But this truck sure has some moves.
If you took your driver’s exam in a limousine, you probably flunked your parallel-parking test. But if you were at the wheel of a sub-compact, you might well have backed that baby into its slot on the first shot.
It’s a matter of maneuverability. Although fire trucks rarely need to be parallel parked, they ought to be as gazelle-like as possible at emergency scenes in order to sidestep parked cars, fallen limbs, dumpsters, debris, curious onlookers—the full panoply of unexpected hazards.
No one appreciates vehicular agility more than Lt. Dion Grener of the City of Lebanon Fire Division in Ohio. His department recently purchased a short-body Pierce® PUCArrow XT™ for precisely that attribute. “Lebanon has an historic downtown dating to the early 1800s,” says Grener, “so the streets are narrow, with a lot of ancient detached garages behind the houses, on tiny alleys. We also have several festivals, where 80,000 people can show up, which closes the main streets. When we get calls, our only way in is via those alleys. Our other engines didn’t have the turning radius to do that.”
Wheelbase is maneuverability’s first ally—the shorter the better—but how do you achieve that on a fire truck? Pierce’s Ultimate Configuration, or PUC, managed it by locating the pump far forward saving four to five feet of real estate. That, in turn, reduced the wheelbase of a PUC pumper by as much as 18 inches and shortened the wheelbase of even a 75-foot aerial ladder by five inches. What’s more, top-mount pumpers usually add 18 to 24 inches of wheelbase. Pierce’s top-mount PUC added not one millimeter.
Grener was further impressed by the work platform at the PUC’s stern. When the truck exits a scene, that platform can be raised, further reducing overall length while simultaneously improving departure angle. “In cul-de-sacs, we used to have to back out,” Grener recalls. “Now we just turn around normally.” That’s partly thanks to the PUC’s 45-degree cramp angles, as sharp as any in the business, not to mention wheelbases as stubby as 172 inches.
Despite the Arrow’s compact size, Grener says it holds more equipment than any truck in his experience. “We’ve got compartments up top and compartments on the sides that are two-feet deep,” he notes. “We used to have a pumper and a rescue truck, but now we just put all the rescue tools on the PUC. We call it our ‘engine/rescue.
As Lebanon has grown, its fire department has dealt with 40-percent more calls than in 2002, including a variety of new industries handling high-hazard chemicals. “We always feel understaffed,” says Grener, “so to have what amounts to a ‘two-in-one’ truck makes us more efficient. On every call, the PUC is the first truck we roll.”
Making Lebanon’s Arrow XT even more maneuverable is its TAK-4® independent front suspension. “The steering feel is amazing,” Grener enthuses. “It’s tight, accurate, and doesn’t take as much input to get the angle you want at the front wheels. Steering this truck, you make far fewer corrections.”
Handling has also improved, in part because the PUC’s center of gravity is so low. But it’s also because the crosslays and ladders are at chest height, and the hosebeds are eight to 12 inches lower than on conventional trucks.
Most Pierce PUCs make extensive use of lightweight aluminum, and the1500-gpm pump weighs 30-percent less than traditional pumps.
Strangely, maneuverability is also a function of ride quality. The driver must not be distracted as the suspension is displaced—while mounting curbs, for example, or navigating ravaged rural roads. “The smooth ride is a big deal for my guys,” says Grener, “especially when we’re on multiple calls.” Much of the ride improvement accrues from the TAK-4’s ten inches of suspension travel, versus most trucks’ five to six inches. “We drive up a lot of rough farm drives, and we recently took our PUC off-road for a brush fire,” he recalls. “The suspension was really composed.” Such composure isn’t surprising on a truck offering 15 inches of ground clearance and a 15-degree angle of approach and departure.
And what would maneuverability be without power, braking, and safety? Pierce’s PUCs are motivated by as much as 525 hp. The TAK-4 suspension, combined with 17-inch rotors, results in a 60-foot shorter whoa from 60 mph. And Electronic Stability Control is available.
The PUC is available on all Pierce custom chassis and has already accounted for more than 250 new orders.
By John Phillips
Photo by City of Lebanon Fire Division
John Phillips has been an editor at Car and Driver for 20 years.