LDH Reel Practical?

[Pilgrim]

Does anyone out there have any experience with large diameter hose reel trucks? We are looking into one, however, there is an enormous amount of skepticism regarding them. Any first hand experiences good or bad would be appreciated. What are the strengths and weaknesses? I don't see many of them in use to speak of, so I am skeptical myself. I would much rather get opinions from those on the line rather than salesmen!
I personally figure if they were so great, more departments would be using them. Any help would be appreciated.

John

[SBLG]

We are currently running a '97 IHC 4900 Saulsbury LDH truck set up as follows:

IHC 4900 series chassis with 300hp DT530
Marmon Harrington 4x4 Conversion
Hale CSD 1250 Front Mount ( pump will pump 1750 from draft with dual 6" suctions)
Hannay Hydraulic reel with 4000 feet 5" Hose
Saulsbury Aluminum Body
NO Water

We set the truck up for water supply only and have had very good luck with it. We are able to lay 4000 feet hose go to draft and supply a manifold with 850-1000 gpm in 12-13 min with only two men. We also use the unit for tanker filling again we are able to fill tankers at 1400-1500 gpm with only two people. The unit deploys hose very fast , pick up is better then a standard hose bed. We are able to pick it up in 30-45 min with 4 people. We spent a lot of time talking to people who ran this type truck and took there good and bad point into consideration. Over all this truck has changed the way we do things here and opened up many new water sources for us. IF you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

Chris


------------------

[DFDGREG]

Chris, would you recomend one of these reel's for use on an engine or strictly for use as a water supply?

Greg
------------------



[This message has been edited by DFDGREG (edited July 23, 2000).]

[Fyrtrks]

I used to deliver for Saulsbury and we also did a unit for Tavener Florida. I am not sure of the spelling but it is close. It was much like Sister Bay's but it did not have a pump.

------------------
Dan Jenkins
Fyrtrks

[SBLG]

Greg,

Based on conversations with other departments they like them on attack engines. I believe there is a county in Florida that runs them on all attack engines. I spoke with several departments on the East coast that have them and like them. The one dept. no longer uses them due to all hydrants in district now.
So i guess to answer your question yes i would not be afraid to use them on a attack engine.
Chris

------------------


[This message has been edited by SBLG (edited July 23, 2000).]

[M G]

In New Jersey, Middlesx Boro (Somerset or Middlesx County) has a Pierce with an LDH reel, North Wildwood (Cape May County) also has one on a Mack Chassis, Washington Valley (Somerset County) has one as well. Mortlake, Conn. Has them ("Dalmatian90" posts here, this is his company).

------------------
The information presented herin is simply my opinion and does not represent the opinion or view of my employer(s) or any department/agency to which I belong.

[Pilgrim]

MG,

Are those units being used as primary attack engines? Or as a hose truck with a large pump for long lays? I am wondering about the validity of them being used as a first due engine due to the sacrifice of rear compartments for storage.

Thanks

John

[M G]

The following departments (that I last recall of) have Reel equipped engines (their exact use is uncertain to me, however they appear to be more traditional designed engines). None of these engines is strictly a reel and pump truck that I know of.

New Jersey:
1. Middlesex Boro (Beechwood or Beechwood Heights Fire Co. unsure exact name)(Somerset County, maybe Middlesex County).
Try: (908) 356-1900
2. Washington Valley Fire Co (Somerset County)
Try: (732) 356-1432
3. Wildwood Fire Department (Cape May County?)
4. Slackwood Fire Co (Mercer County?)

I hope this helps, if I can dig up more stuff I'll post it for ya.

------------------
The information presented herin is simply my opinion and does not represent the opinion or view of my employer(s) or any department/agency to which I belong.

[This message has been edited by M G (edited July 23, 2000).]

[LHS']

Seminole County FL went through 3 generations of pumpers with 750 water tanks over a 30 year period. Approximately 30 rigs. They worked just fine as engines, hose layers and EMS/medic units.

If you learn how to load the hose right, have someone build it with a clue, you'll do fine. Strawpump PA near Pittsburg had a very conventional E-ONE with a roll up door over the reel and a conventional hose bed over their reel.

[SBLG]

Holland Town ship in the central part of Wisconsin also has a reel with a standard hose bed over the top. Underhill VT runs a attack pumper with a reel 2500+- hose with a 500 tank with a front mount pump.

Like LHS says you need to work with a builder that understands reels and the big picture of how they work in the field not just how to hook it up and paint it.

Chris


------------------

[MetalMedic]

A local department in this area has one on their Pond Pumper to use as a support/supply pumper to fill tankers or set up a long relay. The only problem I have heard they have with it is that it is very heavy when loaded and their chassis wasn't suitable to handle it. Otherwise, I guess it has served them well. So the lesson learned is that if you elect to put one on a truck, be sure you anticipate the total load with your brand of LDH when you specify the chassis.

------------------
Richard Nester
Orrville (OH) Fire Dept.

[neiowa]

Bump thread

[DellroyVFD08]

Wow..this was a pretty good thread. I'm glad someone bumped it to the top.
Our attack engine has an LDH reel with 1300' on it. We are a rural dept. and it makes things MUCH easier. When the first truck gets on scene, we drop the manifold and start reeling off line. It doesn't slow us down more than a few seconds and when we get up the drive, road, etc to the structure a few more seconds and that engine is completely done setting up to receive water.
When the second engine in gets there, the manifold is laying right at the intersection and pulls the line off, hooks to the manifold, and is ready to pump directly to the first engine. We've had that truck since I joined the department so I don't know what it was like laying it all by hand, but I can't imagine doing it without the reel now. Putting it back on the truck isn't much more difficult than deploying it and, again, is done in a matter of minutes.

[Ledebuhr1]

Ok I have a question. If the reel holds say, 2500ft of LDH, do you have to unreel all of the hose if the scene is only 900ft from the water source? Do they have break off points in the hose so you dont have to unreel the whole reel?
thanks

[DellroyVFD08]

Ok I have a question. If the reel holds say, 2500ft of LDH, do you have to unreel all of the hose if the scene is only 900ft from the water source? Do they have break off points in the hose so you dont have to unreel the whole reel?
thanks

It's just normal LDH....ours is at least. 50' sections. We drop the manifold and run about 50' off to have extra until the reel gets spinning with the truck and go to the scene. When we stop, we look at what we have and decide if we want to run more off to the next break, or if we break it at the last coupling. We do keep a 25' section on the truck to make a connection if we're a little short to get up to the intake. The line on the reel isn't connected to anything...just on the reel. It's all stortz couplings so it's quick and easy to break where you want it.

Does that help?

[Ledebuhr1]

Yes thanks a lot,

Any pics of a setup like this. We have a large pump on a trailer that our grass rig pulls. It can supply water from a pond several thousand feet away. We hate using it because it takes so long to fold the hose back on the trailer. A reel would be great.
Any Idea hoe much they might cost?

[Res343cue]

Ledebuhr,

Talk to one of your local power / phone companies. They often have trailers that have powered reels on them for retracting cable and whatnot. I'm sure one of those would work beautifully for our purpouses....

[neiowa]

Wow..this was a pretty good thread. I'm glad someone bumped it to the top.

thanks very much

Working thru this issue for our dept. We are putting together a rural/"city" solution to moving ISO water. Have acquired 5000ft of 6" we are going to use. Working thru details on what we are doing reelwise (trk mtd, trailer mtd etc).

[confire]

5000 feet of 6” hose WOW!
I’ve seen 6” on Oil refinery apparatus, now that’s a supply line. An’t drive over that.
I wonder how many depts. use 6” LDH?

[npfd801]

thanks very much

Working thru this issue for our dept. We are putting together a rural/"city" solution to moving ISO water. Have acquired 5000ft of 6" we are going to use. Working thru details on what we are doing reelwise (trk mtd, trailer mtd etc).

So what surplus program did you find this stuff in? You never cease amaze me with the resourcefulness of the stuff you've done.

In case anyone can't tell, this is a compliment.

I'd bet Hannay has a contact list of customers who use their LDH reels.