Fire Engines Photos

What advantage is the extra wheels behind the cab. This is a foreign concept to most of us in the U.S.

Added by Les Davis on 22 March 2012.

Les, the twin steer configuration allows for better distribution of the weight more evenly throughout the truck and also gives better stability when cornering. It is probably the only way a ladder of this height and weight could legally be operated on a road.

This type of vehicle configuration is quite common in both Australia and New Zealand.

Added by Pav on 22 March 2012.

Thanks Hiroaki M. (Aregato gozaimashita) remembering my time in Japan. A typical TL for large cities in Japan.

Added by Jacques PETER on 22 March 2012.

I don't know why, but 45 to 50m Ladder is only available for 4-Axis chassis.
They even have shorter length than Huge US Ladders.(e.g. 12m for 30m Pierce vs 11.6m for 50m Morita)

Added by Hiroaki M. on 22 March 2012.

Many Japanese trucks of all types have a second steering axle, to carry the additional weight of a maximum gross vehicle weight body and payload. Often, Japanese ladder trucks use this rather commonplace configuration, and for a 45 meter aerial (146 feet) the all-up weight is right there at the legal maximum for four axles. The four axle layout is also found in Europe on high-capacity tankers and large rescue cranes, as well as airport crash rigs. The most famous four axle vehicle in the US is probably the Stryker amored personnel carrier, which also carries a lot of weight!

Added by Rob Johnson on 22 March 2012.

weight and axle loadings, and in this case tyre and wheel loads as for a 200feet ladder the running gear is relatively small.

Added by A.J.ALEXANDER on 22 March 2012.

In the US, 4 axle chassis, having the front 2 axles as twin steers, are usually found on construction vehicles. Concrete pump trucks using hydraulicly elevated booms and some self propelled cranes usually have twin steer up front, with tandem drive axles.

When I was stationed in Japan, it was not uncommon to see cargo trucks with the twin steer axles in front, and a single drive axle in the rear. Sasebo City's ladder at that time had the same axle configuration as well.

Added by David L on 22 March 2012.

Hi everbody! In UK they call a truck with twin steer axles in front, a single driven rearaxle for "Chinese six". The firebrigade in Nacka (province Stockholm) was earlier owner of a rescuevehicle with twin steer axles and a single drive axle. That ´cos the crane was located behind the cab!

Anders F. Sweden.


Added by Anders Fallström on 12 August 2014.

Yes Anders, but it might be more accurate to call them "Japanese sixes"!

Added by Rob Johnson on 14 August 2014.

Salzburg in Austria had an unusual water tender with two steering axles at one time, but I don't know if it still on the run.

Added by Rob Johnson on 05 October 2018.

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