[Scan-DC] Alexandria T203

BoxAlarm187 at aol.com BoxAlarm187 at aol.com
Thu Aug 26 18:53:26 EDT 2004


Yes, you're correct on several accounts.  This particular rig is called a 
"mid-mount" tower, whereas the turntable (where the ladder operator stands to 
work the ladder controls, it's also the point at which the ladder is mounted to 
the rig) is mounted in the center of the rig.  This allows a much lower overall 
ride height, but conversely, it's over 200" from the center of the dual axles 
to the back of the rig, making for some tricky driving.  Compare it to this 
rig, which is of a similar length, but is a "rear mount" tower (higher overall 
height, bucket hangs down in front of the windshield, but allows more 
compartment space and shorter wheelbase): 
http://www.singerfire.com/Deliveries-ManassasPark.htm

The 47' length is average for a moden ladder truck.

Finally, tillers (the articulated type) are much more expensive, though you 
can get them in tighter places.  Each department evaluates the strengths and 
weaknesses of each type of apparatus, and buys what they feel fits their needs.

Sorry to bore you all with the fire truck talk, back to the frequencys!  :-)

Taylor 


b-thom hath scribbled:
I'm sure Alexandria knew what it was doing, but after watching it back
slowly out of a dead end street, with the help of a few spotters, I can
tell you that Tower 203 might be a difficult piece of equipment to drive
through some of Alexandria's streets. Both my sighting and the photo you
provided show it is rigid, not articulated. The specified travel length
is 47'-3". That's the length of a railroad boxcar.


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