Master CFD Basics and Hydraulics 2026 – Rev Up Your Firefighting Skills!

When one side of the apparatus is short jacked, that side isn’t fully supported and the base is less stable. Operating the aerial adds dynamic loads and can shift the center of gravity enough to cause tipping or movement of the vehicle. To keep the setup safe, the aerial should not be operated from the side that is short jacked. Procedures typically require all outriggers to be properly deployed and the unit on level ground before extending or using the aerial. Stowing the aerial, lowering the vehicle height, or checking tire pressure don’t introduce the same destabilizing loads, so they’re not prohibited by the short-jacked condition.