Rescue Tool Advice

bcraw98 · February 16, 2006, 07:30:17 AM

Since we have so many firefighters on the forum, I can't think of a better place to seek advice on our upcoming purchase. We received a Forest Service Grant to purchase new rescue tools (cutter, spreaders, and power unit). Our current tools are Lukus and we bought them used about 8 years ago and have never been real happy with their performance. Tools at rescue school outperformed them. Price is a factor and we want to get the most bang for our buck. So far, we have had TNT and Holmatro come out and demo their tools with Hurst and Amkus scheduled in the next few weeks. Holmatro seemed a little easier to handle than TNT, but Holmatro was about $3,000 pricier and every penny of it would be out of our back pocket.

Anyone else that we should definitely look into? Good and bad experiences with the above companies?

Captain · February 16, 2006, 01:35:55 PM

When I worked in the Volunteer sector, we had everything from Hurst to Ranger to Lukas, you name it.

I now work with strictly Holmatro, and I am pretty impressed with their stuff. They are pricey. I have heard good things about Amkus as well.

Our next rescue pumper will have a pto driven hydraulic pump with mounted reels. We just took delivery of our first truck with mounted reels, and it is a real time saver.

Good Luck

Captain

wiam · February 16, 2006, 08:36:05 PM

I have never used rescue tools. Our department has a grant and we are looking. We have seen Holmatro and last night we looked at Amkus. I thought the Holmatro tools looked easier to handle and that single hose looked pretty slick but I also think you could replace one bad hose on the two hose system and be out alot less.

Will

BW_Williams · February 16, 2006, 11:32:21 PM

Most depts around here use Holmatro. This is what we carry, Combi. We often have to go over the bank and found we can get a good head start while the second in engine is getting the larger cutters going. I have made several convertables with it. We're saving up for one of these now. Battery powered combi. Good luck

Medina · February 18, 2006, 07:57:16 AM

On our dept. we run both Holmatro and TNT, the one thing I have noticed is that the TNT doesn't bog down as quick. We are along the I-80 corridor, big rigs in a tangle sometimes, and our rescue always rolls first with the TNT.

Best thing to do is find out what everyone is comfortable running, if you have something that no one can carry/hold/operate, its as useless as ??? fill in the blank.

We also carry a battey powered sawzall and hand pumped porta ram, sometimes it comes down to good old fashioned work.

bcraw98 · February 19, 2006, 09:26:22 AM

Thanks for the replies

I think from what I've seen that Holmatro is very well designed, but TNT is a little stouter. Chief and others don't agree on TNT being stouter, however they place a lot of value on my opinion. I was glad to hear that someone else(Medina) thinks TNT is stouter also. It gets lonely being a lone wolf.