Aerial Tower vs. Tower Ladder

Mike Wilbur discusses the operational differences between an aerial tower and tower ladder.

[@HighOnLife1985]

My father always mentioned that having a mid-mount aerial or tower is the best thing. He said you can just pull right up to the scene, swing that ladder around and you don't have so much of the truck in your way. Rear-mounts he said if you parked it in front of the scene, you have a whole lotta truck in front of you.

[@calmcculloch6038]

Let's first define Aerial Tower and Tower Ladder, because these apparatus look similar. In the video this distinction is at the 6:37 mark. Watch this first if you are not sure of the differences. Tower ladder has a telescoping boom instead of a civilian/firefighter ladder, with a bucket on top and an emergency escape ladder on top of the boom for limited emergency escape use. A victim would be taken into the bucket and lowered to the ground. Aerial has a civilian/firefighter ladder, which has high railings on either side of the ladder for safety and ladder stiffness. This aerial then becomes an aerial tower if it has a bucket on top. Most aerial ladders do not have a bucket on top. It is incorrectly marked 'tower ladder' on the side of the bucket. For a normal aerial ladder a firefighter and victim would down climb the ladder together. However, with this bucket added you could lower the victim to the ground in the bucket just like a tower ladder.

[@toddnyc1642]

very informative. never knew the differences /logic in each truck but was always curious. . thank you

[@v26224]

the interesting thing is in some cities even the departments very the terms, for example in Chicago their tower ladders resemble the first rig you showed, a ladder and a basket, their aerial towers are a straight stick with a plumbed waterway, and their standard truks are just a straight stick.

[@suttonandre7784]

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[@joshuahill6153]

The only mack aerial to ever leave North America in New Zealand lasted from the 80s right up to the 2010s near 2016 because it was versatile and could fit no other ladder could. It saved many buildings from catastrophe.

[@kill-shot1186]

Good information. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@C25-150]

My former VFD got rid of their Tower the Christmas before I joined and received a regular Ladder Truck, they said the tower was unstable especially when driving and limited visibility for the driver

[@SocialistDistancing]

That was interesting. The science of apparatus..

[@speedball10169]

RIP to both of these trucks

[@timeout1569]

The aerial tower is from my hometown, Purchase, NY, and will be replaced in a few months by a straight stick.

[@gocappy]

I think the more common term is Ladder Tower instead of Aerial Tower. That is what Philadelphia calls(ed) theirs.

[@Chumley15]

Can you please do a video of the difference of a true truck with no water and a quint some people do not understand the difference

[@shopguy779]

I believe a t.d.a would be referrenced as an aerial ladder since it does not have a platform to work off of.

[@johnnysbricks483]

No, that’s a tiller.

[@shopguy779]

@Johnny’s Bricks yes , a t.d.a is a tractor drawn aerial device/ tiller

[@mtvjackass74]

chicago runs 12 towers and 40 straight sticks with no water way. also 4 snorkels

[@v26224]

and 2 sticks with waterways

[@mondoseguendo6113]

What about a tiller truck? What kinda ladder is that called?

[@lando9378]

Well it would probably be referenced as an arial, not a tower though probably just an arial ladder or a stick

[@jamesgillum6535]

Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA)

[@levibettinger3905]

Alot of FFs in my area would call it a stick ladder, because there isn't a platform.

[@vinnyruiz118]

How do you guys overcome your fear of heights when on these at large heights? I’d shit my self haha

[@alexpurchase4615]

You just think about what your task is and focus on that. Plus, once you do it enough, it doesn’t really bother you that much.

[@CalebErosa]

Trust your gear. Trust your training.

[@hounddog946]

They all “Platforms”

[@larrybrown7273]

Most major cities have atleast Of This Trucks as reserve or Still in Service'as some may not know Sea Grave is No longer Perce Is The #1 maker of Fire Trucks'Engines In The World U.S. Proudly made

[@BC41B]

Incorrect, Seagrave still manufactures fire apparatus.

[@larrybrown7273]

I stand correct Sir our they still a stand alone or part of Pierce Fire Manufac

[@BC41B]

@@larrybrown7273 They are their own company. Many of the AerialScope refurbs and/or remounts are done by either Seagrave or Pierce which can confuse a good many people.

[@larrybrown7273]

Why have major bought The $2M Tiller from Pierce The Ladder Truck Inparticulat

[@BC41B]

@@larrybrown7273 Pierce relies on quality and name recognition. However in the previous decade their quality suffered as they tried to become more price-friendly. They seem to have turned that around and reverted back to quality which we know comes with a price. Seagrave TDAs aren’t cheap either but again quality reigns. I’d put a Pierce or Seagrave TDA up against other manufacturers TDAs of similar spec any day and they’d come out on top. Others may feel differently but quality doesn’t come bein cheap...

[@Absolut531kmh]

some aerial ladders are folded

[@t.d.bowman9585]

or get a Bronto Skylift and make both of these trucks obsolete and pitiful

[@heavy7799]

BS are pieces of crap my man. That’s why there are so few. Crap. Seagrave 95’ aerialscope is best and most sturdy TL on market

[@t.d.bowman9585]

@@heavy7799 if you say so. I'd like to see a head to head competition including factual test results done by independent engineers. Not just some Seagrave fanboys opinion. From what I've seen Bronto Skylift is much more versatile, longest reach in all directions, higher flow rates, etc etc. What are you basing your opinion on. By the way truck brand has nothing to do with the boom. You can put a Bronto Skylift on any truck. Also 95ft is pathetic. That's like saying 3inches is better than 9inches. 😂 Bronto Skylift gets it all the way up and gives you a reach around.

[@heavy7799]

@@t.d.bowman9585 ...how many are in service and what big cities use them? You also put a 95 aerialscope on just about any chassis

[@keithtaylor1531]

I drove a Bronto for years (174’) and hated it. Biggest POS ever made. Worked ok .... when it worked. Constantly having problems even with experienced D/E and with inexperienced D/E was impossible. Happiest day ever was when it got replaced. Only thing Bronto would be better at was for an airport tower fire. Best used as an artificial reef IMO