Driving rear of tiller

Non company LCC and first time Tillerman. I think we did ok.

[@fiend4mojitos]

A retired Boston Fire Lieutenant here. My 1st five years I was assigned in East Boston to Ladder Co. 21, a 1972 Maxim 100' tiller. The bouncing, squeaks and rattles are all too familiar. We didn't have power steering then. The tiller seat was on the floor; we learned to drive with our knees braced under the steering wheel to keep from banging our heads on the roof going over bumps.

[@normbrown3435]

Sitting there must have been a sight lol Did you go to the Big Chelsea fire 73?

[@fiend4mojitos]

I was appointed in 1978. But I remember the Chelsea Fire.

[@parkerkloss8793]

A salty brother

[@rickymccutcheon]

now that is fire truck manufacture u don't hear much anymore ,Maxim, they were built like tanks

[@southernfiremen2845]

Thank god we have a rear mount 😂😂

[@549BR]

This would be enough to make a tranquilizer nervous. Can you imagine the fear on your very first run down these narrow streets. Hats off to these people; money is well earned!

[@Keaton0801]

William Reuter sadly I don’t believe they get paid enough.

[@ArmEConDoesMinecraft]

Keaton0801 you are right. Firefighters do not get paid much. Same for police, and EMTs and Paramedics

[@stevenkelly9731]

Its both scary and exhilarating.Than it just got routine.

[@themooseisontheloose]

What money? It's the FDNY, the city doesn't pay them anything except bullshit.

[@David-wu7jj]

I agree

[@CountryBoyVA16]

I would have to find where that squeaking is coming from ASAP. Lol

[@Doophenschmirtz]

It’s most likely the air seat

[@susanallen2678]

Wow, those are some narrow streets. Good job tillerman.

[@stevenkelly9731]

Susan Leingang its fun

[@susanallen2678]

I think I would have to find the squeak and fix it.

[@stevenkelly9731]

Susan Leingang most trucks I have tillered squeaks like this one.

[@susanallen2678]

My father always said this was his favorite job. He retired a Deputy Chief.

[@arnoldarnold1034]

Susan Leingang thank your father for his service. ALSO how do we know the tiller driver wasn't a gal? ; )

[@OntarioAndrew]

Don't worry Capt! Cosmo's got the caboose

[@bretr9663]

I’ve had some tiller time in my career. Let me say the both the tractor driver and the tillerman have some MAD SKILLS!

[@stevegiu4232]

He's a first time tillerman...?

[@Geoff_G]

Watching some videos of tiller trucks is cool but this one gives real perspective. What talent you have to drive that rig in such narrow streets. Great job, and thanks for posting the video.

[@ropinhorseman924]

Outstanding

[@MtaBus5102]

Holy shit those are the the tightest streets i've ever seen an FDNY Apperatus go down.

[@mrcarlo1966]

When I was a kid I would stalk the local fire house(L151) and a fireman would let me sit up top of the American Lafrance they had at the time..”turn the opposite way” he would tell me.We never left the firehouse but when you r a kid and have a big imagination it wasn’t important. I can’t believe how tight some of those turns are,how poor the visibility is forward, and how much it rattles..these guys do a great job!Thank you.

[@robertdawson9114]

When you left the garage I ducked my head, not much room there.👍😁😎

[@littlejohhny42]

My father was a fireman here in Chicago. His last detail was as a tillerman on an old Hook & Ladder truck that had wooden ladders. When they went to aluminum, the truck became a little shorter, but his perch to steer hung over the end of the truck. When he looked straight down all you saw was pavement.

[@jtsjc1]

Nice work in the wonderful world of Williamsburg. I worked that area for 20+ driving the phone company van and that was tough let alone a tiller. Now its impossible to drive there. Much respect men!

[@ChrisandEileen]

Holy Hell.. and to think i thought the learning curve was big on our Pierce pumper.. I cringed at so many turns .. and noticed how many ppl just wouldnt get out of the hand.. Hats off to that tillerman ...

[@Quadflash]

Tillerman job must take a long time to learn. Amazing skill.

[@Mister_MasterzRN]

Why somebody would give a thumbs down blows my mind? Lol it’s hard enough to drive a car through the streets of New York, let alone the rear of a fire engine . I believe that is New York 😅

[@ArmEConDoesMinecraft]

BurntFist yep it’s nyc

[@rodgiacoleetch6193]

BurntFist 9 losers! Great video! Stay safe brothers

[@MrRCGNL]

Why Thumbs Down? Because only an idiot chooses a tillertruck for a TTL AD 2018. In Europe we put a 32m (Working height) TTL on a standard 10.30m, 4.90m wheelbase Volvo 2x4 base; set up time 70secs Even the longest Rosenbauer TTL (Working height 64m!) is based on a 4x6 base of only 13.20m. Has nothing to do with NYC, difficult driving or whatever, but with typical American Impression Management.

[@ArmEConDoesMinecraft]

MrRCGNL this truck is actually more maneuverable than the ladder trucks you are describing even though it’s bigger. That’s why they choose this truck. Plus our ladders in america carry a lot more equipment than your ladders in Europe. Different firefighting equipment styles, that you can’t really compare to each other.

[@MrRCGNL]

Mathematical formulas support me when I say that your statement is B

[@SoapinTrucker]

I have mad respect for 1st responders, THANK YOU FOLKS, and God bless you all!!!!!!! 😎👍

[@sharpy9997]

Great video. Tillers have always fascinated me. They are so manoeuvrable compared to a 3 axle with centre steer axle that we would have in the uk.

[@truckerray7533]

Squeek squeek, bouncy bouncy, bumpity bump bump. . . . . ."WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. . . . . .WOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

[@mrwonderful2142]

Your roads are a disaster. I cant believe the beating I just watched that rig receive :(

[@TabaquiJackal906]

DAMN. Such tight corners and so many vehicles right to the corners, too - absolutely astounding that either of these apparatus fit through any of that! Good work.

[@loisdonovan1716]

My dad was the tillerman in the 60s on ladder one. In the north end very. Narrow streets. Dad said if can tiller in Boston you can tiller anywhere.

[@owensweetland342]

Brooklyn. 104 Truck. Hats off to BOTH drivers.

[@TeamFish15]

Your first time tiller?? You’re a prodigy!! Unbelievably tight windows!

[@tom98250]

Tight! Pretty sure I'd have that tiller wadded into a ball, after about the first two blocks!

[@emeraldzebra9360]

That siren wail is so satisfying but there were alot of stops (obvious reasons) considering this is a emergency vehicle

[@nightfury8440]

No one knows how to drive in NYC

[@sirwiesheifu3585]

If you want to find videos of it, it's called the ''screaming q'' .

[@emeraldzebra9360]

@@sirwiesheifu3585 oh I know, I was looking at buying one here in the UK. They are a few thousand pound here. ($1-£0.75 average)

[@sirwiesheifu3585]

@@emeraldzebra9360 oh thats a lot

[@richardbedard1245]

I don't believe that I could get my Dodge Neon through some of those streets!

[@counterfit5]

There are still Neons that run?

[@adrianacardenasrodriguez5299]

Sru

[@JohnSmith-qn3ob]

I bet their favorite song is Move Bitch by Ludacris

[@gagelinder2150]

Good job dirveing the tiller

[@TheDrummie1]

That is an amazing skill, almost telepathic. What knowledge these tiller men must have of their fireground, to get behind the wheel of this truck and basically steer blindly to a fire. Totally amazing, as an ex- britsh fireman i would love to see one of these trucks close up. The driver and tillerman must be a very close team indeed. Keep safe brothers, repect.

[@brandonh5501]

TheDrummie1 i dont know why i didnt hear him talking but some tillerman and the drivers usually communicate through headsets while they are both operating the fire truck

[@popiscoolnow]

TheDrummie1 someone once told me that the firehouse in nyc with the tiller is one of the moat visited by fans

[@jackcarney3920]

TheDrummie1 Tiller man must focus on the gum ball machine (light or other device) on the center of the roof of the tractor. When it goes left, you turn right. Not quite blind, but it does require skill from both drivers.

[@robtman9199]

Amazing driving, would love to see the camera view from either side on the rear running boards, to see just how close he came to those objects in his way.

[@ship-west176]

When they clip a car, whose insurance goes up, driver or tiller?

[@rossdickens]

From the looks of the video, it's like driving across plowed ground.

[@thephantomeagle2]

I have to assume that those pipes that are hanging from the ceiling along the walls, at the start of the video in the station, are for exhaust. That way you can run trucks indoors in the winter for maintenance checks.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Indeed! Even moreso than just for maintenance, it allows them to start the trucks and get ready with it idling, rather than having to pull outside first. The exhaust hoses are actually connected right onto the vehicle's exhaust pipes, and they slide off as the truck pulls away. Notice when the truck on the right pulls out, the hose is on a track system, and then falls off the truck as it's pulling out.

[@thephantomeagle2]

@@KatTheFoxtaur In Michigan, and other northern states that get cold cold winters, I'm sure that they also use them to have trucks running when it's well below zero. They may just run them for a while every day to make sure that the gas lines don't freeze up, especially if they're diesel.

[@simonsupersi2225]

Wow you cant see anything .what info does the driver give you if any?

[@stevenkelly9731]

Head sets to talk...or beeps with the buzzer.1 beep= stop, 2 beeps= go coward, 3 beeps = backup.

[@azul8811]

@@stevenkelly9731 Since when does the FDNY have headsets in their rigs? Are you saying that the chauffeur & tillerman wear headsets as they respond?

[@CortezBurt]

And back before the trucks got hydraulic Outriggers,5 beeps were meant for jackknife to position the truck so they could use the aerial ladder.

[@azul8811]

@@CortezBurt Well, IDK if that was done anywhere else, but that certainly was not the case in NYC. IDK how much room you'd have in order to jackknife a rig on a NYC side street! Also they only used 1, 2, or 3 beeps. BTW, the hydraulic outriggers on FDNY tiller rigs were not in use until the late 1980's to the best of my recollection. Prior to that they were manual. And you also had to set the height of the threaded jacks by hand after you pulled out the outrigger. There were plates you were suppose to place under the jacks and you had to chock the wheels, as well. It was important to keep the outriggers well lubricated. There was a white colored grease called something like Lubriplate that was used.

[@UkrainianBazooka]

Everybodys gangster till the most commanding truck in NYC is coming at you from the wrong way of a one way street.

[@Justanunderaveragekyle]

3:34 to anyone else does that look like an old firehouse?

[@micotsaynes]

Ride along with tiller ladder 104 of FDNY

[@bohemoth1]

As a former Auxiliary Fire Corps Captain in the FDNY I know that company is Engine Company 221 and Ladder 104 in Williamsburg Brooklyn. They went under the Williamsburg Bridge. I was looking for the 35 Battalion and Ladder 119.

[@ZEZERBING]

I've been waiting for this perspective all my life! That was cool.

[@truculenttabasco]

Those sirens sound like cats fighting, lol

[@Brian_P]

Good video but it'd be better for the camera to be behind the driver to see the steering input

[@SlipKnotSlayer66]

Im a volunteer fireman in a smaller town and I love being a firefighter because its a very humbling experience in my life, but to see how well these guys maneuver in these city streets really amazes me and also scares me to see how people don’t stop or move for them. Thank you for doing what other people can’t, and for all my fellow firefighters out there, stay safe guys.

[@lelandgaunt9985]

Grab that tiller will ya, hand me that chopper.

[@xinotron]

My dumpass thought it was a roller coaster and woundered, why there's a firetruck...

[@ismaildvtlb]

man how do you go through that narrow streets with that tiller? great job. well done

[@stevenkelly9731]

Easy...don't look down unless its a really sharp turn..keep the tiller bed aligned with the cab.It takes experience.

[@rjr1227]

That squeaking drives me nuts...

[@tracynshea1333]

Tillerman is probably the hardest job in the department! Js

[@jasonallison5121]

I'd chase that squeak till it was no more

[@visionist7]

Where's my PlayStation controller Edit: I mean no disrespect by my comment :-( this is the hardest job in New York. Immense admiration for you guys! Stay safe and give flames hell!

[@Hey_its_Koda]

I always wondered why they never let firemen hang on the sides of the firetrucks anymore. Looks dangerous but it still be cool to do.

[@tonyringtail]

Ninja k i was a firefighter in the days when we could still ride on the tailboard of the trucks... it really became too dangerous as we lost some guys falling from the rigs while it was moving.. it was hard to anticipate some movements and counter balance yourself properly its much worse today... as cool as it was im glad they moved everyone inside for safety

[@mightymouseofnyc]

Thank you KZbin for putting this in my feed. That was so cool!! It takes a special set of kahunas to do that.

[@LordLucariosLair]

It would be cool to see the tiller backing back into the station. The Tiller is definitely one of the best things firefighting has ever come out with.

[@CaptainCrutch]

Oh what I’d give to be in that seat on an older truck! Open cab and maybe even no power steering... Tiller driving is fun enough these days, I can only imagine on an older rig...

[@丸山耕司]

Ô

[@MoonwolfeConsulting]

This job goes way beyond skill, its pure art!

[@judis.1810]

Damn good driving thru those treacherous narrow streets in NY.

[@WendyO420]

Wow can’t wait to watch these all with my Grandson!! Respect!

[@cdarting91]

Did they go code 2 and forget to turn in the reds? Not a criticism just trying to figure out if I misunderstood something in the video. I work construction and every great once in a while I forget to turn off my amber’s when I get out of a work zone.

[@cassidybb10]

Very interesting! Where I live Akron ohio we are taught as drivers to move to the right and let emergency vehicles get through. But it's so tight and dense there. And you literally had to wait for traffic to get through and have the right of way so that you can get through. The siren too much slower than here. But I bet that helps with the pace of driving. Old adage "slow and steady wins the race" thanks for sharing. Can you share how driving that rear end works? Again we don't have this style of truck here I'm Akron. All straight trucks. Thanks for sharing and serving the city.

[@samcarbon5290]

The only tiller Akron,Oh. Had was a 1950s Pirsch tiller Ladder 1,was sooo cool

[@edball4906]

VERY INTERESTING!WHERE|LIVEAKRONOHIOWEARE TAUGHTAS

[@Mclint9171]

Gotta say that’s the coolest video I’ve seen this week. A view very few will ever get, but a true testament to the skill and training tiller crews go through.

[@Michaelbos]

I'm sure a lot of us learned something here. I always thought the tiller guy could see everything, but not really . He/she is really blind to a point, can't see the street. 👍

[@jamesdillard3583]

I remember when I was living in North Portland Oregon and one of my friend was a firefighter from station 22 and he invented me to spend the a shift with him and he was driving this and he let me ride with him and it was fun but scary because people don't get out there way.

[@dirtytrucker68]

Great job..... That’s a job on its own weaving that fire truck through the busy streets before any life saving starts. Stay safe👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@rascalpup5237]

Nice driving though I think more people would have yeilded had the pumper actually turned their lights on lol

[@ungurdani8346]

Salut my friend super car super video subscribe subscribe .

[@yannisgouras4482]

As a truck driver I think I would have a blast driving one of those

[@dunc_n_fr]

Why are there dislikes??

[@bitethedevil]

Because it's too slow of driving probably.

[@redbaron474]

Those dislikes are from asshole new york drivers who won't get out of the way.

[@emergencyresponsevideosand4423]

This road seems a little bumpy Meanwhile I4 in orlando

[@lathamarea1437]

you made it look easy, great driving skills by both drivers

[@freedomguard7822]

Williamsburg Brooklyn E221 no lights

[@Zayday1993]

I'm so slow why I thought we was on a inside rollercoaster😂 oopsy doopsy

[@kevinhaley7687]

Absolutely amazing skilled Talent the tillerman has around those tight turns what an amazing Job

[@lemonshuh6340]

This is some incredible work. However, I think this video just goes to show how useful a tiller is. Imagine being the chauffer of one of the 95' Aerialscopes and trying to maneuver through those streets...

[@CousinBri]

Lemons Huh the 95” Aerialscope is my regular rig. Just detailed to the tiller rig for the one tour.

[@lemonshuh6340]

God bless your chauffers hahaha

[@avontaprice8728]

At 4:19 was he telling the driver of the tiller that the lights on the top of the fire truck was turned off????🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Hey Kramer, get off that truck.

[@number-1-Saxman]

Just amazes me how New Yorkers don't know what it means to get the hell out of the way emergency vehicles running code 3

[@redbaron474]

What's even more amazing is that one or more FF doesn't just jump out of the truck and starting beating the shit out of the asshole drivers!

[@donalderickson7450]

its like we come first then the fire Dept comes second

[@thomasfrotton876]

Haven't been a fire fighter since 2004 but I still love to hear that Q GREAT job tiller guys

[@nunyabiz7021]

That's not a real Q, it's a fake electronic version that sounds like crap, lol.

[@Carolinastrucks]

Fdny? I wish I will be driving a rear one day

[@axysdnyd]

Oh hell no!!! There's no chance I'd ever even consider driving something like that in NYC!!! Damn that's some NARROW places to navigate!! Much respect for the drivers!!

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

narrow? I guess we have a different imagination of narrow streets :D Those which are narrow in my mind are too narrow for a compact 100' Tower Ladder with all-wheel steering to fit in

[@chrislaf89]

Not quite all wheel steering, the back wheels on the tractor don't turn, or do they?

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

Antal M I am not talking about the Tiller Ladders, but the trucks some departments over here have. Those are often trucks with 2 axles and yes they do have all-wheel steering. They can steer with both the front and rear axle at the same time, either for a tighter turning radius or to drive sideways, and they can also use only the front axle or the rear axle to steer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIObd2WrqdKhbtk

[@lars7935]

In many european cities these streets would qualify as decently wide.

[@TheFreaker86]

Those sirens sound like horny tomcats about to fight 😜

[@richardwinters4258]

Did all right my ass. NAILED IT.!.

[@AssassinIronMan]

GPS says 5 minutes but the traffic and streets make it 20 😔

[@owensweetland342]

Great video!👍🤙

[@victorbasta7359]

Are the driver of the front and rear trained to do both jobs? Do they regularly switch to stay proficient?

[@BumberenzoTheFireEngine]

Do these thing still exist?

[@Indy125]

Do you have a foot brake too, or just the driver?

[@libinwang6676]

Hola soy licua este tiller camión de los niños muy malo 😒

[@jimkeappock7558]

That ride could shake your kidneys loose!!

[@Monkeywrench542]

Jeeze, some of these people driving have no idea of giving emergency vehicles the right of way. I wonder how they even got their drivers licenses?

[@devinhallsworth5531]

Jesus fucking christ i would not want to drive something that big on tiny city streets.

[@TommyFelipe]

The South Side

[@williambonnie-do7yz]

That looks like the WORST place to live I've ever seen.

[@billyfrmhill]

No intercom?

[@BassettAlmighty]

He tells him to turn his lights on towards the end.

[@MrLordwrecker]

Yes it in a head set. You can only hear what he says.

[@billyfrmhill]

That's over a portable radio to the engine in front.

[@gustavosantin5544]

Riding on the back of hook and ladder truck in my kind of ride in the making.

[@jeffd6252]

And the "Q2B" is still coasting.

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

That's one of those new, "electronic" Federal Q sirens, isn't it? I'm used to the original mechanical "wind-up" sirens. Damn thing would roll forever.

[@davidchunko]

My god some of them turns we're tight and too close for comfort I would hate to be the guy steering the end

[@bboxsaidso]

This gave me anxiety.

[@arothko8939]

A tillerman knows where all the bumps are in their territory.

[@bobsmiley6255]

These rear drivers don’t get the respect they deserve, they make it look easy.

[@robertchristensen2633]

I'm waiting to hear oh shit, oh shit, hold on no brakes