This from Lucas Hanson
I just thought I’d share a picture of Bolingbrook‘s new engine 5 that went in service this week. Its a Pierce PUC, not sure of any specs.
Bolingbrook received this 2012 Pierce Impel PUC for Engine 5. Lucas Hanson photo
New engine for Bolingbrook
#1 by Sebastian on June 24, 2012 - 5:06 PM
Its not even that!!!!! It’s just sitting there!!!
#2 by Joe on June 24, 2012 - 4:03 PM
As usual with fire departments, some people were thinking, others were not. Department brass insisted on that chassis in that configuration, they didn’t put much thought into how it would or could actually be used. The people who were tasked with actually building the rig on that chassis with that body style did the best they could, but they could only do so much.
Rosemont is a rare department in that they have quite a bit of money and don’t see much, if any, action. There was a lot of push and pull when they purchased their newest engine, but the brass won out and got the rig configured the way they wanted it. The thing really is enormous, but again, Rosemont doesn’t see much fire so it’s really just an ambulance chaser.
#3 by Sebastian on June 24, 2012 - 11:56 AM
So why order a vehicle that you are not going to use??? Were they not thinking when they spec’d the rig???
#4 by ffpm571 on June 24, 2012 - 9:01 AM
Rosemont’s PUC has been in the body shop. They hit a canopy with the body and did some pretty good damage to the top. Also, word is they really dont like the PUC because it is huge. It’s on a Quantum chassis. The hosebed is about 8 feet in the air.
#5 by Sebastian on June 23, 2012 - 9:11 PM
Anyone know why rosemont is not using their PUC as front line and still runing with their 97 e-one as front line????? It has been quite some time now!! Just curious as to why?? Btw norwood park fire department has a beautiful new PUC engine!!!
#6 by Martin on June 23, 2012 - 5:39 PM
Thanks Joe and Ryan. The information you have given me helped me better understand this PUC system.
#7 by Ryan on June 23, 2012 - 4:59 PM
Our (Hillside) top mount PUC is different than our top mount American LaFrance, being that the pump controls on the PUC are configured in a more compact area, rather than spread over the entire width of the vehicle. I’ve pumped our PUC on numerous occasions, and on some very large fires (Broadview Dollar Store fire). I do have to say that it is very easy to pump and it pumps like a dream. For those that know what they are doing, its not complicated at all.
#8 by Ryan on June 23, 2012 - 4:52 PM
With the PUC, there is no traditional pump house. The actual pump is very small and is located between the frame rails under the rear of the cab and begining of the body. When you raise the cab, the pump and all pump piping is accessable. Yes, this does allow for the very short 184″ wheel-base. The side mounted pump panel on this Bolingbrook engine takes up half of the first compartment. They do make a top mount/walk up pump panel, like the one on ours (Hillside) and Rosemont’s. There is a longer rescue version of the PUC, which makes the wheel-base a little longer. Both Lisle-Woodridge Engine 511 and Plainfield 1926 have that style.
#9 by Joe on June 23, 2012 - 4:38 PM
They don’t have much of a choice as far as the placement of the panel goes. Part of the PUC configuration is that the motor and pump are mounted on the frame rails, really low in the vehicle. This frees up a considerable amount of room in the cab because it essentially completely eliminates the dog house and the pump itself sits below and just behind the rear seats. This is why you see the discharges and the intakes really low on the vehicle and the pump panel behind the ports as opposed to above them. It’s a smart design, but comes with a few compromises. However, it seems no more complicated for an engineer to handle a PUC than it would be for him to handle a top mounted pump panel.
Bottom line is the PUC frees up a lot of space in the cab and a lot of compartment space in the rear. It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the better things going right now. It works really well for departments who are primarily fighting fires using pre connects or crosslays (which almost all departments, with a few exceptions are.) If your engineer doesn’t need to hook up much or anything to the panel, this is no more a challenging configuration than anything else out there.
#10 by Martin on June 23, 2012 - 2:53 PM
Thanks Bill, I forgot that they also do that. Is it any better to have it there or do they just do it for a shorter wheels base?
#11 by Bill Friedrich on June 23, 2012 - 1:34 PM
The actual pump panel is located in the 1st compartment behind what appears to be the pump panel.
#12 by Martin on June 23, 2012 - 11:41 AM
How are these smaller pump panels? They seem painful.