Our new Engine/Tanker

[mitchkrat]

Our next engine will have both a front suction and rear suction. We have started using our front suction more for routine hookups and it's great. We currently run supply beds of 3", so the front intake is the only way for us to start off of tank water and switch to the hydrant using the short supply of LDH we do carry (no piston intakes on the steamer caps). How are your front and rear suctions gated? Ours is via a air actuated valve (like the pump shift switch in the cab) and it can make for a hard changover.

Both our drivers side intake and rear intake have electric valves (no gate on officer side intake).

We also added additional primers so we can primer either driver or rear suctions before the valve - allows us to flow water from the tank while pre-priming the lines then cutting over to drafting.

[johnsb]

Here's a pic of the plaque on the truck honoring a local WWII Vet. It's on the officer's side pump panel.

UPDATE: Don Wilson the WWII vet and former Asst. Chief that the truck is dedicated to passed away yesterday.

[ATFDFF]

UPDATE: Don Wilson the WWII vet and former Asst. Chief that the truck is dedicated to passed away yesterday.

Sorry to hear that, Brother. My condolences.

[Nozzle nut 22]

We like the rear suction. Not only do we use it for drop tank ops, we use it for forward lay ops with 5 inch hose.

The hard suction is not preconnected, but it is located in the hose bed right above the rear intake.

The front preconnects are crosslays across the front bumper tray. There are 2-200 foot 2 inch preconnects located there. They have a 200 gpm at 75 psi break apart combination nozzle backed by a 1 1/4 inch slug tip. We do not have 1 3/4 or 2 1/2inch hose, 2 inch is our only handline size.

It is on an HME 1871-P2, MFD-12, with a 2000 gpm Hale QMax pump, 1000 gallon water tank, HaleFoam Logix and a 30 gallon foam tank.

Here is a pic of the front crosslays and the rear intake:

Attachment 22292Attachment 22293

I think the guys who specced your rig, and the ones who specced our last new rig were from the exact same school of thought. We used the same essential setup: 2 crosslays in the front bumper, and a rear intake. Ours is a Spartan/4Guys, so the body is a trifle different, but very close! We love having those front crosslays. They're easy to pull and stretch, and a snap to reload. We also have a number of areas that are tight, with trees and brush that make crosslays a real PITA to use.

Where the folding steps are on the rear of yours, are two compartments running full length between the tank and high sides. DR side has the ground ladders, Officer's has suctions, backboards, and pike poles. The suction is inside the rear comp, which is recessed. Rear side compts are full depth, so the back step area looks like the one on the OP's new beast. We RARELY draft, or use fold-a-tanks, so that rear suction is mainly used to keep a slimmer profile when operating alongside busy roads, and/or with forward lays.

So, tell us the truth- how often has the officer's rear floodlight been effed up by the ladder rack when someone wasn't paying attention?? lol- I ask, because we had that happen on our old rescue pumper. He got his balls busted forever after that!

Anyhow, nice rig- both yours and the OP's! We have one in the works that is going to be a war wagon, like that Pierce. Only 1000 gal though.

[FyredUp]

Never tore it off with the ladder rack...but have torn one off with the door jamb. We only have about an inch and a half clearance on each side.

Those front crosslays are VERY popular here.

[johnsb]

Just an update.

http://www.piercemfg.com/en/experien...er-Tanker.aspx

We've done three training fires with it and it's performed beautifully.

[Woodbridge]

How is that Cummins 450 HP ISL hauling 2500 gallons of water & foam ? Also what type of brakes are on your new rig.

[johnsb]

How is that Cummins 450 HP ISL hauling 2500 gallons of water & foam ? Also what type of brakes are on your new rig.

The Cummins 450 does a really good job. It's governed at 60mph per NFPA, which is about as fast as I'd want to drive it on a good 2 lane highway. It rides like a tour bus, really smooth, just a lot of weight. (65,900 GVW) It's not the fastest truck, but I wouldn't call it a dog either, it probably right where it needs to be with the weight. We mostly have flat roads, but we do have a few hills. If this were someplace with a lot of hills I'd say you'd need a 500, but 450 is fine here.
It's got WABCO brakes, with drum brakes I believe, and as an added feature, we have additional parking brakes for the front axle if we're parked on an incline. We also have a Jake Brake to help with stopping.

[islandfire03]

How much does the truck weigh on the scales fully loaded and ready to go out the door?

[johnsb]

How much does the truck weigh on the scales fully loaded and ready to go out the door?

I'll have to get back to you on that, I don't know if it's been weighed yet, and I know we still have some equipment to add, maybe another few hundred pounds or so.