Aerial Apparatus, Midship or Rear Mount?

I have worked off of both Rear mount and Midship mounted Aerial trucks and tend to favor the Midship.

What are everyone's thoughts (pro's and cons) on which apparatus is better? Also how about your thoughts on ladder vs platform and is a Quint really an Aerial device or just an Engine with a ladder?

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Permalink Reply by Brad Dietlin on April 14, 2010 at 10:20pm

My department has four aerials. We have two Pierce Quantam 105` rear mount quints, a 85` Seagrave rear mount tower, and a Pierce Arrow Snorkel. The quints are great, they are very manuverable(they have all-steer). Most of the time the crews are assigned to traditional truck work, but I have been first on scene with that truck and had to do engine company operations with it.

BTW,
I'm on a volunteer(soon to be part time paid) department

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Permalink Reply by Phil on April 20, 2010 at 11:34pm

Clayton,

Sutphen made a tractor drawn tower, named the 2000+ Platform Tiller, as found in the book Hook & Ladders by Larry Shapiro. I believe the prototype was the only one ever made; the idea just never took off, however unique it was.

http://books.google.com/books?id=sG1_lIHoVFQC&pg=PA50&lpg=P...

The link is huge, but scroll down a few pages of the book and you'll find it. Great book, too. I had it....till I lost it..... Take care and be safe.

Phil Clinard
Laurel VFD
Prince George's County Co 10
Laurel, MD

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Permalink Reply by larry jenkins on April 21, 2010 at 8:02am

I've worked on both and the rear mount is better. The mid mount is very limited working off the sides. The rear mount usually needs to be backed into the scene for maximum reach. I have a midmount in my station now. Looks cool, but the rear mount is better.
The platform is better because you don't need to climb it (saves energy). Tip load is larger on midmount and you can easily do operations from the basket compared to the ladder.
We tried quints and didn't like them. You are either a engine or a truck, it's hard to do both and it's confusing to the other companies trying to figure out what assignment you are taking.

Aerial Apparatus, Midship or Rear Mount?

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