The following updates have made to the site:
- Carol Stream– new Medic 29 added
- Lockport Township – added Ambulance 2Â and Ambulance 3
- Palos FPD – added T6304 and Ambulance 6302
- Palos Heights – added Engine 6423
- Schaumburg – added Ambulance 51
- Arlington Heights – added photos of the following new units: Tower 1, Ambulance 1, Battalion 1 & Ambulance 2, Ambulance 3,
- Crestwood – added Ambulance 2342 and Car 2311
- Hinsdale – added new Engine 1012 which replaced the Spartan/3D engine
Hinsdale Engine 1012 is a 2014 Pierce Saber 1500/750. Drew Gresik photo
#1 by Crabby Milton on July 15, 2014 - 12:32 PM
I figured that was one of the reasons. Considering that rigs of today have so many things in the cab(some might have waffle irons) that only adds to weight. Yeah even some over the road buses have the super single drive wheels as options. They have their pros and cons but one driver I was talking to that if you get a flat, you can’t obviously go. At least a dual setup, you can nurse it to a place.
#2 by Dave Bloom on July 15, 2014 - 12:17 PM
Still doesn’t show that Crestwood upgraded to an ALS provider the end of last year. I’ve seen a 2302 in their house.
#3 by Matt on July 15, 2014 - 12:02 PM
The larger front tires on many new rigs is required due to the weight of the truck and the “super single” tire can thus put more load on the front axle of the vehicle. Due to fuel efficiency gains, super singles are being used in lieu of dual tire set-ups on many highway trailers now.
#4 by Crabby Milton on July 15, 2014 - 6:08 AM
You are correct David. Those were known as Dayton type wheels whereas the disc type are known as Budd. I think that has to do with the most prominent wheel manufacturers at least at the time. I agree that those type of wheels were neat. My other big interest/hobby is buses and many school buses featured this wheel as either standard or optional equipment. Transit and over the road buses were all but exclusively disc type. While I’m not expert on truck and bus wheels, I was told one of the main reasons builders stopped offereing the spoke type wheels were safety. The appeal of the Daytons is that they were easy to lift onto the hub since the spoke portion was part of the hub but the problem is that often times, if they weren’t put on properly, the wheels would wobble so it was important to get those things on straight. With disc types which are pretty much like your car or light truck, it’s almost impossible not to put them on straight and have them run true.
The Dayton type spoke wheels have all but disappeared as an OEM in the late ’90’s to early ’00’s on trucks and buses at least here in North America but many are still in use. So now the choices for buses and fire trucks are steel disc and aluminum disc and both have their pros and cons. I was only commenting on the size of the front wheels on some apparatus and I was told once that was in case the rig got caught in a body of water and would be able to float but I’m skepital to that.
#5 by David on July 15, 2014 - 1:52 AM
I loved the spoke (Dayton, whatever it’s called) wheels on the rigs, the Fords and Macks used to have this style wheelhubs, but for some unknown reason the manufacturers seem to totally abandon this type. I think the last Chicago rigs purchased new with this style wheels were the 1988 Ford/Mickeys (former Collapse Rescue, Hazmat,…).
#6 by Fartin' Fred on July 15, 2014 - 1:09 AM
Haha, we don’t want you crabby, Milton–just like we don’t want me gassy 🙂
#7 by Crabby Milton on July 14, 2014 - 6:00 PM
Mostly the front wheels are often time very wide in proportion to the rear wheels. I guess I’m partial to the wheel style on that EONE belonging to Palos Hills. That Hinsdale PIERCE looks to have non cement mixer wheels as well. Don’t worry, I like weird things plus…it gives me something to be crabby about if it’s not the way I like it.
#8 by Fartin' Fred on July 14, 2014 - 5:19 PM
Whatcha mean by “cement mixer wheels,” Crabby Milton?
#9 by Crabby Milton on July 14, 2014 - 2:58 PM
I like 6423. Nice to see an apparutus without “cement mixer” front wheels for a change.