What Is a Fire Skid Unit and How Do You Choose One?

A fire skid unit, also called a slip-on fire unit, is a self-contained firefighting system that sits on a frame and mounts in the bed of a pickup, brush truck or flatbed. It combines a water tank, an engine-driven pump and a hose, so a crew or a landowner can attack a fire without waiting for a full-size engine. Skid units are built for wildland, brush and farm fires, and for departments that need a low-cost first-response tool.

How does a fire skid unit work?

1.       Mount: The skid goes into the truck bed and is secured at the built-in tie-down points on the frame. The 200 to 400 gallon frames have them, and four tie-down pins come with the unit. In hill country or on rough ground, bolting the frame to the bed is the most secure option, because a full tank puts a lot of shifting weight on a side slope.

2.       Fill: Fill the tank from a hydrant or a tender, or have the pump draft from a pond or stock tank. The pump is self-priming with a 2 inch suction side. The unit comes with a 20 ft fill kit with quick disconnects and a foot strainer. If you plan to draft from a pond, ask us to confirm the suction hose when you request your quote.

3.       Start: A gas engine drives a centrifugal pump. The Enduraplas Fire Ranger and Foam Ranger use a Honda GX160 5.5 HP engine driving a pump rated up to 120 GPM and 100 PSI.

4.       Spray: Water goes through 100 ft of hose to a nozzle. The Fire Ranger reaches about 35 ft vertical and 40 ft horizontal; the Foam Ranger, about 33 ft and 36 ft.

5.       Refill and repeat: 120 GPM is the pump's maximum. Through 100 ft of 3/4 inch hose, the flow at the nozzle is closer to 15 to 20 GPM, and the Foam Ranger's foam nozzle is rated at 15 GPM. That works out to about 12 to 17 minutes of continuous spray from a 250 gallon tank and 20 to 27 minutes from a 400. The Honda engine runs about two hours on a tank of gas.

Can you put a fire skid unit on a UTV?

No. That's why we only sell truck-mounted units. A real field or wildland fire takes volume, and a UTV can't carry it. Water weighs about 8.34 lb per gallon, so a full 250 gallon tank holds roughly 2,085 lb of water before you add the weight of the unit.

Unit	Dry weight	Full of water (approx.)
Fire Ranger 250 gal	458 lb	about 2,540 lb
Foam Ranger 250 gal	493 lb	about 2,580 lb (plus foam)
Fire Ranger 400 gal	541 lb	about 3,880 lb
Foam Ranger 400 gal	576 lb	about 3,910 lb (plus foam)

Compare that with what a UTV is rated to carry. The 2026 Polaris Ranger XP 1000 has a 1,000 lb cargo box and a 1,500 lb total payload. The Can-Am Defender MAX Limited HD10 has a 1,000 lb cargo box and a 1,225 lb total payload. A full 250 gallon unit weighs roughly two and a half times what the cargo box is rated for, and the weight sits high and toward the rear, which is the worst place for axle load and rollover risk. A tank small enough for a UTV runs dry in a few minutes. That's enough for a spot fire, not enough to hold a fire line. For anything bigger, put the water on a pickup.

What size fire skid unit do you need for a brush truck or pickup?

Match the tank to your truck's payload first, then to how long you need to fight before refilling. Many buyers shop for 200, 300 or 500 gallon units. The Fire Ranger and Foam Ranger come in 250 and 400 gallon capacities, which is why checking your pickup's payload rating matters.

	250 gallon	400 gallon
Footprint (L x W x H)	80 x 47 x 38 in	102 x 46 x 45 in
Loaded weight (water only, approx.)	about 2,540 to 2,580 lb	about 3,880 to 3,910 lb
Good fit	Three-quarter-ton or one-ton pickups	One-ton dually or flatbed

 

Three sizing watch-outs

1. Size to payload, not bed length. A full 250-gallon unit weighs about 2,540 lb, so subtract crew and gear from your truck’s payload rating.
2. Plan the refill before the fire. A 250-gallon tank lasts about 12–17 minutes, so know where your next water is coming from.
3. Secure it for the ground you’ll drive. Use the tie-down points, and bolt the unit down if you’re working in steep or rough country.

 

Fire Ranger vs. Foam Ranger: which do you need?

Both use the same Honda GX160 engine, centrifugal pump, 120 GPM flow and 100 ft of hose. The difference is what comes out of the nozzle. The Fire Ranger sprays water through a Flame-Slayer nozzle with an Easy-Start engine and Power-Head pump. The Foam Ranger adds an Air-Induct nozzle and an Easy-Store foam tank, so it can lay down a foam blanket as well as spray water.

Whether to use foam is up to each department or agency. Many already have a foam program and their own concentrate. On the Foam Ranger, the concentrate goes in a 15 gallon foam tank, and you set the rate with a dial on the nozzle. The Fire Ranger is water-only, which makes it simpler. Both use the same engine and pump and cost the same, so pick the one that matches how your crew fights fire.

What are fire skid units used for?

•         Wildland and brush fires on farms, ranches and rural property

•         First response for volunteer and rural fire departments

•         Brush trucks and light tenders where a full engine isn't practical

•         Municipal and fleet use, such as parks, public works and campuses

How much does a fire skid unit cost?

Price depends mostly on tank size and whether the unit carries foam. At Valley Implement, the Enduraplas Fire Ranger and Foam Ranger run from $5,615 to $8,170 depending on size, and shipping is included in the price. These units ship as freight, so when you compare prices, check whether shipping is part of the number, because many listings add it at checkout. Departments planning next year's budget can request a no-obligation quote and have the number in hand before approval. Use the Quick Quote button on the Fire Ranger or Foam Ranger product page.

FAQ

Is a fire skid unit the same as a slip-on unit? Yes. Skid unit, slip-on unit and slip-on pump all describe a self-contained pump and tank that mounts in a truck bed.

Can I use a fire skid unit on a UTV or ATV? Not one big enough to fight a real fire. A full 250 gallon unit weighs about 2,500 lb, well over any UTV's payload, which is why we sell these units for pickups and brush trucks.

How much does a Fire Ranger weigh? The 250 gallon is 458 lb dry and the 400 gallon is 541 lb dry. Foam Ranger: 493 lb and 576 lb dry. Add about 8.34 lb per gallon of water.

What engine and pump do they use? A Honda GX160 5.5 HP engine and a centrifugal pump, 120 GPM at 100 PSI.

How long does a full tank last? At a typical nozzle flow of 15 to 20 GPM, about 12 to 17 minutes of continuous spray for the 250 gallon and 20 to 27 minutes for the 400 gallon. The engine runs about two hours on a tank of gas.

How do I secure it in a truck bed? Use the tie-down points built into the frame. In hilly or rough country, bolting the frame to the bed is the most secure option. Always check the loaded weight against your truck's payload rating.

Can it draft from a pond? Yes. The pump is self-priming and draws from a pond or tank through a suction hose and foot strainer. Keep the strainer in clean water and off the muddy bottom. If you plan to draft, ask us to confirm the suction hose on your quote.

Is shipping included? Yes. Our price includes shipping on the Fire Ranger and the Foam Ranger, so the price you see is the price delivered, with no freight added at checkout.

How do I get a quote for my department? Use the Quick Quote button on the Fire Ranger or Foam Ranger product page, or call Riley at 435-787-1586.

Author: Riley Park. Riley has worked at Valley Implement since January 2020, and before that spent most of his life irrigating crops in southeastern Idaho. For product questions or a quote, call Riley at 435-787-1586 or visit the Valley Implement store.