From the Interstate Emergency Vehicles Facebook page:
Thank you to the Glen Ellyn Fire Department for their purchase of Rosenbauer’s 100′ Mid-mount Aerial Platform.
- Rosenbauer R6008 Commander chassis
- MN extruded aluminum body
- galvanized frame rails
- galvanized aerial, torque box, outriggers
- Cummins ISX-12 engine
- Allison EVS 4000 transmission
- Hale 8FG pump
- 500-gallon tank
click on the drawing to download a larger file
thanks Dennis
#1 by Paul Schlichting on January 18, 2018 - 3:20 PM
The new tower will replacing the Grumman tower ladder, they bought the midmount so they could have a rig that fit in the downtown house. They are keeping the snorkel and when the new tower comes it will moved to the south station
#2 by Joe Smith on January 17, 2018 - 5:56 PM
FEMA’s National Incident Management Systems, among other things, attempted to streamline communications between different agencies responding to a large scale incident by implementing standard terminology to be used in referring to different types of apparatus.
#3 by Michael M on January 17, 2018 - 12:48 PM
Looks like it will be a nice truck! To the best of my knowledge they will be replacing the current tower ladder at station 62 which is almost 30 years old I believe!
#4 by Bill Post on January 16, 2018 - 6:24 PM
Thanks Mike for bringing it up. Some time ago I heard that there were at least two different terms but I wasn’t sure which was which. That’s why I mentioned the Aerialscope wasn’t a true tower ladder. There’s no question that the Sutphen is closer to an Aerialscope then a ladder tower. It’s like the Snorkel. To me if the boom is articulated and it bends in the middle it is a Snorkel even though only the Snorkel name brand is an official Snorkel.
In the case of the Bronto Skylift I really don’t consider that be a Snorkel even though it does have some similarities. If you are familiar with the old Firebirds by the Calavar Corporation, those were telescopic Snorkels and looked more like a Snorkel then the Bronto does.
A good example of a regional difference is the squad company. What we call a squad would be a rescue company on the East Coast. Another example is that the term ladder company is used out east while in this part of the country we call them truck companies.
#5 by Cmk420 on January 16, 2018 - 6:12 PM
Brian – I think the snorkel is still in good shape. I think the tower ladder, at Station 62, is older, so I would guess it go there.
#6 by Mike L on January 16, 2018 - 4:43 PM
Actually, Bill, by NFPA definition, the tower ladder is an elevating platform with a secondary or emergency escape ladder (Aerialscopes and older Sutphens) while a ladder tower is a fully functioning aerial ladder with a basket attached. As with all things fire service, regions overtake proper terms and make their own.
#7 by Brian on January 16, 2018 - 4:32 PM
I imagine this tower will be replacing the snorkel they run now?
#8 by Chuck on January 16, 2018 - 4:02 PM
Bill, I have always heard of two definitions when it comes to “tower ladders”. One was the FDNY model, in which the bucket was the primary function (not having a true, viable ladder as part of the boom sections,) and the other was like this one or Chicago’s rigs, where the ladder was the primary functioning piece and the basket was just an accessory function – you could access a roof with necessarily having to utilize the basket – hence the technical definition of those was “ladder towers.”
#9 by Bill Post on January 16, 2018 - 12:48 PM
One of the major reasons why some departments choose a mid-mount tower ladder is travel height which can apply both to the fire station and clearances within the community. There are other considerations such as a preference or cost, but height is one of the most prominent reasons. One department that exclusively purchases mid-mounted aerial platforms is New York City. They have 143 ladder companies and about 62 of them are tower ladders. The New York towers aren’t true tower ladders, they are Aerialscope telescopic platforms built by the Seagrave/FWD Corporation. New York bought two rear-mounted LTI tower ladders in the mid 1980s mounted on American LaFrance chassis however those didn’t work out for them. They have been buying 75-foot and 95-Aerialscopes exclusively. In the early 1980s New York purchased two mid-mounted Sutphen aerial towers but they preferred the Aerialscopes. It seems that the rear-mount is the most popular style. Phoenix Arizona runs with 14 truck companies, all of them are aerial platforms. One is a 114-foot Bronto Skylift and the remaining 13 are tower ladders. The last I heard 11 of them were mid-mounts and the other two were rear-mounts. They are now in the process of replacing American LaFrance/LTI units with Pierces. Since they are replacing them I am not sure if they will be changing the configurations. The last I heard was that with the exception of Tower Ladders 1 and 22, the other replacements were mid-mounts so far.
#10 by Mike L on January 16, 2018 - 12:38 PM
Nice to see Rosenbauer making inroads to the Chicago area market. I have been around Pierce, Mack, ALF (original well built) and E-ONE for the majority of my 29 years in the fire service and have watched the quality of Pierce go down while the price goes up. E-ONE has always been what they are and ALF and Mack are long gone. Rosenbauer is prevalent in the St Louis metro and Minneapolis/St Paul metro areas and seem to be well regarded by those who have their rigs.
#11 by Fred M on January 16, 2018 - 11:45 AM
In general, is their a tactical reason for mid mount towers vs rear mounts??
#12 by Daniel Hynd on January 16, 2018 - 7:49 AM
Looks nice. Glad to see another Rosenbauer Mid-Mount tower ladder in the Chicago suburbs.