pro's & con's

pro's

MANEUVERABILITY

COMPARTMENT SPACE

FASTER SET-UP TIME

AERIAL OPERATIONAL FOOTPRINT

OVERALL HEIGHT

LESS WEIGHT

Con's

Maneuverability

Highly maneuverable because of the fifth wheel articulation and the ability to steer the rear of the trailer around obstacles.
More maneuverable than straight-frame aerial, even though the tractor drawn aerial is longer than straight-frame apparatus.
More maneuverable responding in and around narrow streets, traffic circles/calming circles, parked cars, cul-de-sacs and traffic projects.
A tractor drawn aerial can simply access areas a straight-frame aerial cannot.
Because of maneuverability, the turntable on a tractor drawn aerial can be manipulated closer to buildings compared to a straight-frame aerial.
The tractor drawn aerial is able to navigate into urban developments with tight access to apartment complexes, condos, offices, and college campuses.
Maneuverable allows for Increased on-scene access (where straight-frame aerial has trouble making access and must use 3-point turn, swing wide into oncoming traffic, go around the block, or back up)

compartment space

ompartment capacity for a tractor drawn aerial can be between 500 to 650 cubic feet compared to a straight-frame aerial compartment capacity of roughly 160 cubic feet.
Tractor drawn aerials accommodate a larger number of ground ladders than straight frame aerials. Because tractor drawn aerials are mid-mount aerial, the structural components for the turntable are located towards the front of the apparatus, thus providing a larger space for ground ladders in the back of the trailer. Also,
Because of the size of a tractor drawn aerials trailer, ground ladders are able to be attached to the outside on the trailer, consequently adding to your ground ladder complement.
Because of the sheer compartment space difference between a straight-frame aerial and a tractor drawn aerial, firefighters are not hampered with issues such as:

o   Firefighters opening 2 or 3 compartments to get tools and equipment.
o   Tools and equipment stacked on top of each other.
o   Tools and equipment being stored high up, having a negative impact on body-mechanics.

faster set-up time

Tractor drawn aerial has only two outriggers compared to four
Advantage in time savings when setting up aerial
Outriggers can be ordered now without pins, allowing for set up with one person

Aerial operational footprint

With 2 outriggers you are able to deploy them in areas with a smaller footprint where you could not with 4 outriggers
Approximately 15’ to 16’ wide deployment of outriggers depending upon specs vs. 18’to 20’ for straight chassis platforms

Less Weight

Even though the Tractor drawn aerials is a larger apparatus, the overall weight of the apparatus is approximately 15,000 pounds lighter than an aerial platform
Less weight equals easier on braking, transmission, engine, suspension, etc.

Overall Height

Typical height of a tractor drawn aerial is around 11’ 2” where aerial platforms can be between 11’11” to 12’2’