Thanks for loving the floor at my firehouse, it's in Fairfax County. Anyway, I would like to play devil's advocate here; assuming this is a reality and I am not just being sucked into some internet hoax.
Having volunteered in a system where there was part-time career staffing Monday through Friday from 7a-3p at a fire company with a rear mount aerial ladder truck with a neighboring company having a tractor-drawn aerial device, there were plenty of times when the ladder truck requiring one driver got out ahead of the truck requiring two drivers.
Now that I said that, I question the desire to purchase a tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck by DCVFD. What is DCVFD's motivation for such a purchase? I could see it being a "recruitment tool", i.e., "I want to volunteer there because they have a tiller truck" or is there a demonstrated tactical need based on unique multi-family dwelling complexes?
Today's tiller ladder trucks are not the same size as the tractor-drawn aerial ladders of the 1970's and 1980's; in fact; compared to their older counterparts, they are behemoths. Doubt me? Go ahead and park them side by side; what is gained in maneuverability is lost in the overall size of the apparatus, especially if a significant tip load is expected.
And since DCVFD has never owned a tiller truck, where is all the tractoring and tillering experience going to come from: Seattle, Portland, LA City, San Francisco; somewhere else on the Left Coast?
My two cents: Buy an Aerialscope. There is already experience driving, positioning and operating a mid-mount tower within the department. The Aerialscopes are workhorses and with a little TLC, will pretty much last forever. In a municipality where lightweight construction is king, the 'Scope gives unparalleled flexibility for quick deployment of a heavy stream at any angle or elevation and the security to effect a rescue at any angle or elevation within reach from a substantial platform.
I look forward to hearing a sensible response and spirited debate to my points.
Peace out.
Having volunteered in a system where there was part-time career staffing Monday through Friday from 7a-3p at a fire company with a rear mount aerial ladder truck with a neighboring company having a tractor-drawn aerial device, there were plenty of times when the ladder truck requiring one driver got out ahead of the truck requiring two drivers.
Now that I said that, I question the desire to purchase a tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck by DCVFD. What is DCVFD's motivation for such a purchase? I could see it being a "recruitment tool", i.e., "I want to volunteer there because they have a tiller truck" or is there a demonstrated tactical need based on unique multi-family dwelling complexes?
Today's tiller ladder trucks are not the same size as the tractor-drawn aerial ladders of the 1970's and 1980's; in fact; compared to their older counterparts, they are behemoths. Doubt me? Go ahead and park them side by side; what is gained in maneuverability is lost in the overall size of the apparatus, especially if a significant tip load is expected.
And since DCVFD has never owned a tiller truck, where is all the tractoring and tillering experience going to come from: Seattle, Portland, LA City, San Francisco; somewhere else on the Left Coast?
My two cents: Buy an Aerialscope. There is already experience driving, positioning and operating a mid-mount tower within the department. The Aerialscopes are workhorses and with a little TLC, will pretty much last forever. In a municipality where lightweight construction is king, the 'Scope gives unparalleled flexibility for quick deployment of a heavy stream at any angle or elevation and the security to effect a rescue at any angle or elevation within reach from a substantial platform.
I look forward to hearing a sensible response and spirited debate to my points.
Peace out.
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