Quote:I have several on-going rantings about brand new tillers versus rear mount aerial ladders which can be read in this or the PWC thread. In summary, today's tiller ladder trucks, aka TDAs; are behemoths compared to their predecessors; what is gained in maneuverability is lost in the overall size of the rig. I truly believe that cities like Baltimore and Washington DC benefit from TDA's where negotiating smaller side streets and accessing alleys is the necessary norm for effective ladder company coverage. Aside from very narrow streets within planned mult-family habitational unit communities (i.e. townhouse/apartment complexes, I fail to see a compelling reason for spending taxpayer money on three TDA's when the same money would purchase four rear mount aerial ladder trucks (not platforms). This issue can be addressed when developers submit their plans for review and by having crews do driver training in the evenings when these parking areas tend to be fuller. As stated elsewhere, under equal conditions, I will put our best RM drivers in one of the FRD's existing Pierce RM's against a crew of equal ability in one of the new TDA's at any spot in the county and see who gets the best tactical position the fastest.Good points but a few corrections...
Oh by the way, latest intel confirms the cabs will be red-roofed (foam trucks? ha ha ha), white from from roofline down to the bottom of the window line and red below.
The length of a TDA is driven by the customer not all of them are 62' long. Silly that many think that a TDA will carry more equipment but forget how much added weight that brings. Some want TDA's for the amount of ground ladders it can carry which is wise when it's staffed with just 3 or 4. From what I here they could actually buy 5 rear mounts for the cost of these 3 TDA's but that's what you get when you only shop "The only game in town".
Bottom line no matter the pro's or con's TDA's are cool and hey look it has a rotoray!!!!
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