Pierce all-steer

[Engine33Truck]

Tri-towns VFC of Piedmont, WV runs a Pierce 105ft quint that has an interesting capability- it is an all-steer.  The system was designed to increase manoeuvrability, when it makes turns below I think 25mph the tandem rear wheels turn opposite of the forward wheels, like a tiller. They can also crab like tillers, just to less effect. I've been told that Pierce only made in the vicinity of 5-10 all-steer quints, and from my studies, three are in WV.  One can tell by the single-tire rear wheels, which are identical to the front wheels.  The other two run with Morgantown, WV and Shepardstown, WV.  Unforunately I have no pictures of either, but I can provide a link that has all three, you just have to scroll down a bit.  Does anyone know where the others are and exactly how many of them are?

From what I've heard, Tri-Towns's Truck 24 has been problematic, as the all-steer kicks in automatically at a certain speed and they'd have trouble with it not turning off, but that's only what I've heard.  But it is fairly factual that they've been in a few minor accidents, which the person that told me attributed it to the all-steer not turing off like it should (though we were talking about Mineral County's three trucks, and he was bashing Pierce a good bit).

Link to the webpage: http://wvfirefighters.com/aerial.htm

Here's the link to Tri-Towns's website: http://ttfd24.webs.com/
Morgantown's: http://www.morgantownfirefighters.org/equpmt.htm
Shepardstown's: http://www.shepherdstownfiredepartment.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=42

[MATT3045]

Broadview Hts OH has a Pierce Quantum all-steer. There truck was originallt supposed to be a 100ft, but would not fit in their station so the removed a section of ladder and made it a 75ft. I will find pics of it.

[wf33ret]

                                        I thought I heard that the steering problem forced Pierce to
                                        remove it from their line, and also to offer a retro fix or repair
                                        for existing units.

                                                           wf33ret

                                       I stand corrected! You would think that by now I would learn
                                       not to repeat firehouse gossip.

[Engine33Truck]

I'm not sure if they offered a retrofit, but Tri-Town's has been sent back to Wisconsin a lot because of the all steer.

[GA_Dave]

It amazes me how a little bad publicity goes so far.  Pierce has built over 150 apparatus with All-Steer.  Less than a half-dozen have had problems with the system, yet everyone blames it whenever something goes wrong with an apparatus equipped with All-Steer.  I have even heard people blame All-Steer on apparatus not equipped with it!  Spartan offered a chassis with a self-steering tag axle on the rear, like large tandem-axle buses and motorhomes have.  The excuse given when there were accidents involving these rigs was that "the All-Steer kicked in".  I believe that most of what you hear about it being the fault of the All-Steer system is a cover for operator error.

One of the most well-known All-Steer rigs that did have problems was originally delivered to Natick, MA.  After several attempts to make things right, Pierce gave Natick back their money and took the rig back.  It currently serves Clifton Heights, VA and I have not heard one complaint since!  I have personally photographed 29 All-Steer rigs and have not heard one complaint from the drivers of them.

Here is a list of All-Steer quints that I know of:

Augusta, GA
Lincoln, MA
Natick, MA (sold to Clifton Heights, VA)
Fort Lauderdale, FL (2)
Cave Spring, VA
Union Township, OH
Oshkosh, WI
Kettering, OH
Safety Harbor, FL
The Colony, TX
Farmville, VA
Kingsport, TN
Modesto, CA (2)
Nanticoke, PA
Ocean City, NJ
Whiting, IN
Bloomington, IN
Dumont, NJ
Sam Bass, TX
Newark, NY
Round Rock, TX
Maumee, OH
Wells, ME
Clinton Heights, NY
Honolulu, HI
Duck, NC
Fort Myers, FL (2)
Napa Co., CA
Chesterfield Co., VA
St. Helena, CA
East Petersburg, PA
Piedmont, WV
Shepardstown, WV
Seminole, FL
Broward Co., FL (2)
Pinellas Park, FL
Keansburg, NJ
Cape Canaveral, FL
Bourbonais, IL
Tracy, CA
Griffith, IN
Clarendon Hills, IL
Abingdon, MD
Palm Springs, CA (2)
Irvington, NE
Monarch FPD, MO (2)
Santa Cruz Co., CA
Weston, FL
Buffalo, NY

[UpstateFire]

Pirece did a ReCallon the all-steer.   In Mass. a ladders all-steer kicked in and casused an accident that did major damage to the truck. It kicked in as they were going down the road,not even makin g a turn. I'm not sure if they fixed the problem  by a retro fit or if they figured out the problem but I do see some fire depts today buying some rucks with all-steer. I can't imagine a own or city spending the $ on something and it still have problems like that.      

[Engine33Truck]

Tri-Towns doesn't seem to have problems with the all-steer kicking in randomly, rather they'll make a turn with it engaged and occasionally it doesn't disengage like it should.  One of the stories I heard is they turned down the street that goes across the bridge into Westernport, the all steer didn't disengage and they clipped a telephone pole.  I've heard a lot of stories about it from people that's been on Keyser since 1975-1980 and someone that joined KFD in 1998, so I'm not sure exactly how old all the stories are.  They haven't seemed to have much trouble with it in the past year or two, so I'm not sure if Pierce corrected the problem or added a selective switch.

[wf33ret]

                                               Dave, here is another "all steer" you can add to the list.
                                                                      1997 Pierce /Lance
                                                                       1250/ /200 / 105'
                                                                       Cochran Hose Co.
                                                                         Sewickley, PA.


                                                                           Lloyd Photo

[Engine33Truck]

Is that a Lance 10 man cab on that beast?

Edit: sorry, asked an obvous question lol.

[highviewfire]

As Dave could attest to, Pierce has also built dozens of pumpers, pumper-tankers, and rescues with All-Steer - single and tandem axles.

Kent Parrish
Louisville, KY

 

[Engine33Truck]

As Dave could attest to, Pierce has also built dozens of pumpers, pumper-tankers, and rescues with All-Steer - single and tandem axles.

Kent Parrish
Louisville, KY

 

This seems to be an example of what you're talking about: http://karlsfirephotos.smugmug.com/FIRE-APPARATUS/CHICAGO-SQUAD-COMPANIES-AND/1681658_gUzua#82509501_B7g5P-A-LB

[Old Battery]

I think you are forgetting this one from Ardmore, Pennsylvania (1997 Lance). As far as I know, there haven't been any problems with it.

[GA_Dave]

This seems to be an example of what you're talking about: http://karlsfirephotos.smugmug.com/FIRE-APPARATUS/CHICAGO-SQUAD-COMPANIES-AND/1681658_gUzua#82509501_B7g5P-A-LB

Affectionately known as "Squadzilla"!

I think you are forgetting this one from Ardmore, Pennsylvania (1997 Lance).

I'm not sure how I left that one off the list, it's one of the 29 I've shot.  D'oh!

[highviewfire]

Dave has already listed several that I've photographed.  Here is what else I can immediately add:

2002 Pierce Dash 85' tower - Murfreesboro, TN
2003 Pierce Dash 105' rm - Maui, HI
1997 Pierce Saber pumper - Miami Twp (Clermont Co), OH

I've also got dozens of others in my collection.   

Kent Parrish 
Louisville, KY

[GA_Dave]

Engine 21, Cypress Creek, TX
2000 Pierce Quantum AWS
1500/1250/45AF/45BF
ED852-02