When it comes to floodwaters, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should... unless you have Acela’s High Water Fording Kit option.

During an emergency, decisions need to be made quickly, and when lives are at stake the capability of your equipment is crucial. Many flood rescue trucks are not actually up to the challenge of fording more than a few inches of water safely or are limited by the number of passengers they can safely transport.  

In the realm of flood rescue operations, navigating high waters poses significant challenges, especially for fire departments relying on specialized trucks. Traditional methods of fording involve manual interventions, such as fitting plugs and risking damage to vital components. Moreover, deeper waters can spell disaster, infiltrating critical systems and leading to costly failures.  

Imagine a scenario where your truck needs to navigate through waters up to 30 inches deep. Without the Acela Monterra High-Water Fording Kit, this would entail stopping the vehicle, crawling underneath, removing and fitting a plug into the flywheel housing, all while facing the risk of damaging vital components. Fording deeper waters without the kit could lead to catastrophic failures, with water seeping into critical systems like gearboxes, fuel tanks, transmissions, and brakes, causing thousands of dollars' worth of damage,  

How deep can your current rescue vehicle navigate without jeopardizing key components?

If you are operating a Ford F550, the recommendation is not to exceed the center of the wheel hub which is approximately 15.75 inches tall. Ultimately, floods are becoming more frequent and more severe. How often does your region see more than 10-15 inches of flooding? For some, the answer is easy... “too often.”  

Storms caused flooding in all corners of the U.S. this past summer. From torrential rains in the Midwest to several hurricanes pummeling the gulf coast and east coast, flood surges are becoming more commonplace. Most recently, Tropical Storm Helene brought a once in 1,000-year rainfall event to the Carolinas, with 18-inches of rain falling in 12 hours. In some places roads were under 3 feet of water (CNN).

An unmodified LMTV can maneuver 30 inches of water without any modification, but with these once in a 1,000-year events occurring more frequently, fire departments and emergency managers need to be able to ford more than 30 inches of water.  

Enter Acela's High-Water Fording Kit, designed to elevate the capabilities of flood rescue trucks like the FMTV. This kit extends the fording depth from 30 inches to an impressive 50 inches by strategically extending vents and implementing innovative safety measures.  

At the heart of Acela's solution lies a manifold system positioned at a safe height of 85 inches above the ground. This manifold integrates with existing axle vents, brake vents, fuel tank vents, transmission vents, and CTIS vents, ensuring a comprehensive approach to water fording.  

One of the most notable features of Acela's High-Water Fording Kit is its seamless integration with vehicle operations. By simply engaging a switch, various safety protocols are activated, including the shutdown of engine fans, transmission cooler fans, air conditioner condenser fans, and the closure of the drain valve on the transmission bell housing.  

This integration eliminates the need for manual interventions during fording operations, streamlining processes and enhancing safety for rescue teams. With the kit in place, fire departments can navigate through challenging environments with greater confidence and efficiency, knowing that their vehicles are equipped to handle the task at hand.  

By investing in Acela's High-Water Fording Kit, fire departments can not only mitigate the risks associated with manual fording procedures but also expand their capabilities in flood rescue scenarios. With increased fording depth and enhanced safety features, these departments are better equipped to serve their communities and respond effectively to emergencies.  

Don't let outdated or inadequate equipment hold your team back from saving lives. Acela's High-Water Fording Kit represents a significant advancement in flood rescue technology, offering fire departments a reliable solution to the challenges posed by high waters. With its innovative design and seamless integration, this kit empowers rescue teams to navigate through the most demanding environments with confidence and precision. Your team's safety and success depend on it.

Contact us to learn more about our flood truck options and availability.

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