Ladder & Equipment Racks

The faster you can get a ladder off the apparatus the faster you can get to where it needs to be. Ladder systems eliminate the slow and awkward climbing that’s often involved with getting a heavy, 30-foot ladder off an apparatus. One firefighter flips a switch and the ladder lowers itself to shoulder height, ready for a quick hoist to your shoulder.

Utilizing a ladder system, especially one that stores the ladders over top of the apparatus, allows for much more compartment space in the apparatus body.  An alternative storage method for ladders, suction hoses and pike poles may be through the tank. This keeps equipment low to the ground for safe retrieval.

“Slip & falls” and muscle strains are two of the most common injuries on the fire scene. Both of which can occur when trying to retrieve heavy ladders or other equipment, such as hard suction sleeves, from the side of an apparatus.

The more often your personnel’s feet leave the ground, the higher the risk for injury. The wet environment of a fire scene only increases this risk. Preventative steps should be taken to limit the amount of climbing, improper/imbalanced lifting of weight, and unnatural stretching required to retrieve a piece of equipment.

To combat this risk of injury, consider installing a Ladder/Equipment Lowering System, either manual or electrically/hydraulically powered.

Manual systems, such as gantries, typically require the release of a thumb lock, and lower with a pull of a lever. While generally more economical, manual racks can require more physical effort to operate, and often cannot be utilized by a single firefighter. Manual racks occasionally require additional components inside the truck body, which can limit compartment storage capabilities.

Electric systems are powered by 12v electric actuators and lower at the flip of a switch. This switch should be installed in an area where the ladders are fully visible to the operator. Electric actuators, while more expensive that a manual system, allow one firefighter to lower the stored ladders with no physical effort. Additional safety locks may be required in areas where the apparatus is often maneuvering bumpy roads or railroad tracks to prevent the ladders from “creeping” down over time.

Utilizes self-contained (no hoses) hydraulic actuators. While usually the most expensive option, hydraulic actuators allow for a smoother, more parallel lowering of the ladders. They also prevent actuator “creeping” which eliminates the need for additional safety locks. Depending on the manufacturer, hydraulic lifts can often carry more weight than their manual and electric counterparts.

Side-mounted systems sit on the apparatus side shelf or mount straight into a reinforced bulkhead wall. Ladders are stored tightly against the truck body. While typically, the less expensive option, side-mounted systems often take up space that would otherwise be used for additional compartments. To counter this, some manufacturers offer “extended” models with greater lowering capabilities, allowing you to mount to a high side shelf and still take advantage of compartments in the body below.

These systems store the ladders on top of the apparatus, usually lowering them with a single, powerful boom mounted in the center of the side body. This keeps the ladders up and out of the way until needed, while allowing for compartments in the side body below and occasionally a larger water tank. While generally, the more expensive option, the powerful boom often allows for a greater maximum lifting capacity. Not viable for apparatus with little to no available roof space, such as ladder trucks & aerial/towers.