[quote name='SrFireOfficial' date='04 July 2010 - 06:28 PM' timestamp='1278281320' post='390740']
I respect your opinion on the 111 mirrors and I sent you a private message on that subject. I think they are here to stay unless somebody comes up with another option. Some FDs have opted for West Coast-style mirrors with the Impel/Velocity cab but that option in VA makes the rig too wide to be legally on the road and we all know how much Mother Fairfax loves to be in compliance (when it's convenient?!?!)
As for ladder trucks that bend in the middle, my two cents.
I was hired in 1984 and the majority of ladder trucks in the FRD fleet were tractor-drawn Seagrave, spanning an age range from 1960-something to early 1980 something. I challenge you to park the oldest tiller FXCO bought next to the last tiller we bought and note the changes in size. Now, pull up one of the 21st century brand new tillers and make the size comparison. I'm sure the newest will dwarf the older ones and I will confidently say that anything that is gained in maneuverability with having the tillerman (so much for my PC'ness today) will be lost in the overall size of the vehicle. And for us to enjoy the features we are fond of on our rear-mount aerials (huge tip load, pre-piped waterways) will force us into the humongous category of tractor drawn aerials. The cramp angle for the steering on the RMs improves their overall maneuverability to a level where they will give a TDA a fair amount of competition and allows the officer and firefighter to be ready to go to work as soon as the maxibrake is applied.
If we want a realistic TDA, we would have to go with the DCFD spec and give up some of our capabilities.
[/quote]
Sir you may want to take a look at advertising Pierce puts out, plus the new delivery pics. Plenty of departments get the bus mirrors or west coast mirrors mounted on the doors. Very much are they within legal limits. Why would Pierce sell something illegal? That is hardly an excuse to use on why not to get them. Misinformaton need no longer be the order of the day. Us underlings out in the field are not as dumb as we pretend to be <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />.
I believe that same arguement may have been used when it was asked why Fairfax did not get on the Arlington contract. Rumor has it that some in the fairfax ranks stated that the new arlington rigs were not NFPA compliant. Really? Again I ask would Pierce sell a non-nfpa compliant pumper? I know exemptions can be signed and such, but most are too scared to sign their name to an nfpa exemptions. Which blows my mind on a regular basis here in "pick and choose my nfpa standard" Fairfax.
I respect your opinion on the 111 mirrors and I sent you a private message on that subject. I think they are here to stay unless somebody comes up with another option. Some FDs have opted for West Coast-style mirrors with the Impel/Velocity cab but that option in VA makes the rig too wide to be legally on the road and we all know how much Mother Fairfax loves to be in compliance (when it's convenient?!?!)
As for ladder trucks that bend in the middle, my two cents.
I was hired in 1984 and the majority of ladder trucks in the FRD fleet were tractor-drawn Seagrave, spanning an age range from 1960-something to early 1980 something. I challenge you to park the oldest tiller FXCO bought next to the last tiller we bought and note the changes in size. Now, pull up one of the 21st century brand new tillers and make the size comparison. I'm sure the newest will dwarf the older ones and I will confidently say that anything that is gained in maneuverability with having the tillerman (so much for my PC'ness today) will be lost in the overall size of the vehicle. And for us to enjoy the features we are fond of on our rear-mount aerials (huge tip load, pre-piped waterways) will force us into the humongous category of tractor drawn aerials. The cramp angle for the steering on the RMs improves their overall maneuverability to a level where they will give a TDA a fair amount of competition and allows the officer and firefighter to be ready to go to work as soon as the maxibrake is applied.
If we want a realistic TDA, we would have to go with the DCFD spec and give up some of our capabilities.
[/quote]
Sir you may want to take a look at advertising Pierce puts out, plus the new delivery pics. Plenty of departments get the bus mirrors or west coast mirrors mounted on the doors. Very much are they within legal limits. Why would Pierce sell something illegal? That is hardly an excuse to use on why not to get them. Misinformaton need no longer be the order of the day. Us underlings out in the field are not as dumb as we pretend to be <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />.I believe that same arguement may have been used when it was asked why Fairfax did not get on the Arlington contract. Rumor has it that some in the fairfax ranks stated that the new arlington rigs were not NFPA compliant. Really? Again I ask would Pierce sell a non-nfpa compliant pumper? I know exemptions can be signed and such, but most are too scared to sign their name to an nfpa exemptions. Which blows my mind on a regular basis here in "pick and choose my nfpa standard" Fairfax.
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