Best Ladder Truck LaFrance v. Seagrave

[LaFireEducator]

The "Mack Porn Thread" has got me thinking.

There was a link to a site where the poster stated that the Seagrave rear-mount Admiral was probably the best ladder truck ever built.

While it is a fine truck, to me the best laddder truck ever built was the American LaFrance rear-mount Ladder Chief.

What are your thoughts?

[JTFIRE80]

Is this a joke??? Really?? I got to know!!

[MrYuk]

Ha!

............

[FWDbuff]

**never mind. I'm not going to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.**

[donethat]

**never mind. I'm not going to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.**

funny !!!!!

[Jonnee]

Like old crowbar, LaFireEducator has nothing to do but sprew his non firefighting knowledge in here.

The old Seagrave, Maxim, Pirsch and American La France mid mounts, out perform all others built!

Now days the Pierce and E-One aerial's are at the top of all others.

[FyredUp]

Like old crowbar, LaFireEducator has nothing to do but sprew his non firefighting knowledge in here.

The old Seagrave, Maxim, Pirsch and American La France mid mounts, out perform all others built!

Now days the Pierce and E-One aerial's are at the top of all others.

Pirsch? Seriously the scariest ladders I have ever climbed. I was on a volly FD that got a BRAND NEW Pirsch 100 foot aerial and the first time I saw it raised it extended out to 100 feet and twisted between an 8th and a 16th of a turn to the left. When you climbed it it bounced 2 or 3 feet at the tip if unsupported. I would say it was a fluke except we had a 110 foot Pirsch on my career job that was just as scary.

I would much rather climb our 105 foot HME/3-D/AI than any Pirsch ladder I ever saw. I have climbed ALF Ladders, Seagrave Ladders, and a Pierce Ladder and never felt that anxiousness about the ladder that I did with the Pirsch's.

[donethat]

Pirsch? Seriously the scariest ladders I have ever climbed. I was on a volly FD that got a BRAND NEW Pirsch 100 foot aerial and the first time I saw it raised it extended out to 100 feet and twisted between an 8th and a 16th of a turn to the left. When you climbed it it bounced 2 or 3 feet at the tip if unsupported. I would say it was a fluke except we had a 110 foot Pirsch on my career job that was just as scary.

I would much rather climb our 105 foot HME/3-D/AI than any Pirsch ladder I ever saw. I have climbed ALF Ladders, Seagrave Ladders, and a Pierce Ladder and never felt that anxiousness about the ladder that I did with the Pirsch's.

Years ago I was at a Fire Muster in Philadelphia, down on the Delaware River. There was an ALF ladder that had about a 3' bow to the right and about the same twist as you describe in the Pirsch ladder. And some idiot was still climbing it.

[FyredUp]

Years ago I was at a Fire Muster in Philadelphia, down on the Delaware River. There was an ALF ladder that had about a 3' bow to the right and about the same twist as you describe in the Pirsch ladder. And some idiot was still climbing it.

There is a sign in my locker at the firehouse that says: "We can fix ignorance, but there isn't a damn thing we can do about stupid." Seems to fit your scenario.

I would be uncomfortable even lifting that ladder out of the bed, let alone climbing it.

[WoodbridgeFFII]

I would say that the Kme Aerialcat is one of the strongest built ladders today, also LTI, Seagrave, and Pierce are the other top three built with a solid 750lb tip load.

[LaFireEducator]

Is this a joke??? Really?? I got to know!!

Actually, no.

The only 3 aerials I have ever worked closely with and climbed were LaFrances, Maxims and Macks (very limited).

I also have experience with Baker Aerialscopes and Stuphen Platforms.

I have no experience with Seagraves engines or ladders as they were not used in the areas I have served.

For my money, based on my experiences, I have found the LaFrance aerials as the most stable and operator friendly.

[FWDbuff]

Actually, no.

The only 3 aerials I have ever worked closely with and climbed were LaFrances, Maxims and Macks (very limited).

Like I said, battle of wits with an unarmed person.

[FyredUp]

Like I said, battle of wits with an unarmed person.

FWD you wouldn't be referring to the fact that Mack NEVER built their own ladders would you? I have seen Macks with ALF ladders, Maxim ladders, and (SHUDDER!!) even Pirsch ladders on them. But I have never seen a Mack straight stick aerial.

I suppose some may try to say the Aerialscope was a Mack tower ladder but that was really a Baker tower mounted exclusively, at one point anyways, on Mack chassis.

[FWDbuff]

FWD you wouldn't be referring to the fact that Mack NEVER built their own ladders would you? I

Battle of wits with an unarmed person......(Not you, Fyred....)

[nameless]

FWD you wouldn't be referring to the fact that Mack NEVER built their own ladders would you? I have seen Macks with ALF ladders, Maxim ladders, and (SHUDDER!!) even Pirsch ladders on them. But I have never seen a Mack straight stick aerial.

whats wrong with Peter Pirsch? Those aerials ran a good deal of fire in cities across the country.

[Chief1FF]

FWD you wouldn't be referring to the fact that Mack NEVER built their own ladders would you? I have seen Macks with ALF ladders, Maxim ladders, and (SHUDDER!!) even Pirsch ladders on them. But I have never seen a Mack straight stick aerial.

I suppose some may try to say the Aerialscope was a Mack tower ladder but that was really a Baker tower mounted exclusively, at one point anyways, on Mack chassis.

Don't forget that Mack used LTI for there Bulldog Ladders!!!

[FyredUp]

whats wrong with Peter Pirsch? Those aerials ran a good deal of fire in cities across the country.

Dude...You like them you can climb them.

I never saw one, including brand new, that didn't have a twist in it. Add to that the fact that they bounced between 2 and 3 feet unsupported...NO THANKS!

[FyredUp]

Don't forget that Mack used LTI for there Bulldog Ladders!!!

You sir are correct, and I hang my head in total shame for not remembering that! I may very well lose my secret decoder ring in the Mack Club over this gaff.

[LaFireEducator]

Call me an idiot, but it was somebody's ladder on a Mack CF chassis.

At that point in my career I will be honest, it really didn't matter who made the ladder as long as it would get me where I needed to go without a bad thing happening.

(Note: It was a mutual aid truck company that we ran quite freuently with, not my department's ladder)

[FWDbuff]

Ok. You are an idiot.