For many years, firefighters sat in open cabs and rode on tailboards.
While it may have seemed like a good idea at the time, the fire service has since evolved past those practices. Today, fire truck technology has gone way beyond enclosed cabs, and the rules governing what’s on them have likewise left tailboard riding in the dust.
However, it’s difficult for some to get past the nostalgia of manually shifting a rig and hearing an engine roar. We asked readers on Facebook to share features no longer available on fire trucks that they would like to see make a comeback.
We gathered the most compelling responses and now invite you to join in by adding your own reason in the comment section below.
1.“Tailboard positions for responding personnel.” — Noah Kleugh
2.“Pull string air horns.” — Mike Hubert
3.“Eliminate the EPA requirements, remove the electronic pump and engine controls, remove the closed cab requirements. All of these make the engines far less expensive allowing small departments to afford to retire the 30- to 40-year-old equipment.” — Dusty Gay
4.“Cup holders!” — Bryan and Shannon Goble
5.“The only thing I’d like to see is the return of manual pump shifts and throttles — or at least the ability to take the truck into manual in a casualty. Our new computerized apparatus are great … until they aren’t.” — Jay Kelley
6.“I wish they still offered Mack CF cabs and Pirsch 100-foot rear mounts.” — Christopher Hanifan
7.“Booster reels for brush and trash fires. It’s also good for wash downs of fluids and even fast attack on a car fire until the main line can be deployed .” — Frank Perna
8.“You can have all the bells and whistles you want, however, it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t have the proper staffing.” — Orange NJ Firefighters
9.“I would like to see a fire engine manufacture make a retro-style fire engine similar to the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro — the look of older style fire engine, but with modern features.” — Eric Hille