Fire Engines Photos

This octagonal tank design makes this unit about as stable as a high capacity tanker can be, as it results in a low centre of gravity - which improves roadholding significantly. And this matters, because records show that big tankers are much more likely to be involved in serious single vehicle accidents than any other type of fire service vehicles. The downside is that the low profile tank needs to be longer for a given total water capacity, so the truck ends up longer and with a longer wheelbase, which of course makes it less maneuverable.

In this example, a steered trailing axle would have helped, but of course a single wheel axle might not have had enough weight bearing capacity....

So, after all, a good design but still not without compromises. But that's life!

Added by Rob Johnson on 24 January 2025.

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