Tower Ladder Survey

[RFDACM02]

I'm with C6: the type of bucket configuration is quite important to us. I can't for the life of me understand why builders are still making square/rectangular buckets with flat faces and either no lip or just on the front. When it comes to being able to best make the objective, those buckets with angled corners and large lip edges are the most versatile.

Interesting update from E-One. Maybe someone is listening or actually understands the use of their devices but I just saw a new E-One tower ladder with a nice bucket with angle cut corners and angled entry doors with one latch operation. This was one of the things we didn't like about E-One towers when we bought ours. The new bucket also has more room that the previous rectangular one. Now if they'd make the controls movable and allow a tiller bar controlled gun they'd be pretty sweet. They already have the best jacking system hands down! maybe make the bucket touch the ground in less than 60+ft as well, but they're certainly making improvements.

[SectorB]

For information on Smeal and Ferrara aerials look in your own back yard. Braidwood FPD has a midmount tower, different beast but they can give you service issues, warranty coverage, and so on. I know one of the guys that spec'd the rig. He operates on a 75' E-one quint full-time and can give you both perspectives. PM me for his name. Also Look at Bolingbrook. They operate a 77' Ferrara Rearmount Stick. I know they have had some electrical glitches and minor problems. Good luck with the spec's hope this helps.

[MG3610]

Can any of the truck gurus explain the value of an angled bucket versus rectangular. I assume its got something to do with being easier to get in and out of when up against buildings/roofs?

Thanks

[RFDACM02]

Can any of the truck gurus explain the value of an angled bucket versus rectangular. I assume its got something to do with being easier to get in and out of when up against buildings/roofs?

Thanks

You're right on MG. When placing the tower for multiple objectives (most sets) the angled bucket allows you better entry and egress when the bucket isn't square to the building. In a perfect set the face with the opening would be perpendicular to the objective. With as rectangular bucket this only leaves one "perfect" set, with the angled corners you have three. Given that often the best place for a tower is at a corner where it can make two walls, the rectangular bucket will be harder to enter and exit due to the angles. While it might not be as big a deal to us as firefighters, when a person looks out the 6th story window and is told to "climb in" the less ground and more bucket they can see the better!

[bayrat]

I've never considered Smeal until recently. We've recently demoed every midmount platform. The Smeal really impressed us. The setup, operation, and overall fit and finish was good. No other Ladder can match thier reach and below grade reach. We looked at the big manufacturers. They were good also ,but for the price the Smeal is alot of truck that will do everything and more that the big manufacturers can for a few 100g less.
Remember, Smeal used to supply Pierce with thier aerials for quite a few years. If you look at a Pierce midmount you see similarities between Smeal and and LTI.

I could be wrong but I think Smeal's ladders arent multiplexed as far as the bucket and outrigger controls. One less computer cotrolled part of the truck to worry about.

Rescue can you post some pics of yours.

[Rescue101]

Hehe,not yet.The chassis isn't due at the factory until mid November.I won't have much to show until February.Finished product due to be shipped out early March '09.As details become available I'll post them. T.C.

[Fokker416]

Can any of the truck gurus explain the value of an angled bucket versus rectangular. I assume its got something to do with being easier to get in and out of when up against buildings/roofs?

Thanks

RFD is right on about the operational advantages to the angled platforms. We were talking to an E-one engineer and he also explained that there is a high incidenct of platfrom "strikes" at the front corners of the bucket. E-one looks for a lot of end user feedback, like anyone else I'm sure, and apparently there are a lot of platforms out there with dinged up corners from approaching targets from an angle.

[GFPD2005]

Since this will be your largest capital expenditure on wheels, you deserve it not to limit yourself to the manufacturers you listed. It would also be worthwhile to take a road trip and see what different manufacturers aerials have to offer and talk with the crews that operate them.

Troy, IL St. Charles, MO St. Louis, MO Smeal 100' ladder towers

Madison, IL 95' E-One ladder tower

Kirkwood, MO 100' Pierce ladder tower

Clayton, MO 100' Sutphen ladder tower

Eureka, MO 100' ALF stick

Belleville, IL Granite City, IL KME 100' stick

Galesburg, IL (a drive) 100' Alexis ladder tower (their 2nd)

Ill be interested to see what you end up with. Our 1989 Simon Duplex ST2000 ladder tower with 34k miles is in need of replacement. I wasnt around but our department trained on your 89 before we received ours.