opinions....best spider lift?

I've never liked spider lifts, but i got to run the nifty lift. I was surprised by the ground speed and the speed of the lift when moving in the are. Its the first lift i would ever consider recommending to others.
 
DSC_0139.webp Thanks for all the replies. I was looking for something really in the 60' range. I like the CMC because of the compact size to side reach ratio. The cranes are doing great and can reach almost anything....and im still climbing productively but it would make things more Safe for me when im doing crane removals with root rot. it would be used to stand in to make cuts where otherwise I would have to stay tied into the crane or set up a second crane. the compact size would be handyView attachment 28682
 
No offense to anyone but...My pick at the expo was the "tracked lifts" 72' working height jobber. 34.5" wide.
They claim it is the only one designed for tree work. Simple...No computers. electric over hydraulic with manual switches for all controls at hydraulic valves. How about the sweet armor package, the out riggers had some nice heavy guards over the pistons and even lights, other important things were tucked and had heavy steel over them. There were dents and dings on this machine. Very streamlined booms, nothing to hook or hit on the booms.

They are out of Pa. 7hr drive away. Probably going to go to their factory, mostly to see the test area.
I was a test technician (electric/mechanical) for Bombardier Mass Transit in my last life: Acela high speed locomotives, NYC subway, LIRR metro.
Probably going to have one brought to our shop for a demo in December hopefully.

All the other lifts were very similar when you compared their weights, out rigger spans, with regards to their in air reach performance. I did not see one lift that stood out with respect to these attributes.

Every one said their lifts were fast or faster.
We are going to do a time study with our bucket truck to see comparison.
Anyone else with a lift want to time for me:
1-from set up, stowed position to max vert reach
2-from set up, stowed position to max horizontal at that max height
3-from final position 3 180degree rotation.
No one at the show that I spoke with had these times. I kinda thought that was odd.

The trackedlifts display were the last for me to visit, so I had more questions by then.
I was speaking with Miroslaw the president about the cut and toss technique with regards to dynamic loads on the lift. He smiled and told me one of the tests they do at full reach is attach a 14' rope with 300lbs on it and drop it. The resulting dynamic load is over 6000lbs. He said the outriggers on the opposite side do not come off the ground. When the weight is taken off, the basket is exactly were it was. Nothing is bent or broken.
He reiterated make sure you wear your harness and helmet!

How bout the price? $99,000
 
Just curious as to why the lifts are always compared to bucket trucks, speed and set up time? While the lift has some similarities, it is a bit different and requires a different learning curve both in the set up and overall operation.

Personally, a few extra minutes during set up and between movements is small price to pay (for lack of better term) for the convenience, safety, mobile access ability, labor savings, and lower overall operating costs.
 
Menchhofer said:
Just curious as to why the lifts are always compared to bucket trucks, speed and set up time? While the lift has some similarities, it is a bit different and requires a different learning curve both in the set up and overall operation.

Personally, a few extra minutes during set up and between movements is small price to pay (for lack of better term) for the convenience, safety, mobile access ability, labor savings, and lower overall operating costs.
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I read ya, but comparing them to a bucket truck is the only way I could even begin to relate to them...the tracked lifts have been alien to me. There was a time before I had my bucket truck and I climbed everything, I actually told people I would never get a bucket truck, well... now we have had a bucket for a few years and I find myself competing with more and more non-climbing bucket truck jobs that every "tree guy" with a $10k bucket truck is after, where as when we climbed only and worked on trees you could not get a bucket near we were the only ones able to do the work and we were able to get higher paying jobs with less equipment. Don't get me wrong , we make way more money with a bucket. I'm seeing the light with tracked lifts.

Since I am probably going to get a tracked lift and let the bucket go eventually, I want to be aware/prepared for the differences due to the fact I will certainly be still cutting trees down one could back a bucket up to. That said I clearly see the advantages of a tracked lift where you would have to climb, we climb over half the time these days. The reason we don't climb more in recent years has simply been a matter of marketing. We also spend plenty of time laying down ground pro and positioning the bucket truck as close as we can get it to the trees we can get near. I climb out of the bucket all the time. It behooves me how "tree guys" can do tree work and not have a climber. I imagine they turn (climbing) work down all the time. There is one guy around here with a mobile lift, a wheeled nifty 70' jobber, it is still fixed at over 6' wide and they do not climb.

I remember the same thing before I had a mini. I felt we did just fine with muscle. Then I saw in person a mini skid and bmg at the Hartford TCIA expo years ago...sold! To me a mini is a no brainer, in fact it has become an essential part of our operation and is one of a few things that sets us apart and give us great advantage over "competition". I see the tracked lift in that light now.
 
We thought the same way a few years ago. Usually it takes alot of thinking and computing when trying out newer technologies. We have now ditched the bucket and deploy only the tracked lifts, one of which you mentioned.
 
frashdog said:
No offense to anyone but...My pick at the expo was the "tracked lifts" 72' working height jobber. 34.5" wide.
They claim it is the only one designed for tree work. Simple...No computers. electric over hydraulic with manual switches for all controls at hydraulic valves. How about the sweet armor package, the out riggers had some nice heavy guards over the pistons and even lights, other important things were tucked and had heavy steel over them. There were dents and dings on this machine. Very streamlined booms, nothing to hook or hit on the booms.

They are out of Pa. 7hr drive away. Probably going to go to their factory, mostly to see the test area.
I was a test technician (electric/mechanical) for Bombardier Mass Transit in my last life: Acela high speed locomotives, NYC subway, LIRR metro.
Probably going to have one brought to our shop for a demo in December hopefully.

All the other lifts were very similar when you compared their weights, out rigger spans, with regards to their in air reach performance. I did not see one lift that stood out with respect to these attributes.

Every one said their lifts were fast or faster.
We are going to do a time study with our bucket truck to see comparison.
Anyone else with a lift want to time for me:
1-from set up, stowed position to max vert reach
2-from set up, stowed position to max horizontal at that max height
3-from final position 3 180degree rotation.
No one at the show that I spoke with had these times. I kinda thought that was odd.

The trackedlifts display were the last for me to visit, so I had more questions by then.
I was speaking with Miroslaw the president about the cut and toss technique with regards to dynamic loads on the lift. He smiled and told me one of the tests they do at full reach is attach a 14' rope with 300lbs on it and drop it. The resulting dynamic load is over 6000lbs. He said the outriggers on the opposite side do not come off the ground. When the weight is taken off, the basket is exactly were it was. Nothing is bent or broken.
He reiterated make sure you wear your harness and helmet!

How bout the price? $99,000
Click to expand...
Did you stop at our booth to see the 61-36A? Or went outside at marshalling yard to assist one of our demo sessions? We were there, with one unit inside, one outside to actually DEMO units for you guys. You would have been able to set the mark...
 
UP Equip said:
Did you stop at our booth to see the 61-36A? Or went outside at marshalling yard to assist one of our demo sessions? We were there, with one unit inside, one outside to actually DEMO units for you guys. You would have been able to set the mark...
Click to expand...
I did stop by and check out your lifts, honestly I was kinda turned off by that track/ belt thingy on the top back side of the boom. I'd be concerned about snagging it on branches.

Also forgot, what's the 70-36 cost?
 
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frashdog said:
I did stop by and check out your lifts, honestly I was kinda turned off by that track/ belt thingy on the top back side of the boom. I'd be concerned about snagging it on branches.

Also forgot, what's the 70-36 cost?
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I've done hundreds of trees with mine and its 0 concern, doesn't get caught up on anything. My lifts also paid for itself in less than 7 months
 
deevo said:
I've done hundreds of trees with mine and its 0 concern, doesn't get caught up on anything. My lifts also paid for itself in less than 7 months
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Surely you must have done your home work before purchase. And you just got to go see several "others" at the expo.
Do you think you have the "best lift" for tree work?
What about best lift for the price?
And for people who don't know... Can you kindly explain the math on how your lift paid for it's self in 7 months.
 
frashdog said:
Surely you must have done your home work before purchase. And you just got to go see several "others" at the expo.
Do you think you have the "best lift" for tree work?
What about best lift for the price?
And for people who don't know... Can you kindly explain the math on how your lift paid for it's self in 7 months.
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Well I tried 3 other brands 2 days each, so for me yes.
With taxes $109,000 Canadian.
2 crews doings $2000-3000 per day each 5 days a week = averaging 20,000-25000 a week =100,000 plus a month times 7= 700,000 so was easy paying off the lift. I have a lot of high end clients and lots of insurance jobs so it paid for itself rather quickly! I don't like sharing my numbers but you asked
 
deevo said:
Well I tried 3 other brands 2 days each, so for me yes.
With taxes $109,000 Canadian.
2 crews doings $2000-3000 per day each 5 days a week = averaging 20,000-25000 a week =100,000 plus a month times 7= 700,000 so was easy paying off the lift. I have a lot of high end clients and lots of insurance jobs so it paid for itself rather quickly! I don't like sharing my numbers but you asked
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Those are not real world numbers, because that is not showing just the profit from buying the lifts. Those are just show gross profit numbers without any expenses worked in.

What we're you making a month before buying the lift? So in other words how much more profit a month did you make with the lifts...by extrapolating that truly shows when lifts paid for themselves.
 
climbhightree said:
Those are not real world numbers, because that is not showing just the profit from buying the lifts. Those are just show gross profit numbers without any expenses worked in.

What we're you making a month before buying the lift? So in other words how much more profit a month did you make with the lifts...by extrapolating that truly shows when lifts paid for themselves.
Click to expand...
climbhightree said:
Those are not real world numbers, because that is not showing just the profit from buying the lifts. Those are just show gross profit numbers without any expenses worked in.

What we're you making a month before buying the lift? So in other words how much more profit a month did you make with the lifts...by extrapolating that truly shows when lifts paid for themselves.
Click to expand...
Ok well those are roughly my numbers, minus my expenses and other equipment its a bit less, all my equipment is paid off at the moment. Before the lift and only one crew 1500-2500 per day. But I can line more jobs up with the lift per day now because we can get them done much quicker then climbing. I've caught the attention of higher end home owners and other co's now so the demand is much higher for me and my lift. I really don't want to talk numbers but the cans opened ! I am very very fortunate where I am at business wise and am booked usually 3-4 weeks in advance.
 
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That is cool, I don't think anyone wanted your exact business numbers. We are just looking for the approximate profitability of the lifts. So your doing 500-1500 dollars more a day per crew ,that is cool.

I hear you about the blessings of having good clients and name in the business. I have been running about 3 months out since late spring, and currently booked till late March. I only run a 2 man crew (myself and another guy), so come this spring it will be time for me to grow some.
 
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