TC24D Fire Rig (Class 7)

[LAGEORGE]

Hello everyone, long time no posting. I have been very busy improving my front driveway and city right-of-way after last year’s heavy rains that resulted in a washed out driveway. But I have also been busy building a Class 7 fire rig for fire protection in and around our property. In addition it also serves as a killer way to water the lawns, irrigate hard to reach locations and wash off the driveway!

Reasons why I needed a fire rig?
- Fire department is volunteer and poorly staffed
- Fire department over 20 minutes away (only 1 station for entire city)
- And mainly because I could build one! And is very empowering! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Specifications:
NWCG Class 7 Wildfire classification
30 GPM at 290-PSI Diaphragm pump
0-300 PSI pressure regulator (bypass into tank)
110-gallon tank
100 Feet of 1-inch double-jacketed forestry hose with NST aluminum coupling
100 feet of 1-inch booster hose on COX reel
20 feet of 1 ½ inch suction hose
40 feet of 1 ½ inch soft suction (hydrant)
1 ½ inch hydrant fill
1 ½ inch suction
Able to pump to tank from any water source
And most important: A work in progress

The rig has proven very effective to the point that it has warranted additional investment in making improvements. For those not aware of the cost of fire fighting equipment, it is very costly and configurations do vary widely. Trying to get the correct parts and plumbing has proven to be very challenging and expensive.
All in all we are trilled with the performance and much like the tractor has empowered us over government inaction the fire rig attachment has provided us with additional peace of mind and with the hope that we never have to use it for a fire.

LA GEORGE

 

[LAGEORGE]

Picture of pressure regulator with Hypro 30.1 GPM 290 PSI PTO pump.

 

[LAGEORGE]

Picture of COX reel with 100 feet of 1 inch booster hose (hardline) ready for action!

 

[LAGEORGE]

1 ½ inch Hydrant fill valve

 

[LAGEORGE]

This picture is of the suction valve on the rig. The current valve is a cheap Banjo brand 3-way valve. I am in the process of replacing it with a stainless steel version as time allows but since it works it’s not a big priority.

Suction valve allows for direct to pump connection from hydrant or water source (pool, lake)

 

[RonMar]

880 pounds of water + hardware... What do you use for nose weight? I was contemplating something similar but as a trailer and quick attach PTO pump. Do you have anything installed to protect your home in case you decide(or someone decides for you) that evacuating is better than fighting?

 

[LAGEORGE]

Picture of Hypro 30.1 GPM PTO Pump

Pump can push out water in excess of 300 PSI and has a 1 ½ inch suction side with a 1-inch discharge.

Pump is metric and as I hear made in Italy.

 

[LAGEORGE]

Last picture

Keeping the front end down is a problem since the weight of the water and the rig are in excess 1000 pounds! And I do mean excess

So I added a bracket to the bucket to hold New Holland suitcase weights. The front end still gets light but I do not need to carry the water up onto the terraces that are very steep. So the configuration works well but I also have my front tires loaded and can add additional weight to the front end if needed.

I did respond to an emergency situation with our fire department and had to dump 110 gallons of water in route since what was needed was my loader and additional rear weight would have not proven very productive. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[LAGEORGE]

Hello RonMar,

No one made us build it unless you consider government inaction as a reason.

And of course this system will only work if you are at home and you have the system attached to the tractor at the time.

We started the project in response to a question I posed to my wife. The question was “Do we care if the house burns down? Would that not be a favor to us?” Her response was “yes but what about the stuff inside” So we decided it was worth the effort.

In addition we built the unit to fight so leaving home is not an option. I know that if we do not take up arms I mean hoses our home would burn down because the fire department becomes overwhelmed with a car fire. Let alone an entire hillside ablaze.

I think the best way to look at the fire rig is as a first response line of defense. You first call 911 then you roll your own unit until help arrives. It may or may not work but at least you have the tools to put up a fight. Also the rig’s use extends beyond fire duty so we get very regular use out of it and thus get the hands on experience that my wife and myself need in order to use the pump effectively. We could have opted for a stationary unit but they lacked the pressure, portability and maybe the reliability we desired.

LAGEORGE

 

[Bob_Skurka]

George, as always you have been someone who inspired me with your projects (strobes, hillside lights, dual TNT, and now this!). Well WOW.

Just curious, but did you also build this to perform any dual duty function like watering the orange trees? Or is this a fire supression only single function unit?

I've often thought about a similar unit, but figured that capacity was the the biggest drawback on a 3pt mounted unit and considered (but never even took to the design stage) a trailer mounted system with a much larger water tank. I have no hydrants within a couple miles of my property. I do have a deep creek out back 1/4 mile from the house, and a shallow creek about 400 feet north of the house that I could draw water from. Do you have a water source that you can draw water from? And if so, can you suck water into the tank from that source while pumping water out the discharge hose to save the house? (this assumes the water source is in fairly close proximity to the house).

 

[RonMar]

I was wondering how you would keep the nose down
That was one reason why I was looking at a trailer because I want 250+ gallons.

I have heard of people down your way installing fixed systems on their homes. Small gas powered electric start pumps controlled by IR sensors. When the sensors detect the heat from the fire, the pump starts and pumps water from a cistern or pool up to roof sprinklers and wall sprinklers under the eaves of the roof. The gutters and drains all return the roof water, to be pumped again, to the cistern via a trash filter to seperate roof debris. The fancier versions have a second heat sensor that controls a electric valve that adds AFFF to the water and foams the roof and walls(more effective heat and spark barrier). You don't even have to be there(providing everything works right.

 

[LAGEORGE]

Bob, thank you very much for the kind comments. I too have learned much from our fellow discussion group members. And am always impress just how cleaver our “Think Tank” is.
The 3-point sprayer was commission by us and custom built by PBM in California. Even though the unit worked as a sprayer from the factory it lacked most of the features that would make it a capable Class 7 fire rig. I had to plumb it for suction, hydrant fill, and pump to tank, tank or hydrant to pump as well. Also the tank was set back about 7 inches more than necessary and the reel assembly was over a foot further back. I really think PBM should have considered those aspects but I am used to that kind of oversight in my business. Also the hose that came with the unit was not a fire type hose but a heavy 250-PSI rated ugly red rubber hose. It was among the first thing to go. Lots of work continues to be put into it and for our purposes it does serve us well. Water is very heavy and can be very difficult to get you hands on when you do not have a Hydrant so having more of a Forestry type approach to fire suppression will insure we get the most out of the water supply. Mainly using higher pressure at 14-24 GPM seems to really be the best balance between low Hydrant pressure and tank capacity.

The rig can weigh more than the 3 point can lift but once up in the air it holds it well. I have a few water sources to draw from when needed. One is the full flow water lines that I installed this past Spring into Summer. They range from 1 ½ inch down to ¾ inch but again they are full flow, no hose nipples for me, those are worthless. Also we have a pool in the Spring and Summer. We are able to draw from that source thanks to the pump being a Diaphragm type. It does a real good job of sucking /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif and really lets you pour on the water. Also as part of our “earthquake kit” We have acquired a 550-gallon fresh water tank (green in color) to serve as a backup water source in case disaster strikes. We will also use that tank to draw water from for fire suppression if needed. But mostly we hope to use all this capability for irrigation and wash downs. I never want to have to use it put out a fire. I am very happy just owning it and making it a project to improve on the design.

Hypro Pumps

LAGEORGE

 

[gabby]

Very nice rig, LAGeorge.

I built this 550 gallon spray wagon with a hydraulically powered 100 gpm pump. It's pure jackleg engineering to no specs at all but I've used it twice to fight fire. It has a hand line that's nothing but 3/4" garden hose but it sure beats hand tools for fighting fire.
gabby

 

[gabby]

Maybe the picture will show up this time!

 

[DocHeb]

Glad to see you stil have a TC24D. Didn't you end up getting a new machine after all the problems you had in the beginning?

Could you take your parts list and add where you obtained each of the parts?

 

[LAGEORGE]

Hello DocHeb,

HA HA on that parts list, you were poking fun at me, yes? Because I would not know where to start the list. I have ordered parts from across the country and have also found many second hand parts at the local fire department supplier. The local supplier is a good source but they mainly handle the municipal fire needs not the forestry type as my specifications call for.

I would also be a bit embarrassed to list some of the parts since they are not really meant for the applied use. Also the price tag I think might be steep and I really do not want to know. But maybe I can get one together when I finish it off one day.

Yes, I did another TC 24D but it has it's bugs but I have over 300 hours on the new one and is holding up to the extreme duty. Sure am eyeing that new TC 26 but that would be a hard sell to the wife. I am currently working on our extreme earthquake, flu, end of dayz whatever kit. So I will restrain myself when it comes to a new tractor. Plus I think my tractor has many more years of useful life until a replacement is needed.

LAGEORGE

 

[DocHeb]

How about just the hose reel, then?

 

[LAGEORGE]

DocHeb,

The basic Ag type stuff came from Kellogg Supply in Merced. They also provided the COX reel that included the Stainless Steel 1-inch 90-degree swivel

I have included a link to the COX reel site but the exact reel I own is not pictured. The reel I have is longer and holds 100 feet of 1 inch booster hose rated up to 800PSI
I have also attached a close up of just the fire attachment part of the rig.

George

PS: I will try to get the exact model tonight and post it.

COX Hose Reels

Kellogg's Supply
45 S State Hwy 59
Merced, CA 95340-6917
(209) 722-1501

 

[LAGEORGE]

As requested please find the “Builders Plate” for the COX reel. An interesting note is that the reels comes in blue. But not the current lighter New Holland blue but it’s close. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Model Number is: 1125-6-100-BXCX

LAGEORGE

 

[LAGEORGE]

Here is an additional picture of just the reel.