Fire Engines Photos

If you compare this to a European 100 ft TL, this appliance is huge. Why do our American friends see a four axle monster like this to be superior to a 'nippy' two axle Metz which is half the length, but with the same ladder extension length?

Added by Barry on 22 March 2007.

1st time to see a tiller pulled by 3axle tractor (usually 2axle tractor). What Barry said is right. I think it is a US FD tradition to own tillers. In my view nearly all US fd trucks are large and long compared to the fire trucks in Europe and Asia.

Added by Bomba Boy on 22 March 2007.

Tillered aerials are great for manoeuvring in city streets and a tiller can turn almost as good as an engine and definitely better than any straight aerial.

Added by Shane MacKichan on 23 March 2007.

I am quite sure that a 50 feet long tillered aerial turns better than a non-tillered 50 feet aerial, but I think the question is whether it turns better than a 25 ft long rigid TL.

However what does it matter? These big ones are good to look at and your streets are a lot wider too!

Best wishes, Barry.

Added by Barry. on 23 March 2007.

Most aerial ladders in the US are rated for a much higher weight load than ladders in other countries.

Added by Nick on 25 October 2007.

Truck companies in the US also carry much more equipment than our European brothers so they need to be bigger.

Added by R. Genberg on 24 April 2008.

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