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Looking for Opinions - Rubbish Hooks

In my Department, we recently added Trucks to our fleet. Historically we had been an Engine heavy department. With that said, it's obvious that we're in our infancy stages with Truck Company assignments/ops. I've been tasked with a small project and need some opinions from who ever would like to give them.
My department wants to purchase rubbish hooks for our Trucks, 2 per Apparatus. We already have a compliment of NY hooks x 2 (6ft), plaster hooks x 2 (dry wall hooks - 6 ft), and 10ft pike poles x 2. My question is... What length Rubbish Hooks are the "standard" across the country and what lengths do any of you recommend? My thought is that the 8 ft. rubbish hook seems the most versatile but, as I said above, we're still in our infancy and I'm looking for some advice. Thanks in advance for the help.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Myers on August 22, 2010 at 4:03pm

We outfit all of our trucks and engines with 6' rubbish hooks. They are a great and very versatile tool. They pull ceiling like nothing else. Unless its lath and plaster. Chain saws work awesome to defeat that problem. Fiberglass is good. Like any tool, if not used the way it was designed will damage it. Do some research and find what suits your company. I would also recommend the Denver Tool.

Eric

Permalink Reply by Scott Richardson on August 23, 2010 at 9:30am

We outfit our tower ladders with a six foot rubbish, plaster, and NY hook. The officer carries the NY hook, we only have 4 staffed.

Eric Myers said:

We outfit all of our trucks and engines with 6' rubbish hooks. They are a great and very versatile tool. They pull ceiling like nothing else. Unless its lath and plaster. Chain saws work awesome to defeat that problem. Fiberglass is good. Like any tool, if not used the way it was designed will damage it. Do some research and find what suits your company. I would also recommend the Denver Tool.

Eric

Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on August 23, 2010 at 12:04pm

-Ricky, we have a real variety on our trucks; everything from the traditional pike poles, NY style roof/adz hooks, dry wall pullers and rubbish/trash hooks.
-Of all the tools on the truck the ones that never get used are the trash/rubbish hooks. The trash hooks are bulky and unwieldy. They also tend to get caught in whatever they are being used on.
-The hooks that are most often used by us are roof/adz hooks and to a lesser extent the dry wall puller. The traditional pike poles are a last resort when we need something longer and, the trash hooks might just as well be left at the station for as much as they get used.
-The roof/adz hook has incredible versatility and almost limitless applications. The trash hook seems to be more of a very specific use tool; what that use is I have no idea. Personally I don't like or use the trash hook. The responses here are the first I have ever heard in 20 years of anyone saying they like or use the trash hook.
Just my opinion.

Permalink Reply by Mike France on August 23, 2010 at 1:56pm

To be honest we do carry or use rubbish Hooks , we carry a wide assortment of Pike Poles and NY Hooks along with 2 griff hooks on our Truck.

Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on June 4, 2011 at 4:36am

Many west coasters take the Trash hook with them to the roof for remove roofing material, sounding the roof, and for pushing down the ceiling below after a vent cut. I would recommend 2 different sizes, perhaps a 6 footer and then an 8-10 footer to be used for the roof or for rubbish fires.

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