The Most Overrated Gear in Upfitting
The Most Overrated Gear in Upfitting(and What Actually Matters)
Introduction
In the world of emergency vehicle upfitting gear, it’s easy to get caught up in the “bigger, flashier, louder” arms race. We’ve all seen patrol cars and fire trucks decked out like Christmas trees – oversized lightbars stretching across the roof, sirens cycling through a dozen wail tones, and enough screens to rival a Best Buy display wall. It looks impressive (and certainly turns heads at the fleet expo), but here’s the million-dollar question: does all that cool-looking gear actually help responders do their jobs better? Often, the answer is no. Too many agencies burn through budget on law enforcement vehicle equipment that wins style points but adds little to performance or safety. Meanwhile, truly useful upgrades – the kind that boost visibility, officer safety, electrical efficiency, and easy repair – can be overlooked because they’re not as glamorous.
In this Drawing Board installment, we’re taking an informed look at public safety upfitting across law enforcement, fire, and EMS. It’s time to call out the most overrated, overhyped gear that too often finds its way into police cruisers, fire engines, and ambulances – and highlight upfit gear that actually matters when lives are on the line. Whether you’re a police fleet manager, fire chief, EMS director, or the upfitter tasked with turning wrenches, the message is the same: function should drive form, not the other way around. Let’s break down the gear you think you need versus the gear you really need.
(And yes, we’ll be tossing in some best practices and SEO-friendly tidbits along the way – consider it our siren song to the search engine gods, covering everything from “police fleet gear priorities” to “public safety vehicle lighting best practices.”)
Overrated Upfitting Gear (Stop Wasting Your Budget!)
First, let’s shine a light on some commonly overrated gear in police, fire, and EMS vehicles. These are the gadgets and addons that sound great in theory or look “tacti-cool” in the brochure, but often don’t justify their cost or complexity in the real world. If you’re guilty of loving one of these, don’t worry – we’re here to help you see the light (pun intended).
Oversized Lightbars – All Flash, Little Benefit: Bigger is not always better when it comes to emergency lights. Those giant rooftop lightbars that hang over the sides of the vehicle might make your cruiser visible from space, but they also add weight and wind drag without a proportional gain in safety. In fact, modern LED lightbars can be made ultra-thin specifically to reduce wind resistance (by ~8-10%). An “oversized” lightbar often just means oversized drag on your fuel economy and more stress on mounts – not to mention a higher chance of your vehicle looking like a UFO.
Reality check: A well-designed, low-profile lightbar (or a couple of smaller light heads placed smartly) can provide SAE Class 1 warning output without turning your unit into a sail. Focus on the quality and placement of lights, not the sheer size. If a full-length bar isn’t necessary for your fleet type (say, a compact fire chief SUV or a campus police car), a mini lightbar or even slick top interior lights might suffice. Remember, effective public safety vehicle lighting best practices are about being seen enough, not blinding everyone (more on that in a moment).
Excessive Siren Tones – The Noise Pollution Arms Race: Yes, sirens are critical – nobody is denying that distinctive wail and yelp save lives by clearing traffic. But do we really need eight different siren tones and a sound that could summon whales from the Atlantic? Some vehicles come with a smorgasbord of siren options (wail, yelp, hi-lo, phaser, air horn, Rumbler low-frequency rattle, you name it). The theory is that cycling through multiple sounds will get attention faster. The reality? “Siren overload” can backfire. Studies have shown that sirens often confuse people and add stress – at busy urban intersections they might only be audible 25-40 feet away, and it’s hard for drivers to even tell where the sound is coming from. More tones don’t necessarily equal more safety; they can just create a chaotic cacophony. In fact, excessive siren noise has been linked to hearing damage for responders and increased driver disorientation, leading to more accidents.
Instead of adding every sci-fi sound effect, agencies should prioritize proper siren use and strategic sound choices. One strong primary tone (wail) and a secondary (yelp) for close-in attention bursts, plus a low-frequency rumble for penetrating those soundproofed SUVs, will cover 99% of scenarios. Anything beyond that is probably just hurting eardrums (or setting off every dog in a three-mile radius). As with all gear, tactical vehicle design principles apply: use only what you need, when you need it – and give everyone’s ears a break.
Outdated Heavy Cages & Partitions – Prison Transport, Not Medieval Dungeon: Police vehicle partitions (a.k.a. cages) are essential for officer safety when transporting a suspect – no argument there. But the old-school cages made of heavy steel bars and sheet metal? Those are overrated relics. They tend to be extremely heavy (adding to vehicle weight and fuel use) and often cramped or poorly designed, hindering seat adjustment or even airbag deployment in some cases. Modern partition systems have come a long way: they use lightweight but strong materials to meet “simultaneously lightweight and heavy-duty” requirements, avoiding excessive weight that could push a vehicle over its GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating). Older cage designs also didn’t prioritize officer or prisoner comfort – sharp edges, hard-to-clean surfaces, and zero consideration for emergency egress. Today’s best partitions include features like removable access panels to safely extricate a prisoner after a crash (an emergency exit in the partition – something you’ll be glad to have if a collision jams the doors). If your fleet is still using 20-year-old partition designs, you’re missing out on safety and ergonomic improvements. An “overrated” cage is basically one that hasn’t caught up with the times: it might look “secure” but it could be unnecessarily bulky, difficult to sanitize (think bodily fluids… yuck), and even a hazard in a rollover.
What actually matters: prisoner transport systems that maximize safety and officer space, with smart use of materials (e.g. polycarbonate windows, coated surfaces for easy clean-up, and contoured shapes that let seats slide back). In short, don’t cling to the cage of the past – upgrade to partitions that are tough without turning your cabin into a cramped iron maiden.
Blinding White Floodlights (No Beam Control) – Turning Night into Day… for Everyone: Few things are as overrated (and potentially dangerous) as slapping ultra-bright white flood lights on a vehicle without regard to aim or control. We’re talking those LED scene lights or auxiliary floods that some folks install thinking “the brighter the better.” The result? An emergency vehicle that nukes the scene with light and blinds everyone in the vicinity – including oncoming drivers and sometimes the responders themselves due to reflective glare. It turns out that too much unfocused light is not just overkill, it’s a hazard. Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of on-duty deaths for police and fire, and often it’s secondary crashes caused by distracted or blinded drivers. One study noted that a driver “squinting through the glare of lights fails to see an emergency worker before it’s too late” – poorly managed lighting can contribute to the very collisions it’s meant to prevent. In other words, lighting up the night like a football stadium isn’t always the answer. What’s overrated is the raw lumens; what’s underrated is controlling those lumens. Modern scene lighting doctrine (and NFPA standards for fire apparatus) emphasize directed lighting – illuminating the work area without causing disabling glare beyond it. A blinding white flood with no diffusers, no angle adjustment, and no dimming capability is just a recipe for flash blindness.
So skip the cheap light bar that boasts “as bright as the sun!” and invest in smart scene lights – ones with flood/spot combos, optics that focus light where needed, and multi-mode settings (e.g. a low-power setting for close work, high-power for long range). Your nighttime incident scenes (and every driver on the road) will thank you. Smarter, not just brighter is the mantra here.
Unnecessary Touchscreen Stacks – The Car is Not a Tesla Showroom: Touchscreens are everywhere – we can’t escape ’em. And yes, a well-placed touchscreen MDT (mobile data terminal) or a single integrated touch control panel can consolidate a lot of functions. But let’s talk about the trend of cramming multiple touchscreens into a vehicle (“stacking” tablets, GPS, camera monitors, etc.) or using touch controls for everything. This is often sold as futuristic and cool – the cop car of tomorrow, with a big shiny interface for every system. The reality in the field? Touchscreen overload = distracted driving. Unlike physical switches you can feel without looking, a flat touchscreen demands eyes on it to find the right icon. In fact, studies show drivers can spend an average of 40 seconds looking at a screen just to perform basic tasks; at 25 mph that means traveling nearly five football fields with eyes off the road. Yikes. That level of distraction is dangerous for anyone, let alone an officer running code. No wonder safety experts have started pushing back – starting in 2026, European regulators will require physical buttons for key functions (wipers, lights, horn, etc.) to curb touchscreen distraction. The lesson: a dash full of iPad-style controls is not the pinnacle of design – it can actually be a step backward for usability.
This isn’t to say touchscreens are evil; rather, using them wisely is what matters. One well-placed screen for complex data (database queries, mapping, video) is fine. But critical controls like emergency lights, siren activation, and radio PTT still need dedicated buttons or knobs that an officer can find by feel. And if you do have multiple screens (say, an ambulance with a patient care monitor and a navigation tablet), consider how they’re mounted. Stacking screens like a Leaning Tower of Pizza Boxes in the center console is a great way to block your view and create confusion. Overrated = bragging about having five touch displays in one vehicle. What actually matters = an intuitive, eyes-up layout where the officer/medic can operate what they need with minimal glances. Sometimes “old school” tactile buttons beat fancy touch UI when seconds count.
Redundant Switch Panels – The “Christmas Tree” Control Console: On the flip side of the touchscreen issue, we have the classic approach to upfitting: every new gadget gets its own switch, slapped wherever there’s space, until the vehicle looks like a 747 cockpit. We’ve seen patrol cars with a jungle of identical toggle switches for lights and sirens, plus extra switch boxes tacked on over time. The result? Switch overload. The officer is confronted with a dizzying array of unlabeled or look-alike switches under stress – a recipe for error. It’s not just a theoretical problem; a cluttered console forces officers to play “find the right button” when adrenaline is high, which “slows response times and increases stress”. When every second counts, no one wants to be flipping the wrong switch (imagine fumbling through six identical rockers to find the siren while a suspect is fleeing – not good). Redundant, poorly planned switch systems are overrated because they represent a failure of design. Often it happens incrementally – add a new light here, a new radio there, each with its own control – but the end result is chaos. Modern integrated controllers make this old-school switchboard approach obsolete (we’ll talk about those in the “what matters” section). If your upfit looks like it belongs on a 1980s spacecraft, with rows of toggles and breaker switches everywhere, it’s time to declutter.
The goal is integration: tie functions together into a single control pad or a few smart switches. Fewer, smarter controls reduce training time and muscle-memory mistakes. So, to sum up: an array of redundant switches might impress the uninitiated “Ooh, look at all these buttons!” – but in practice it’s one of the worst things you can do to a driver’s ergonomics and efficiency. Simplify, simplify, simplify – your officers will thank you when they’re not accidentally hitting the PA siren instead of the air horn.
That covers our hall of fame (or shame) for overrated gear in upfitting. Now that we’ve ranted about what not to do, let’s flip the script and highlight the gear and practices that truly deliver value on the street. The following are upgrades that might not always get the spotlight, but they pay off in performance, safety, and reliability. If you’re prioritizing your police fleet gear priorities or making a fire truck upfit must-haves list, these are the items that deserve a top spot.
The Gear That Actually Matters (Function Over Flash)
So what should you focus on when outfitting a law enforcement vehicle, fire apparatus, or EMS unit? Below we list some unsung heroes of upfitting – the features and equipment that might not have the same “wow” factor to the public, but will definitely earn the appreciation of your officers, firefighters, and medics (and your fleet maintenance folks too). Consider this the “upfit gear that actually matters” list:
Rear Scene Lighting – Don’t Get Caught in the Dark: Emergency responders do a ton of work behind their vehicles – whether it’s a traffic stop on a highway shoulder, extricating patients behind an ambulance, or unloading gear from a fire truck at night. Rear-facing scene lights are incredibly valuable, yet often overlooked in favor of front flashy lights. Proper rear scene lighting ensures the area around the back of your vehicle is illuminated so you can work safely and so passing drivers see you (and, ideally, don’t hit you). In fact, fire apparatus standards recognize this: NFPA requires scene lights that illuminate the ground at least 10 feet behind the vehicle and around any step-off points. That’s because crews climbing out need to see where they’re stepping, and motorists need to spot the apparatus from behind. For police, rear scene lighting might mean having integrated white LEDs on the back of the lightbar or liftgate that can switch on steady-burn when parked on scene. Too many police vehicles rely on just flashing patterns to the rear, which are good for warning but not for giving officers working light. A better approach (and one we practice at Blueprint Fleet) is including dedicated scene or work lights that can be activated when the vehicle is in park or a hatch is opened. These could be low-profile LED modules that cast a broad light on the shoulder of the road or the area behind the trunk. The key is beam control: use optics that light up the ground and task area, but won’t blind drivers approaching from a distance. Rear scene lighting is a relatively low-cost addition that dramatically improves safety and efficiency on nighttime or low-light calls. Next time you spec a vehicle, think about the officer or firefighter working a crash at 2 AM – they’ll take a good scene light over a tricked-out siren speaker any day.
Low-Draw Perimeter Lights – All-Around Visibility with Less Power: “Perimeter lights” refers to all those small warning lights around a vehicle’s sides, bumpers, mirrors, etc., that give 360° visibility. They might not be as sexy as the big lightbar, but they’re absolutely crucial – especially from side angles at intersections. What’s more, using modern low-current LED perimeter lights means you can leave them running without fear of killing your battery (within reason). Old halogen or strobe systems drew a ton of power and could overtax the vehicle’s electrical system; by contrast, today’s LEDs have a “more favorable light output to power consumption ratio”. They’re brighter and far more efficient, not to mention longer-lasting. Why does this matter? Think of situations like extended road closures or a fire scene: you might need warning lights on for hours. Low-draw LEDs reduce the need to idle the engine or carry extra batteries. Also, less amperage draw means less strain on alternators and less heat – all good things for maintenance. When we say “perimeter” we mean every side of the vehicle. Many agencies focus on front and rear lights but skimp on side warning lights – a bad idea, since intersections are where side-impact collisions happen. (We’re politely side-eyeing those who leave out side lights). A few small, well-placed, low-draw LEDs on the sides can save your vehicle from a nasty surprise in an urban environment. And here’s the kicker: these LEDs nowadays often have dual or triple modes – they can serve as warning lights, then switch to steady scene lighting or even turn indicators if programmed. Talk about multitasking! The bottom line: LED perimeter lighting offers huge bang for the buck – improved visibility from all angles, minimal electrical load, and versatile functionality. If you have some budget to allocate, skipping the 57th siren tone in favor of a couple extra side lights is a wise trade.
Load-Specific Storage & Secure Mounting – A Place for Everything: Ever peeked inside the back of a patrol SUV or the compartments of a fire truck and thought it looked like a garage sale exploded? Haphazard storage is not just an OCD nightmare; it’s a safety and efficiency issue. Gear that’s not properly stowed can become a projectile in a sudden stop or collision, and wasting time digging through a cluttered trunk for that one piece of equipment is the last thing you need in a crisis. Load-specific storage solutions are the cure. This means designing the upfit with custom mounts, brackets, drawers, and vaults for the exact equipment the agency carries. For law enforcement, that could be a locking weapons vault for rifles (sized to the specific rifle model), a pull-out drawer for less-lethal gear or medical kits, and even molded inserts for things like spike strips or evidence kits. For EMS, it might be bracketed mounts for oxygen tanks and cardiac monitors in the ambulance, or a slide-out tray for the heavy power cot battery charger. Fire apparatus obviously are king in this area – every spare inch of a fire engine is typically designed to hold a specific tool. The point is, “one size fits all” storage is overrated; purpose-built storage is gold. Upfitters like Troy Products, Setina, and others offer cargo organizers and trays that can be customized to your needs (for example, a trunk organizer that has spots for cones, a medical bag, and ammo can storage – whatever you need). When storage is designed around your mission, nothing is rattling around or eating up space unnecessarily. Also, don’t forget interior storage for officers: a simple organizer on the passenger seat or a utility box between seats can keep paperwork, ticket printers, and personal items from turning into chaos during a pursuit. Investing in good storage solutions means faster gear access (no more “Where did I put that?” moments) and better longevity for your equipment (since it’s not getting banged up or lost). Plus, a neat vehicle just projects professionalism. When the trunk pops open and everything is in its place, that’s a beautiful thing for a fleet manager. As we like to say, gear that’s worth buying is worth storing properly.
Modular Consoles & “Cockpits” Officers Can Actually Use: Earlier we ragged on overloaded consoles and touchscreen disasters; now let’s celebrate the opposite: well-designed, modular console systems. By “modular,” we mean consoles that can be configured with exactly the components you need, arranged in a logical order, and often reconfigured or expanded as needs change. The best examples on the market come from companies like Havis, Troy Products, Gamber-Johnson, Jotto Desk, etc., who have clearly spent time riding with officers and figuring out what works. For instance, Havis’s new VSX series consoles use a combination of steel frames and lightweight polycarbonate sections with a modular design to organize radios, tablets, keyboards neatly within reach. Havis explicitly notes that keeping devices accessible prevents officers “from having to search for what they need” – which is exactly the goal. These consoles are often vehicle-specific (to maximize use of space) and include creature comforts like adjustable armrests, cup holders, and padding in just the right spots. A good console will have a spot for everything: radio heads angled toward the driver, a convenient panel for light/siren controls, a space for the MDT that doesn’t block AC vents or airbags, and so on. Troy Products even offers custom-built consoles for agencies – heavy-gauge steel units pre-wired and drilled to simplify installation and tailored to specific operational needs, exemplifying a workflow-driven approach. The benefit of modular consoles is also in maintenance: need to replace a component? Swap a module out without tearing the whole car apart. Need to add a new device? Slide in an extra bracket or faceplate in the console rather than clamping something to the dash with a hodgepodge mount. In sum, a well-thought-out console is worth its weight in gold (and some of them do weigh quite a bit, being metal – but they’re durable!). It’s not just about looking clean; it’s about enabling the officer to be more effective and comfortable. As we say around here: “function first, flash second.” If your cockpit resembles a fighter jet, it better operate with the ease of a Honda Civic. When done right, a patrol car’s console can actually reduce stress and response time because everything is exactly where an officer expects it to be – no chaos, no guesswork, no contortions needed.
CAN-Bus Safe Wiring & Integrated Electrical Systems: This one might sound a bit technical, but it’s hugely important in modern vehicle upfitting: respecting the vehicle’s electronics and using CAN-safe (or CAN-integrated) wiring practices. Most new police vehicles, fire trucks, and ambulances are rolling computers. Gone are the days when you could splice into any hot wire and bolt aftermarket gadgets anywhere without consequences – today’s cars have complex multiplexed electrical systems and sensitive control modules. CAN-Bus (Controller Area Network) is the network that links various vehicle components. Mess with it improperly, and you risk everything from false warning lights to disabled safety features (or voiding the warranty). The upfit gear that actually matters here are things like integrated control systems and proper power distribution units that play nicely with the vehicle’s brain. A great example is SoundOff Signal’s bluePRINT electrical system, which is an “advanced, fully customizable control system that unifies lights, sirens, and even integrates with a vehicle’s sensors and CAN-Bus”. In plain English, that means instead of a dozen separate relays and random fuses tapped all over, you have one smart controller that talks to the car and intelligently manages all the add-on equipment.
The bluePRINT (no relation to Blueprint Fleet, aside from the name!) acts as both a power distribution center and a programmable brain. You can, for example, program it so that when the vehicle is shifted into Park, certain lights automatically come on (hello, scene lighting) or when the windshield wipers are activated, the lightbar automatically changes flash pattern (because in rain, maybe a different pattern is more visible). It’s all about automation and fail-safes. Other manufacturers like Whelen (with their CenCom systems) and Code 3 (with their Z3 controller) offer similar integrated control boxes that combine siren amplifiers, light controls, and multiple outputs into one unit. The key for a fleet manager or upfitter is: stop wiring everything ad hoc. Use a central brain or at least proper fuse blocks designed for emergency equipment. Avoid cutting factory wires whenever possible – many vehicles have designated upfitter connector terminals or interfaces now (Ford and GM police vehicles often include a “customer connection point” for tying in equipment). By using CAN-safe wiring harnesses and modules, you prevent those nightmare electrical gremlins and make debugging way easier. Plus, integrated systems often monitor their own health (voltage, current draw on each circuit, etc.), so you can catch a failing lightbar or a short before it becomes a fire. In short, wiring is gear too – invisible gear. Good wiring and electrical integration is like the cardiovascular system of your upfit: if you bungle it, all the fancy gadgets in the world won’t save you from a heart attack. So invest in the proper power management, solid-state relays or CAN modules, and ensure your emergency gear is wired up to code. It pays off every time.
Stealth Lighting & Covert Gear for Low-Profile Ops: Not every situation calls for “full tilt, bells-and-whistles, here we come” responses. Especially in law enforcement (and even for some fire marshal or undercover units), there are times when blending in or reducing your visible footprint matters. That’s where stealth lighting comes in. We’re talking low-profile LED modules hidden in grilles, interior lightbars that can go dark at the flip of a switch, and minimal exterior markings. The overrated approach is to load even unmarked cars with obvious lights; the smarter approach is to equip vehicles with effective warning lights that are practically invisible until activated. Take a page from some progressive sheriff departments: when a new admin said “no visible lights” on certain unmarked units, upfitters delivered – outfitting the vehicle fully stealth-style, yet with performance and safety in mind. The result is a clean, covert, mission-ready vehicle that doesn’t advertise its presence until necessary. Stealth lighting might include things like visor lights (LED units that clip to the sun visor and can’t be seen from outside when off), hideaway strobes in the headlights/taillights, and single-color lights that match the vehicle body (for example, some agencies use ghost lighting that’s clear when off and flashes blue/red when on). This gear actually matters for units doing surveillance, campus police who want a softer presence, or any scenario where you don’t want to scare off the bad guys by rolling up lit like a Christmas tree. Another aspect of low-profile ops is siren noise discipline – e.g., Rumbler low-frequency sirens that can move traffic at close range without adding to the audible mayhem from blocks away. In the fire/EMS world, stealth is less about crime and more about public relations or special events (like an EMS unit at a festival might use all-blue steady lights instead of strobes to signal medic presence without freaking people out). The big picture: having a stealth mode gives your fleet flexibility. It’s the equivalent of having a volume knob on your response – sometimes you need 11 (full lights and siren), but sometimes a 4 will do. By upfitting vehicles with discreet but capable lighting, you ensure you’re ready for tactical or low-profile missions. It’s gear with a purpose, not just flair. And as an added bonus, stealth lighting setups often force upfitters to be extra careful and neat in installation (since everything’s hidden), which usually means a very clean build overall. Form following function, indeed.
Whew, that’s quite the list! Notice a pattern? In each case, the “gear that matters” is about purposeful design and practical benefit: lights that make you safer without frying eyeballs or batteries, storage that secures important equipment, consoles that officers can actually operate under pressure, wiring that won’t set your unit on fire or throw computer codes, and specialty lighting that serves specific operational needs. None of this is as glitzy as a 200-decibel siren or a touchscreen control panel straight out of Star Trek – and that’s exactly the point. The best upfitting gear often goes unnoticed by the public (or the brass) because when it’s working right, nothing bad happens. No crashes from glare, no “oops I hit the wrong switch,” no “hold on, where’s my Taser in this pile of junk,” no dead batteries at the worst time. It just works.
Mission-Driven Upfitting: Matching Gear to Agency Needs
One overarching principle in avoiding overrated gear is this: know your mission. The equipment that’s unnecessary or over-the-top in one context might be lifesaving in another. Upfitting should never be one-size-fits-all. A savvy fleet manager or upfitter will tailor the build to the department’s specific operations, geography, and even agency culture. Let’s explore a few examples of how gear choices should be driven by mission, fleet type, and environment:
Police – Urban vs. Rural, Highway vs. Campus: A state highway patrol unit has very different needs than a small-town campus police cruiser. Highway patrol (think long stretches of road, high speeds) values long-range visibility and rugged performance – big engines, push bumpers for PIT maneuvers, top-tier long-throw lightbars or beacons for that quarter-mile visibility on a dark freeway. They might consider a higher-output siren and certainly strong rear warning lights, since being seen from afar by fast-approaching drivers is critical. In contrast, an urban police car in a city or a campus environment might prioritize maneuverability, quick on/off lighting patterns, and multi-use vehicles. In the city, there’s visual clutter everywhere, so flash patterns need to cut through the noise – faster strobe rates, 360° coverage (lots of side lights for intersections), maybe a smaller slick-top lightbar to allow parking in garages, etc. A campus police unit might even favor softer siren usage (to not alarm a quad full of students unnecessarily) and stealth capabilities for sensitive situations. While the trooper might want that giant Federal Signal “Q” siren speaker for the classic fire-truck-like wail, the campus officer might benefit more from a Rumbler that vibrates nearby cars at low speed or a simple yelp for quick bursts. Environment and mission dictate gear: an urban tactical unit (e.g. SWAT) might strip overt lighting entirely in favor of covert lights and special comms, whereas a community policing unit might add arrow boards or message signs to direct traffic. A university police SUV probably doesn’t need a 54” lightbar with alley lights visible from Pluto – a low-pro file bar or interior light setup could do the job and maintain a low profile on campus. Meanwhile, out on the interstate, a slick-top might get you rear-ended, so a big bright lightbar is a must-have. Good upfitting means asking these questions upfront: Where and how will this vehicle be used 90% of the time? If most of an agency’s responses are on crowded city streets at night, maybe invest in additional reflexive graphics and side lighting rather than deafening multi-sirens. If they’re mainly day-shift suburb patrols, maybe a smaller siren speaker (because everyone can hear the primary tones fine) and a focus on interior organization (for report writing and traffic enforcement gear) is the key. At the end of the day, law enforcement vehicle equipment should align with the patrol environment. A well-upfitted fleet in NYC will look different than one in rural Georgia – as it should. Cookie-cutter approaches lead to wasted capabilities or worse, lacking capabilities where it counts.
Fire & EMS – Tailoring to Community and Terrain: Fire departments and EMS agencies also face the overrated gear dilemma. A volunteer fire department with a tight budget might be sold on some whiz-bang light package with 17 flash modes, when what they really need are more practical things like scene lighting and robust storage for extrication tools. Think about a rural fire truck: it might spend more time on country roads and even off-road (brush fires, farm rescues) – here, fancy electronic siren tones are less useful (the classic mechanical siren or air horn is fine for clearing the one car on a dirt road), but durable gear mounting is crucial (you don’t want your jaws-of-life bouncing out of a compartment on a bumpy dirt trail). Electrical efficiency is a big deal for fire/EMS too: many small-town fire apparatus don’t run high-output alternators or generators, so low-draw LED lighting and efficient inverter systems matter more than having a light that can be seen from space. An urban fire truck, on the other hand, may invest in a traffic preemption emitter and a secondary siren (like a howler) because cutting through city traffic is a top priority – that’s their mission need. Ambulances in a city might focus on ergonomic interiors (for patient care on the move) and safety features like airbag-equipped cot mounts, whereas a rural ambulance might prioritize communication gear (long-range radios or satellite phones if cell coverage is poor). Even something like tire choice and suspension could be considered part of upfitting: a mountain rescue truck might need off-road tires and lift kits (gear that matters for them) whereas that would be wasted (even dangerous) on a city EMS unit that never leaves pavement. Another example: fire truck upfit must-haves in a wildfire-prone area include things like heat-resistant wiring looms, pump-and-roll capability, and protective shrouds for lights (so they don’t melt) – none of which would be relevant for, say, an airport fire truck that instead needs high-visibility markings and foam proportioning systems. The key takeaway is that public safety agencies should always circle back to their core mission and local operating environment when deciding on gear. It’s fine to admire the neighbor city’s new fleet with all the bells and whistles, but if your town doesn’t need or won’t use half of that, you’re better off spending money on what you will use daily. A phrase we use around here is “design for the mission, not the magazine cover.”
Environmental and Special Considerations: Beyond the broad urban vs. rural, one should consider specific environments like weather and geography. Does your area get heavy snow? Then heated LED lights (solving the LED snow buildup issue) and maybe additional scene lighting on all four sides (for those dark winter evenings) might be the gear that matters. Does your EMS unit cover a sprawling campus with tight pathways? Then smaller vehicles or even specialized electric carts with appropriate lighting/sirens could be more useful than a full-size ambulance for every call. Policing a university or corporate campus might require more camera systems and less overt presence, meaning funds might be better spent on a good DVR system and 360° cameras than on 100 different flash patterns. On the flip side, highway patrol or traffic units might invest in radar message boards or rear warning lasers to alert oncoming traffic of incidents – gear that’s useless to a campus cop but a lifesaver on a freeway at night. The concept of tactical vehicle design also plays in: if you’re equipping a SWAT armored vehicle, interior red lights (for night operations) and an excellent PA/siren unit for negotiations might be more relevant than any exterior light show. If you’re upfitting for park rangers or rural deputies, maybe ditch the massive center console and leave room for a passenger (since they often have to transport lost hikers) – in that case a simple dash light and siren controller might do, rather than a full console that eats space. Every choice should boil down to: does this feature help the vehicle fulfill its primary duties in its typical environment? If yes, great. If not, maybe it’s overrated for your use case. Departments should also solicit feedback from their personnel – you’d be surprised how many officers have opinions on gear that works or doesn’t. Those on the ground will tell you if that extra 50” lightbar is just blinding them or if they’d kill for a simpler control layout. As the Government Fleet folks put it, when planning upfits, consider “what job the vehicle is needed for” right up front – patrol vs. admin, urban response vs. rural patrol – because that should guide every gear decision. A detective’s unmarked car needed for surveillances should look and function worlds apart from a patrol SUV tasked with daily traffic stops – and that’s okay. In fact, that’s smart fleet management.
Designing with Purpose: The Blueprint Fleet Approach
By now, you’ve probably picked up on a recurring theme: purpose-built design. That’s not just a buzzword for us – it’s literally in our name and our company DNA. At Blueprint Fleet Outfitting, we take pride in a “function first, flash second” philosophy. Every lightbar we mount, every siren we install – it’s all built with a purpose: ultimately, to help bring officers and responders home safe at the end of the day. We’re not impressed by gear that just looks cool; we’re impressed by gear that works cool.
When we consult with an agency, our first step isn’t picking out gadgets – it’s understanding the mission. Are we building a fleet of campus security vehicles that need a low-profile look? A group of pursuit-rated SUVs for highway troopers? Maybe a fire chief’s pickup that doubles as an incident command post? Each scenario has different priorities, and we design with those in mind from the start. Our approach can be summed up as design, build, deliver – with purpose.
Design (with Purpose): We plan vehicles that fit the budget and are built for the guys who rely on them day in and day out. That means no wasted budget on gear that looks cool but doesn’t perform. If it doesn’t serve a functional purpose, it doesn’t go on the build sheet. We use officer feedback, real-world experience (our team includes former first responders), and data to choose equipment. For example, instead of slapping on the trendiest lightbar, we’ll select one that provides the needed coverage and fits the vehicle’s profile (maybe that’s a Whelen CenCom system for integration or a Code 3 light package with multi-mode for day/night). Instead of an expensive center console that looks fancy but crowds the driver, we’ll go with a Havis or Troy modular console configured to that department’s radios and accessories – ensuring the layout makes sense for their specific gear. We truly take to heart the idea that “form follows function” in upfitting. As seen in our console design philosophy, we map out officer workflows and then position equipment, so every button and screen earns its place. It’s like a tailor-made suit for your fleet.
Build (with Quality): All the planning in the world means nothing if the installation is shoddy. We build vehicles with professional wiring and expert craftsmanship, with no shortcuts. This speaks to a lot of what we discussed earlier – proper wiring, avoiding the spaghetti mess of wires under the dash, using quality connectors, fuses, and CAN-safe integration whenever possible. A hallmark of our builds is that when you peek under the hood or behind the panels, you won’t find horror shows. You’ll find neatly run wires, labeled and loom-protected, all leading to solid-state controllers or distribution blocks. Why? Because we’ve seen what happens when you don’t do that: electrical gremlins, failures, even fires. Quality build also means thinking about repairability – we want any technician (even if it’s not us down the line) to be able to troubleshoot and fix an issue fast. That could mean documenting which fuse goes to which device, leaving slack in wires for service loops, and mounting components in accessible locations. We also refuse to skimp on mounts and hardware – a $2 bracket can save a $2000 piece of gear from rattling loose. And if we can prevent a rattle or a loose panel that would drive an officer crazy over a 12-hour shift, we will. Essentially, we build it like we’d be the ones driving it – and trust me, we’re picky.
Deliver (ready for duty): When the vehicle rolls out of our shop, it’s not just slapped together to look good on day one. It’s ready for duty, fully tested, and backed by an installation warranty and our commitment. We test every light, every siren tone, every function of those fancy integrated controllers. We’ll park it in the sun and the dark to ensure the lighting is effective but not blinding. If something’s not right, we address it before delivery. Our goal is that when the agency takes delivery, they can put the vehicle straight into service with confidence. And if something does go wrong, we stand by to fix it – because we’re building partnerships, not just products.
By focusing on mission-specific function and cutting out the fluff, we ensure budgets aren’t wasted and officers aren’t let down by their gear. We’ve seen too many vehicles where money was poured into the “wow” factor but the basics were neglected – like a patrol car with a $5,000 light package that didn’t include a single compartment light in the trunk (so the officer is using a flashlight to find stuff at night), or an ambulance with an expensive stereo system but no inverter to power lifesaving equipment on the go. We vow not to let that happen on our watch.
In summary, the Blueprint Fleet approach is pretty simple: listen to the client’s needs, do our homework on what works, install with excellence, and deliver a vehicle that’s purpose-built for the task. No ego, no unnecessarily gaudy add-ons – just solid upfitting rooted in why the vehicle exists in the first place. It’s an approach that resonates with agencies of all sizes, from small-town PDs to big-city fire departments. And it’s why we often hear clients say, “Finally, an upfit that makes sense.”
Conclusion
Upfitting emergency vehicles is part art, part science, and a lot of experience. It’s tempting to chase the latest tech toys or emulate what the big departments are doing, but the wisest course is to think critically about each piece of gear. Ask: Is this solving a real problem or just adding complexity? Will this help my people do their jobs safer and better, or is it mostly for show? In this article, we’ve playfully poked at some of the most overrated gear in upfitting – from gigantic lightbars and over-the-top sirens to touchscreen overloads and switch panel nightmares. The common thread is that these things often don’t translate to real-world benefits proportional to their cost or hassle.
On the flip side, we highlighted the often underappreciated upgrades – the stuff that might not make headlines but absolutely improves performance, visibility, officer safety, electrical efficiency, and repairability (all the un-sexy but vital aspects of a fleet). These are the investments where you get the most bang for your buck: lighting configured for actual conditions (not just max brightness), thoughtfully organized equipment storage, user-friendly controls, reliable wiring, and mission-specific tweaks that make a vehicle truly fit for purpose.
For police, fire, EMS and beyond, the takeaway is to keep your eyes on the prize: the mission. The best upfitting isn’t about copying a trend or flexing a budget; it’s about delivering the right tools in the right way to get the job done and get your people home safe. If you do that, you’ll have a fleet that not only looks sharp but performs when it counts. And if you need a partner in that process, well, you know where to find us – we’ll be here at the Drawing Board, designing, building, and delivering with purpose (and maybe cracking a joke or two along the way).
Stay safe out there, and remember: it’s not about the quantity of gear on your vehicle, it’s about the quality and purpose of gear in your vehicle. Build smart, drive smart, and leave the overrated stuff on the showroom floor where it belongs.
