2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Fire truck Air horn

[DPellegrin]

hey guys I just bought a grover stuttertone fire truck air horn with the grover air compressor and 1 gallon tank im going to mount the horn on the frame under the passenger side my question is will the horn be loud enough to get people out of the way it is only one horn and I have straight piped stacks but I dont think that should be a problem since the horn is mounted in front of the stacks thanks

 

[Doubleclutch]

Not to fly pigeons over the parade, but there might be some issues with the Firetruck horn on a non-firetruck (like blue lights reserved for THE MAN... ESPECIALLY if that truck is smoking like a bad dog.

Greg

 

[flightmedic]

My other vehicle being a fire truck I can assure you that you will have no problem being heard. I am not familiar with the brand that you speak of, but am assuming that it is a little older. That alone will guarantee your audible success. You see, before the government got all concerned about workplace stuff, there was little regulatory oversight. Tinnitis (nasty long term ringing of the ears) changed this, as the older sirens cranked out some serious decible levels (probably somewhere in the 130Db) range. This level was necessary due to the older firetrucks being straight piped and very loud.



The place I worked before had a old Seagrave open cab that when fired up and driven through town, could be heard on the other side of town. Pretty cool!



The only caution that I offer is hard won. When driving the Big Red Truck at work, people get sudden stupidity when they here the horn and usually freeze for a period of time. Also, as fun as it may seem don't scare your loved ones as they walk in front of your vehicle as to the uninitiated, it may cause loss of bladder control!



Local police. Don't worry about them. They don't care unless you get stupid. Although MSP is rather annoying. I have land up in the Garrison area and have been nailed more times than I care to remember for speeding!

 

[DPellegrin]

Im also a firefighter so I wont worry too much about that stuff

 

[Ertman]

Yup, you'll be heard really well... until the horn fills up with mud, dirt, snow or whatever road nasties splash into it.



If I was putting onde on my truck, I'd find a drier place under the hood and away from road splash.



Dick

'01 Dodge/Cummins ISB 3500 4X4 dually QuadCab 6-speed manual with U. S. Gear aux trans between transmission and transfer case and PacBrake

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

Yes it works very well. Sometimes people will freeze up, but most times it just scares the !8%# out of them. I've seen people spill there coffee, drop their cell phone, wake up, put down there newspaper. It is very effective. I mounted mine on an angle from up in the passenger side fender. Very tight fit. The end of the trumpet hangs just below the front bumper. Never a clearance problem(I'm on the beach alot and in the woods quit often. (It even cleans the street in front of the truck!) Never any problems with crud getting in it as it's pointed downward. I have to spray paint it flat black about once a year so it isn't noticable, but no damage yet from rocks or road debris. I use a 5 gallon tank. These things require a lot of volume as well as pressure (mine starts to "squeek" down around 60 psi. Use several short blasts of varying duration for the best affect. It was very rewarding to find something actually louder than the mighty Cummins!

 

[DOUGMartin]

I am a fire fighter as well. Grover hornes are great they still come on most fire trucks. As far as cops the only way they will know that it is a fire truck horn is if they crawl under the truck take a look and actualy know what they are looking at. Iv been looking for horns or horn for a little bit now and am really look since in january I will be able to make use of sirens on my personal truck he he he. Any one know where I could squeez a fedral Q? Im ganna nead load to be heard over the straight pipe and move the city people. Oo.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Any one know where I could squeez a fedral Q?

I do, but you cant have it. Man that would be sweet. Ours vibrates the heck out of the floor of our CF Mack when I'm on the button. LOL

 

[roarinram]

Any one know where I could squeez a fedral Q?

Yeah, a POV looks very wierd with a Q mounted on the front. We had a fire seminar in our area within the last year and someone rolled up in a red GMC Sierra with a Q mounted where the front license plate should go. It was the laughing stock of the whole seminar.

 

[NWhitney]

Mighty Q

Don't the head lights dim when you hit the Mighty Q?? On our '77 Spartan we are not allowed to stay on the Q for more than a few sec or the bat is dead as a door nail!! It sure does make people ***** themselves!!! Hmmmmm there sure is a lot of room under that big bumper

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Dad reminds me about the time he was headed to a fire on one of the older pieces of equipment... He used the air horn so much that the compressor couldn't keep up... and the low air pressure alarm went off.



Keep in mind that they do use quite a bit of air... but I imagine you wouldn't be using it as much as a piece of fire equipment headed out on a call.



Now that he's retired - all the good stories about the fun stuff he did as a professinal firefighter are coming out.



Matt

 

[tbrudder]

Dad reminds me about the time he was headed to a fire on one of the older pieces of equipment... He used the air horn so much that the compressor couldn't keep up... and the low air pressure alarm went off.

Heh--been there.

Some people get downright angry driving those trucks when people don't get out of the way, and get a little carried away with the horns. I sat one day watching the air pressure gauge in our old Ford F800 heavy rescue truck wind down as the driver 'chastized' some guy that cut him off while running traffic and then proceeded along at 5 mph in front of us.



Me: "Umm, you might want to let up on the horn for a second... "



Him: "Why?"



Truck: Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!



Another guy told me he'd gotten a little carried away, too, and didn't heed the low-air warning. The brakes locked down in the middle of the intersection (going slow, luckily).



--Ty

 

[DOUGMartin]

I just think it would be pretty funny hearing what people think is a fire truck coming down the road with the q and horns blaring then here comes a dodge with stacks lol. I know there is some thing not right with me. Oo.

 

[Scot]

I love the Q2. Gets dogs howling for miles around. Sadly, our last chief did not like them and only our oldest reserve engine has one.



As for a firetruck airhorns: I aquired permanant tinitis after our former Ass. Chief intentionally laid on the horn as I walked about 6' in front of the engine.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

As for a firetruck airhorns: I aquired permanant tinitis after our former Ass. Chief intentionally laid on the horn as I walked about 6' in front of the engine.

Did you give him an earful (pun intended)? He would be spitting out broken teeth if he did that to some folks I've met...



Matt