Bucket truck or mobile lift

[Brando CalPankian]

This year's big purchase is coming in the form of either a bucket truck (chip box center mount) or a mobile lift. Unsure of which would be a better investment.

The bucket truck can help with keeping the crew busy as maintenance becomes inevitable for the chip truck. It's also super convenient, and many have great gear holding capabilities. Drawbacks include it's hard to find a bucket that's under CDL (for crew growth), and there are places it can't go.

The lift can pretty much go anywhere. I'm not familiar with Spyder lifts, so there's a learning curve. It would be incentive to upgrade trailers,and could be towed with a one ton truck.

The struggle with both is finding decent quality used ones that are still e rated. I'd like to get back into line clearance, but finding them not new with good bills of health is not easy.

Would love to know what other small and growing companies have done. I've had to turn away some work (dead dead not safe to climb removals) because it's not cost effective for me to rent one.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[VenasNursery]

Once we bought our spider lift we used our bucket truck 4 times in a year so we sold it and wouldn’t consider going back.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Once we bought our spider lift we used our bucket truck 4 times in a year so we sold it and wouldn’t consider going back.

Gees really? That's pretty extreme.

How's upkeep on them? Annual certs and things like that?

How does it change workflow? I know how to bid for bucket work, not spider lift stuff.

 

[Treetopflyer]

You can do soooooo many more jobs

 

[Treetopflyer]

You can do soooooo many more jobs

Think about a track lift that can go through a 36 inch gate and still go minimum 70 feet (wouldn’t go under that height minimum) vs …. A bucket truck
I could go on and on for the pros vs cons of lift vs bucket trucks but everybody is different
So that said I dunno your market or anything about you or how you wanna work but for us the spider lift for pruning and removals big trucks can’t reach and climbers don’t feel safe climbing the lift was a huge plus for my small little crew and one mediocre job a month basically covers its monthly payment

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Think about a track lift that can go through a 36 inch gate and still go minimum 70 feet (wouldn’t go under that height minimum) vs …. A bucket truck
I could go on and on for the pros vs cons of lift vs bucket trucks but everybody is different
So that said I dunno your market or anything about you or how you wanna work but for us the spider lift for pruning and removals big trucks can’t reach and climbers don’t feel safe climbing the lift was a huge plus for my small little crew and one mediocre job a month basically covers its monthly payment

What kind of lift are you running? What's the payment like? New ones are well over 100k from what I've seen

 

[Treetopflyer]

I bought in 2019 an easy lift 7036aj it was 96k I picked it up off the show room floor at Pittsburgh tcia expo and drove it home after show ended now has 2000+ hours and I would not have changed a thing!
I started taking with owners of all brands in 2014 for that market of lift and finally settled on that make and model after years of investigations and deliberations on what would be best for me.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I bought in 2019 an easy lift 7036aj it was 96k I picked it up off the show room floor at Pittsburgh tcia expo and drove it home after show ended now has 2000+ hours and I would not have changed a thing!
I started taking with owners of all brands in 2014 for that market of lift and finally settled on that make and model after years of investigations and deliberations on what would be best for me.

Good to know. It's not a light decision to make. Are there any things you don't like about it??

 

[Treetopflyer]

Little more speed would be nice sometimes , some say this particular model has lots of boom flex which doesn’t bother me personally. Few little engineer quirks nothing major. Something’s could be more rugged for tree work. An aluminum tray with all the wiring and hydro lines slides along exposed on main boom which would likely catch damage at some point if not careful , and it could be costly I’d imagine. The rough roads over bumps had mine separate at 2 places and we had to rig up some ways to make it more rigid . I had to replace 4 wires in the control box which wasn’t quick or my idea of fun but I did that after burning many relays after say 800 hours. Other than that I love how light and compact

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Little more speed would be nice sometimes , some say this particular model has lots of boom flex which doesn’t bother me personally. Few little engineer quirks nothing major. Something’s could be more rugged for tree work. An aluminum tray with all the wiring and hydro lines slides along exposed on main boom which would likely catch damage at some point if not careful , and it could be costly I’d imagine. The rough roads over bumps had mine separate at 2 places and we had to rig up some ways to make it more rigid . I had to replace 4 wires in the control box which wasn’t quick or my idea of fun but I did that after burning many relays after say 800 hours. Other than that I love how light and compact

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. That's really helpful. Gives me things to look for.

 

[Treetopflyer]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. That's really helpful. Gives me things to look for.

Brando all good man just networking on a Friday night buzz style
quick reply haha
I’d say do your home work it’ll come to you
all the lifts have changed in some regards since 2019 and Prices I’m sure lol
maybe a nice certified used unit would be good for you
I’ll add for 7036 is simple technologically Speaking and I love that, I don’t think its Changed much over the years. Some guys dislike the hatz diesel on it , but it sips fuel and doesn’t require much difficult maintenance.

 

[VenasNursery]

Maintenance is minimum oil changes , lube the boom, grease the tracks, keep it clean and just annuals
Keep a good operator because human error is their biggest enemy

 

[Treetopflyer]

Maintenance is minimum oil changes , lube the boom, grease the tracks, keep it clean and just annuals
Keep a good operator because human error is their biggest enemy

Reminds me of a motorcycle

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Maintenance is minimum oil changes , lube the boom, grease the tracks, keep it clean and just annuals
Keep a good operator because human error is their biggest enemy

I've heard that you work a tree different with one vs a bucket truck. Like bucket trucks are tanks with a boom vs operating a, well, not tank. Is that the human error piece?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Brando all good man just networking on a Friday night buzz style
quick reply haha
I’d say do your home work it’ll come to you
all the lifts have changed in some regards since 2019 and Prices I’m sure lol
maybe a nice certified used unit would be good for you
I’ll add for 7036 is simple technologically Speaking and I love that, I don’t think its Changed much over the years. Some guys dislike the hatz diesel on it , but it sips fuel and doesn’t require much difficult maintenance.

Yeah I'm doing bookkeeping and research into these and more college tonight. Lol. I see the notifications when they pop up. Prices are pretty high, but not totally outrageous (unless you want an Altec). I like simple.

The Hatz diesels are weird. My day job (Cummins generator tech) has some of them. They are noisy buggers. We don't tend to see anything mechanical fail with them though.

 

[VenasNursery]

I've heard that you work a tree different with one vs a bucket truck. Like bucket trucks are tanks with a boom vs operating a, well, not tank. Is that the human error piece?

Anything touches the lift is abuse in my book. Spider lift or bucket truck and yes a bucket truck will take more abuse but it’s the owners responsibility to eliminate any abuse.
IMO

 

[southsoundtree]

Midmount chip-bucket trucks work for line clearance, but are said to be the worst of both worlds for residential. I haven't looked at a mid-mount after being dissuaded by knowledgeable people. I hardly chip into my chip truck, as it is, as that fits my market, differently than many markets.

You lose reach compared to a rear-mount, and when working over the side and front, the drag to the chipper is long.


I would consider a spider-lift, but don't do the volume of work where I need it/ could use it. Seems like a winner for most people, especially people with trees that are your market's height.

That said, you may not want to trust a spider-lift to employees who aren't fantastic.

 

[Sfoppema]

Just pulled the trigger on a dino rxt 92 after much deliberation... a 75 foot bucket is more expensive to purchase and maintain/cost to run per hour is higher. A bucket weighs 2-3x. Probably 3x if you want a forestry unit. Bucket is insulated vs dino is not. Have 17 extra feet of working height and 52 feet side reach which is equal to a 75 foot buckets side reach. Way more maneuverable. Can operate all the controls of the machine from basket (ie can do multiple set ups without leaving the basket. All wheel steering. Oscillating axle. It's just under 7 feet wide so not going places a tracked lift can go but can bomb around the yard with minimal damage. Plus we climb anyways so I don't mind not being able to get everywhere. First lift I've ever owned in almost 10 years of business. Just wanted to buy once.... I'll keep it for a long time it fits in my shop. Hopefully made the right choice I am happy! Only used it once! Not cheap gotta pay to play!

 

[data farm 26]

Is the difference in basket size noticeable? Can you get a smaller, 1 person basket on any of the tracked lifts etc?

 

[VenasNursery]

Just pulled the trigger on a dino rxt 92 after much deliberation... a 75 foot bucket is more expensive to purchase and maintain/cost to run per hour is higher. A bucket weighs 2-3x. Probably 3x if you want a forestry unit. Bucket is insulated vs dino is not. Have 17 extra feet of working height and 52 feet side reach which is equal to a 75 foot buckets side reach. Way more maneuverable. Can operate all the controls of the machine from basket (ie can do multiple set ups without leaving the basket. All wheel steering. Oscillating axle. It's just under 7 feet wide so not going places a tracked lift can go but can bomb around the yard with minimal damage. Plus we climb anyways so I don't mind not being able to get everywhere. First lift I've ever owned in almost 10 years of business. Just wanted to buy once.... I'll keep it for a long time it fits in my shop. Hopefully made the right choice I am happy! Only used it once! Not cheap gotta pay to play!

Congratulations