier than with brands that have shut down or changed hands.
• They hold their value. As the oldest name in the business, Seagrave is one of the major apparatus brands that holds value well for parts and reliability, so a used Seagrave is a solid buy, still a fraction of new.

On configuration, match the truck to your department:

• Pumper, aerial, or quint. Seagrave builds all three, plus tractor-drawn aerials. A quint carries a pump, tank, and aerial on one truck; a straight aerial maximizes the ladder.
• Custom versus commercial chassis. A custom Seagrave Marauder is purpose-built and carries more capability; a commercial-chassis Seagrave is simpler and cheaper to maintain.
• Aerial style and reach. Seagrave offers rear-mount and mid-mount platforms, straight ladders, and tractor-drawn aerials — pick based on your buildings and how you deploy.

Get the truck type, chassis, and aerial style right, and a used Seagrave will fit your run card for years.

What should you check when buying a used Seagrave?

On a used Seagrave, check the frame and structure first, then the pump, and the aerial certification if it’s an aerial or quint — the aerial is the one system that separates it from every other truck, and on a tractor-drawn aerial you also check the tiller and trailer. The frame and the aerial are what cost the most to get wrong.

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

“Aerials have a very complex mechanism mounted on top that needs to be very carefully inspected — no cracks in the system, the turntable, the pedestal, the whole ladder system. Making sure the ladder is structurally and functionally solid is the biggest part.”

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 (Seagrave pumpers commonly run 1,250 to 2,000 GPM).
3. Aerial certification. A current third-party aerial test to NFPA standards on the turntable, pedestal, and ladder; on a tractor-drawn aerial, the tiller position and trailer connection too.
4. Drivetrain and components. Engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and electrical checked for wear and repairs.
5. Miles and hours. Our guideline is roughly 100,000 miles and 10,000 hours as an upper bound, and many reserve trucks come in far under that.

Every used Seagrave 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 Seagrave fire truck cost?

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

Seagrave apparatus type	Typical used price range	Notes
Pumper / engine (Marauder)	$45,000 – $350,000+	Custom-chassis rigs sit higher than commercial-chassis pumpers
Aerial / quint / TDA	$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 Seagrave-specific quotes — every truck is priced individually.

The comparison that matters is used versus new. A new custom Seagrave pumper now runs well into six figures, and a new aerial past a million, with build queues stretching two to four years. A reconditioned Seagrave can be in service in a matter of weeks. You’re saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of waiting, on the oldest name in the business.

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 Seagrave 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.

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 tractor-drawn units are usually driven to your department rather than hauled, which protects the truck and often saves money on a big rig. Most buyers come out to our Levittown, PA facility to inspect the truck in person first, then we deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seagrave the oldest fire truck maker, and who owns it?

Yes, Seagrave is the oldest fire apparatus manufacturer in the United States, founded in 1881, and it’s owned by FWD and builds as FWD Seagrave in Clintonville, Wisconsin. FWD, the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, bought Seagrave in 1963 and moved production to Clintonville, where the company still operates. That continuity is part of why parts and service stay available for older Seagrave trucks.

What is a Seagrave Aerialscope or tractor-drawn aerial?

A Seagrave Aerialscope is a telescoping aerial platform, and a tractor-drawn aerial (TDA) is a tiller truck — a long ladder trailer steered at the rear by a second firefighter. Seagrave builds both, along with rear- and mid-mount platforms and straight aerial ladders. The right one depends on your buildings, your streets, and how your department deploys aerials.

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

As a general guideline, we look for used trucks under about 100,000 miles and 10,000 engine hours. Many reserve and second-line Seagrave trucks 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 Seagrave come NFPA-certified?

A used Seagrave from Fire Truck Center comes with a current third-party pump test and, on an aerial or quint, 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 Seagrave to our department?

Yes — Fire Truck Center delivers nationwide, and we’ve sent trucks to nearly every state in the lower 48. Aerials and tractor-drawn 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.