The 18 metre ladder was a very popular choice for many small town volunteer fire companies in Germany for most of the twentieth century. It replaced large. cumbersome and heavy wooden wheeled ladders which required six to ten crew members to maneuver, and was used in places where an 18 meter ladder was quite adequate for the kinds of structures which were most common. The steel versions - produced after 1931 - were light enough to be installed on an eight ton truck chassis, and were a much less expensive alternative to a full blown 27 or 30 meter ladder truck. Most were either Mercedes or Opel, the latter being the less costly option.
Added by on 26 October 2026.