The Pierce Arrow was a custom chassis built by Pierce Manufacturing. A new design, the Arrow XT, replaced the original Arrow in 2003. Coincidentally, there also existed a company called Pierce-Arrow (no relation) in Buffalo, New York that operated from 1901 to 1938; that mainly manufactured luxury cars, but ended up making a few fire trucks as well.
Production[]
Pierce Arrow (1979-2002)[]
In 1979, Pierce introduced their first custom cab, the Pierce Arrow, the industry’s first custom cab-forward model constructed entirely out of aluminum.
Pierce Arrow XT (2003-2023)[]
The Arrow XT is an extreme duty chassis designed by Pierce to replace the Arrow chassis. The first generation was introduced in 2003, with the 2nd generation being introduced in the early 2010s. A distinct feature of the first generation cab was the twin air conditioners located on the driver and passenger sides of the cab roof. The two-unit design was replaced with a single, lower-profile unit centrally mounted behind the light bar for the second generation line.
As of March 2023, the Arrow XT (alongside the Quantum) had been removed from all official Pierce websites (excluding drawings and previous orders), as well as many dealer websites, indicating that the product line had been discontinued. Production and delivery of Arrow XT apparatus continued through 2024 with the Pasadena Fire Department (California) taking delivery of Arrow XT (SN#40282) in the autumn of 2024.
Specifications[]
| 1st Generation | 2nd Generation | |
|---|---|---|
| Years produced | 2003-early 2010s | early 2010s-2023 |
| Engine Choice | Cummins ISX12 Detroit DD13 |
Cummins L9, X12, X15 Detroit DD13 PACCAR MX-13 |
| Engine Horsepower Rating | 400-500 | 370-605 |
| Transmissions | Allison 4000 EVS | Allison Transmissions (3000 EVS / 4000 EVS / 4500 EVS) |
| Alternator | 270-430 amp | |
| Front GAWR | 24,000 lbs. | 24,000 lbs. |
| Front Axle Suspension | Leaf or TAK-4 | Leaf or TAK-4 |
| Cramp Angle | 45° | |
| Rear GAWR | 58,000 lb | 60,000 lb |
| Rear Axle Suspension | Leaf, rubber, or air | Leaf, rubber, air, TAK-4, or TAK-4 T3; single or tandem axle |
| Frame Rails | 13⅜" | |
| Cab Width | 94¾" | |
| Cab Length[1] | 67" / 74" | Axle-to-front: 69.25" Axle-to-rear: 15" [2] / 46" / 57" / 67" / 81" |
| Cab Roof Style | Flat or Raised (10" / 16" / 20" / Notched 10") | Flat or Raised (10" / 16" / 20" / Notched 10" / Deep Notch 10+") |
| Cab Door Style | Barrier | Barrier or Full Height |
| Seating Capacity | Up to 10 | Up to 8 |
| Side Roll Protection | Default | |
| Frontal Crash Airbags | Default | |
| Electrical System | Hard wired or Command Zone network | |
Gallery[]
.JPG "North madison engine 10-55 (view 4).JPG (1.69 MB)")
.JPG "Canton ladder 2 (view 2).JPG (3.36 MB)")
