Man, Rick sounds like every county inspector I've ever met. Here's the deal, that 3/8 plate trick is an old workaround guys use when they don't want to pull the engineering paperwork on corner castings. Next time ask for the code section in writing before you buy steel, because half these guys are going off habit and not the book. If he can't point to the actual rule, you can push back or ask for his supervisor. That said, you're not wrong about the frame feeling stiffer, plenty of guys plate the corners anyway just for peace of mind. Keep Rick's number though, an inspector who actually shows up and looks at stuff is worth more than one who rubber stamps it.

A million bucks for a truck that mostly just sits there looking shiny and red, meanwhile my 2008 civic is out here held together with duct tape and hope. Maybe the fire dept is just better at hiding their money problems than the rest of us, or maybe the siren alone costs 50k. Either way I'm never gonna look at a fire truck the same again.