Brush trucks

[PeteySt1]

This is taken from the wildland firefighting section, because it seems that section doesn't get much attention. So, what does your department use for brush/wildland fires? Post pics of the truck(s) if you have any.

[pkfd7505]

No pics available but we have 2 brush trucks. One is a 1977 Dodge 1 ton with a slide in 200 gallon unit. Our other truck is a 1964 jeep truck that also has a 200 gallon slide in unit. Both trucks carry blower packs, rakes, water packs, chainsaws and other various tools. The Dodge gets to the fire allot faster but it is also allot easier to get stuck. When we get into the deep stuff it is nice to have our old workhorse around that is virtually upstoppable. :D

[tbonetrexler]

55-0
Brush/Wildfire Truck
1989 Ford F350

Brush 55-0 equipped with 350 gals of water is set up as a quick attack piece for field and woods fires in 55's first due and through out Kent County.

[Ledebuhr1]

We are thinking about getting a new grass rig. We want a 1-ton with a slide in unit. We are still unsure on wheather it should be a dually or a single rear wheel. What do you perfer? Also, who makes a good skid unit? We were thinking about a CAFS one, but havent looked into the cost yet, would it be worth it.

[scfirefighter02]

Our station runs two smaller size brush trucks, we had an old 78 Chevy single axle 4x4, home-made setup with 300 gallon tank, which i still miss having around, but now have a 2000 F-450 with 500 gallon water supply with a turret that is controlled from the cab , the other unit is our E-one 2003 F-650 rescue with a skid unit, it has 500* gallon water capacity with 50 gallons of foam it also has side mount fan sprayers. They both have pros and cons, the sprayers and turret are nice to have if your just looking for a woods truck, but the rescue has its perks with all the different equipment (MVA stuff and medical). Both have 150 foot of booster and 75 feet of
1-3/4 lines, they are both dually and are four wheel drive, which is a must. I would defiantly give E-one a look. If you need just something I'd set up an old pickup, I enjoy the newer stuff, but when you have a truck you don't have to worry about getting a little banged up its a plus.


Station 2
Engineer
B-shift

[Ledebuhr1]

WOW 600 gallons and 50gal of foam on a F-550? I dident think you could put that much weight on that chassis. Is having a in-cab remote controlled turret really that usefull? I thought about it, but dident think it would ever get used. It would be great to wash down the streets with. :)

[scfirefighter02]

sorry about that, it has 500 gallons of water w/foam, my mistake...


The turrent is more of a extra to tell ya the truth, looks good on the front bumper, and adds a nice touch inside with a joystick in the center, but It gets used more when your on your own somewhere and need to work fast. Downside is if you dont have a tanker close you gotta watch out, its piping is 1-3/4 and it sucks that tank dry real quick lol, I perfer the sprayer on the rescue, they fan all around the front and side and can knock a field fire down quick

[cellblock]

Brush truck used but the City Of St Gabriel, Louisiana Fire Department. Unit number= SG-12. Truck is a Ford pickup originally used by the City Maintiance Department before being transfered to the Fire Department. It's equipted with a 300 gallon skid unit in the bed. Used as a backup EMS First Responder unit it has BLS medical gear and aften is taken on medical calls in case a second call comes in and the primary truck is tied up. It's also the vehicle that will often be used to drive to a landing zone and retrieve the Medic or Doctor from the helicopter when Airmed responds to our area.
I'd post a photo of the truck here but the new forums settings won't let me post it after I've aleady put it in another thread. I HATE that feature. Anyway... You can see it in that thread at- http://forums.firehouse.com/showthread.php?t=62813 .

Steve,
formerly of St Gabriel FD

[arhaney]

We are thinking about getting a new grass rig. We want a 1-ton with a slide in unit. We are still unsure on wheather it should be a dually or a single rear wheel. What do you perfer? Also, who makes a good skid unit? We were thinking about a CAFS one, but havent looked into the cost yet, would it be worth it.


We bought a 1 ton single rear wheel truck years ago and used it as our first brush truck. Some years later we added a flat bed and converted it to a dually, made a huge difference in it's off-road capability.

[PeteySt1]

To Ledebuhr:
I've heard RKO makes a good skid unit, and from a look at their site they have experience with combining foam systems into the skids. On a different note, does anyone use ATV's for brush units? Like polaris, arctic cat, kubota, etc. Finally, I don't know if it's been brought up before, but would be it effective to put "Mattracks" on a brush truck? For those who do not know, mattracks are tank tracks, but they don't all connect. I was thinking hypothetically, like on an international chassis or ford, for those tough-to-reach areas. I know everyone has an area like that in their town or city. I would find it especially effective in muddy areas, or swampland, or in flood conditions. It would probably be alot easier to change the track than to change the tire.

[cozmosis]

From MaumelleFire.Com (http://www.maumellefire.com)...

http://www.maumellefire.com/photos/brushday01.jpg

Brush 1 is a 2002 Ford F-350 XL SuperDuty. It is equipped with a Prime Manufacturing skid unit that carries 200 gallons of water and 20 gallons of Class A foam. Brush 1 has four pre-connected hose lines including a 50-foot section of forestry line off the front bumper as well as a pair of forestry lines and a 1.75" hose line off the rear.

The truck has four-wheel drive and carries a variety of hand tools used in wildland firefighting. Additionally, Brush 1 is equipped with four self-contained breathing air packs, two spare SCBA bottles and basic medical supplies, which allows the vehicle to be used in a variety of situations other than fighting brush fires. Brush 1 is also equipped to tow the Mobile Air Unit. It is staffed by volunteer firefighters or cross-staffed by Engine Company 1 personnel when needed.

[scfirefighter02]

I'd like to see a tracked unit, it sounds like a good concept for some areas

[Firetacoma1]

We have 2 wildland engines. 1 type 6 and 1 type 4.
Our type 6 is a 2006 Ford F-550 flatbed extra-cab.
Our Type 4 (see picture) is a custom built rig... VERY effective

http://www.bouldermountainfire.org/vehicles/4334.jpg

[SAFD46Truck]

Here's the BT assigned to my house.

[CALFFBOU]

Loads of brush rigs here. I couldnt list them all. Have a ball-

http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/chucksfirepics/

[LaFireEducator]

We have 2 trucks that we utilize as brush rigs. The first is an mid 80's ex-miliatry 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 250 gallon tank, pump, booster reel and an assortment of hand tools designated as Brush 1. The second rig we use is a 1 ton service truck that carries 300 gallons of water and a 300 gpm pump with 2 booster lines and some additional forestry hose. The advantage to this rig is that it carries some addtional tools, including a chainsaw and has a generator which can provide some lighting. However it does not have 4 wheel drive capability and is much larger, so its more more a "hard surface" brush truck.

[neiowa]

International 4x4 Air Force surplusdump truck the FEPP (state forester) home converted. 600gal (Army surplus), CET 250gpm portable pump. 3kw Diesel genset (AF Surplus) 50ft telescoping antenna mast (Navy Surplus)

[PrivateStock]

And a Long Island style brush truck...or stump jumpers as we call them
www.chivvisent.com. 5 ton truck vs. Oak tree= snap like a toothpick

[Fire304]

We have an 6.0l diesel F-550 4X4, x-tra cab, 300gal water 10gal foam and a Snuffer CAFS skid unit.
http://forums.firehouse.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45 11&stc=1
Definitely look at the Snuffer, makes great foam, self tending, will pump all day.
http://forums.firehouse.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45 12&stc=1
Stay away from F-450's the front ends suck, 550's are just $700 more at Gov't If my memory is correct, you get 17,000lbs GVWR on a 550, you can pack quite a bit. I think there is a Maxim built on a 550 that only misses Class A rating due to lack of ground ladders (hard to fit a 28' on a pickup).

[scfirefighter02]

I'd get a powerstroke too, our F450 has a turbo and it has blown several times, once coming home after being replaced.

[firefighterbeau]

We have one engine in our dept that has pump and roll, then we have one 1972 chevy 3/4ton with skid unit, 2 John Bean HPF trucks one is 1700 international the other is a similar sized chevy, and 2 F-550's one of which doubles as our rescue truck WAY OVER WEIGHT need bigger truck!! I should get some pictures of the fleets within out district, pretty nice units.


Definately go with a duel wheel truck. And make sure you spec it big enough!