2010 Ford Escape Multi-use/SRO Marked Units

[cajunblitz]

Built a pair of these 2010 Ford Escapes for one of my regular customers. Most of the equipment was provided (mainly Whelen) by the department, I supplied the rest. I had to customize a Crown Vic housing and a pair of mounting brackets for the Interior Pinnacle Light Bar to fit the Escape since one isn't offered. Again, no consoles or inserts were desired, so I used a stealth light/siren controller. Enjoy!


FRONT


Whelen Vertex in driving/fog lamps (blue)


Whelen UHF2150A W/W Flasher on headlamps


Whelen SA315 speaker


SoundOff Pinnacle Interior Light Bar (Crown Vic housing and brackets modified to fit the Escape)


Unitrol UM3500 Lights / Siren controller & Air Horn switch custom mounted in console


(the radio/radio head and graphics package were installed by another party)


REAR


Whelen D2 Dominators in rear side glass


Whelen D6 Dominator in rear hatch glass


Whelen Vertex in reverse housing (blue)


Whelen Vertex in tail (red)


Unitrol Omega 90 Siren amplifier


Kussmaul Relay Control Board

 

[Fast LT1]

Man your installs make me wish i still lived in Jefferson Parish so i could get to see some of these sweet vehicles you put together, fly down the free way! As always nice job!

 

[TheZach]

Really nice lighting... I just think it needs more on the side

 

[EVT]

Looks good. I was surprised to see no switch box. I don't know what they would want these as squads, I drove them at the University I used to work at and threw the tranny in one at 15k miles.

 

[cajunblitz]

Man your installs make me wish i still lived in Jefferson Parish so i could get to see some of these sweet vehicles you put together, fly down the free way! As always nice job!

Thanks! I'm told it's worth the 2 hour drive each way for this agency to get their units done by me. They're very happy with the work!

Really nice lighting... I just think it needs more on the side

Thanks! I agree about side warning, but can only work with what I'm given or allowed to install.....sometimes there just isn't anything left in the budget for more (see no consoles remark).

 

[fp13-2]

What about the Slim-Miser on the dash?

 

[cajunblitz]

What about the Slim-Miser on the dash?

That's what the officer was using before I built the trucks......they were in service as marked SRO units until I could get to them to do the build. It's gone now.

 

[jonny521]

very nice cajun looks very good. :geek:

 

[pdk9]

good stuff cajun. bout how long did these take u to build?

 

[07GD SFD]

Thanks! I'm told it's worth the 2 hour drive each way for this agency to get their units done by me. They're very happy with the work!

Hell if I had the scratch, and a couple of rigs to outfit, I'd ship them from VT down to you to have the work done!

 

[Luismariadarlene]

Nice install

 

[cajunblitz]

good stuff cajun. bout how long did these take u to build?

Thanks! I like to take my time with my installs, so these took 3 1/2 days each.

 

[DFD382]

The video's of the sound off pinnacle look very bright...How are they inperson and how is the install on them thinking of getting one if it is worth it ....

 

[WNYEVS]

Wow!


This right here (as well as the other ones you have done) are going to be hung up as motivational posters in my garage!


Can I come down and provide you with a source of free labor?!?!?

 

[medicandy]

Another great job. Looks great as always.

 

[LLS]

I know that they provided the equipment, but don't you think they should have had a console of some sort built. The controllers look like their in awkward places.

 

[cajunblitz]

I know that they provided the equipment, but don't you think they should have had a console of some sort built. The controllers look like their in awkward places.

I didn't mount the radio head.


Consoles or console inserts would have been a better choice, but they didn't want to remove or modify the factory consoles to oblivion, so there you have what I did. The knob and A/H button may appear to be in an awkward spot, but if you sit in the car with your arm on the armrest, your hand falls naturally right over the controls. Not any more awkward than reaching for a soda in the cupholders.


Also, once the siren is active, horn ring is tied in to the car so changing tones doesn't require switching the knob. Best of all, the controls are in a place where they're semi-protected from accidental activation and/or damage.


The customer loves them.

 

[VolEms]

Nice work. I guess its always what the customer wants . Interesting that they didnt want a console in a marked PD Vehicle. In ny most POV installs for EMS dont want a console. Like this one.

 

[cajunblitz]

Nice work. I guess its always what the customer wants . Interesting that they didnt want a console in a marked PD Vehicle. In ny most POV installs for EMS dont want a console. Like this one.

Thanks! Not wanting the console was a budget argument between the new Chief (didn't want it) and the Fleet Manager (wanted it).....you can guess who won.

 

[ostat]

I am impressed, the escape looks very good. I put together an escape for a rescue squad captain the first year they where produced. I wish I had pics, it is still in service so maybe I can get some. The only thing I remember for sure was that if I ever had to install hideaways again, in that model, I would like to push it out in front of a truck running 90mph.

 

[Fast LT1]

If i get this job i'm trying for, Next time i plan on coming down for vacation i will contact in advance to get you to do an install on my car! Bet its pricey but i'd be willing to pay cause your work is probably the best i've ever seen!

 

[VolEms]

I think making a costom switch box is more time consuming and when some installers charge $95hr it can be much more expensive then a console. I prefer consoles . They look neat and everything is easy to reach. In NY ppl want a custom job with no console, and all switches hidden if possible.

 

[grantnet10]

Question... How did you mount the arrow stick. Did you mount it to the child seat anchors or did you drill a new screw holes? Doesn't seem there is alot of metal to drill into, without going into the gutter or roof. I have a 2010 Escape and am mounting a Whelen Dominator 8 head.

 

[cajunblitz]

Question... How did you mount the arrow stick. Did you mount it to the child seat anchors or did you drill a new screw holes? Doesn't seem there is alot of metal to drill into, without going into the gutter or roof. I have a 2010 Escape and am mounting a Whelen Dominator 8 head.

The Dominator is mounted to the hatch itself, and not the truck. I use modified Whelen Tahoe Dominator brackets to get the stick in the position I want it. the cable is run through the hatch boot into the truck.


With most of my SUV installs, I always try to mount the stick to the hatch, and not the truck sill itself, so when the hatch is raised while the lights are active, the operator is not blinded and does not hit their heads on a low hanging fixture.

 

[grantnet10]

The Dominator is mounted to the hatch itself, and not the truck. I use modified Whelen Tahoe Dominator brackets to get the stick in the position I want it. the cable is run through the hatch boot into the truck.

With most of my SUV installs, I always try to mount the stick to the hatch, and not the truck sill itself, so when the hatch is raised while the lights are active, the operator is not blinded and does not hit their heads on a low hanging fixture.

I think the wire is too big, along with the camera, and hatch lighting wires that run through the existing boot. ok, I'll play with it some more. Thanks for the advice.

 

[cajunblitz]

I think the wire is too big, along with the camera, and hatch lighting wires that run through the existing boot. ok, I'll play with it some more. Thanks for the advice.

You'd be surprised what you could feed through that factory boot with a little wire lube and some determination. Mix up a little liquid hand soap with water in a spray bottle, and mist some of that into the factory boot at one end to allow some slippage inside the boot.


I like to insert a plastic panel pry tool into the boot to "spread" its diameter, and then feed whatever cables/wires I need through it. I have both ends disconnected from the truck to do it. Once I get my wires/cables routed through into the truck, I press the boot back together and back in place on the hatch and truck. Good luck!

 

[crescentstar69]

Looks good. I was surprised to see no switch box. I don't know what they would want these as squads, I drove them at the University I used to work at and threw the tranny in one at 15k miles.

You shouldn't throw trannys, that's discrimination.....................

 

[tsquale]

Wow. Very impressive install! Kudos man!