Bucket truck or mobile lift

[flushcut]

Some spiders are loaded on and off the flatbed with using the outriggers to lift and moving the truck, I've heard.

Yep I can back up to a tree with the lift on the trailer, lower the outriggers, and drive out form under the lift.

 

[VenasNursery]

That requires a specialty bed, correct?

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Just a flatbed if you added a hoist to make it a dump I don’t think the lift would raise up enough to load

 

[VenasNursery]

Can you work in that position or move the truck and settle the machine lower on outriggers ? We can work right off trailer with near maximum side reach , but our lift deploys off trailer , lower Than truck frame and has best stability for side reach when tracks are 12 to 18 inches off the ground. So we take it off for the stretch or far out setups.

Don’t track with a human in the lift and keep all people away when moving it. We set up every time with 4 by 4 ground protection mats under the shoes on the feet of outriggers. Especially on loose ground and do double up or more mats , if soft soil and working of a particular side of the machine.

Yes we setup oover the truck sometimes

 

[Treetopflyer]

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!

I like how the back of the boom does not extend past the base of unit . Outrigger foot print isn’t huge either. Are there any restrictions on movement when up working , if you can understand what I’m asking ?
I like the look of these spec wise looks like cdl class A driver to tow around on trailer ?
Custom Haul Rig no trailer?
Same low boy as your merlo?!

 

[Brando CalPankian]

That's a killer setup. Especially being able to set up and run off the truck. Way versatile. I'm sold, bloody brilliant.

 

[flyingmosstreen]

View attachment 91906

Is gvw under 26k?
That IS a sweet setup

 

[VenasNursery]

Is gvw under 26k?
That IS a sweet setup

Yes Sir

 

[Sfoppema]

This one is sorta stuck. Slipped off of the ramps when they were wet. It happened here locally and has been shared on here before by another member. Minimal damage to the lift. Quite a bit of damage to egos.

I've also heard of lifts sliding on side slopes (ice or rain) and may have caused a fatality when it flipped in a lake. Operator was in the basket while tracking to the tree, if I remember correctly.

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Part of why I wanted the dino. Almost 7 feet wide a lot more difficult to flip!

 

[Sfoppema]

I like how the back of the boom does not extend past the base of unit . Outrigger foot print isn’t huge either. Are there any restrictions on movement when up working , if you can understand what I’m asking ?
I like the look of these spec wise looks like cdl class A driver to tow around on trailer ?
Custom Haul Rig no trailer?
Same low boy as your merlo?!

I bought a 15000 gvw tilt trailer to tow it on from RBG the dino dealer in NH. I and my brother have class A so it's not an issue, but yes a class A rig. I am thinking of buying an early 2000s tow truck/ramp truck which you could haul it on while being under cdl/not have to have a trailer. If I need the merlo, my chip truck/chipper, and the dino on site I need three class A guys.... otherwise I have to get shuffled back to drive. I've done a lot of that in the past two years.. cheaper to send another guy to cdl school than to buy a whole different truck!

 

[southsoundtree]

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!

How much unsafe-to-climb work have you turned away?


How much do you work at your day job?

How much do you anticipate working admin, field, day job? Family time on top of this, too, right?

 

[Boomslang]

My next purchase will 100% be a lift. EAB is starting to hit here and there are a lot of backyard ash trees in town with limited or no access for bucket trucks and cranes.

 

[Treetopflyer]

We are able to tap a market doing this sort of work I encountered a lot more after lift purchase beyond the dead and decayed nasties, being able to basically hedge clip and maintaining privacy rows of trees in tight back yards where people are close in the property arrangements. We strolled through a 36 inch gate and arbor to reach this set up! These trees were twice the height of the best tripod ladder and your able to do such a great job compared to working off a ladder you’ll gain a lot of repeat clientele once they learn you are capable to do this sort of pruning. It’s low risk high reward relatively speaking and not removing ton of debris Is always bonus.

 

[Neill]

Nice! I get scared even standing that close to a pool that’s covered. It’s like vertigo for me, or like being on the edge of the grind canyon

 

[Serf Life]

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!

Congrats bud! How much was it out the door? A local outfit is running one of those and they look wicked stable. Weight?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

How much unsafe-to-climb work have you turned away?


How much do you work at your day job?

How much do you anticipate working admin, field, day job? Family time on top of this, too, right?

I've turned away around 10-15% of jobs due to danger or pricing myself out with using a rental. That number will expectedly increase as we keep growing. An option is to buddy up with a competitor who wants that work, but I've not found anyone who is decent enough to want my name in their hands sort of a thing.

I work a normal 40 at my day job. I anticipate this being another 40 but hopefully as me doing admin/foreman if I can hire another climber. Right now this stage of buying a lift hinges on finding a climber/foreman. Then I can focus on selling and consultations.

Yeah a family on top of this too. Right now I'm at about 70-80 hours a week running the company "part time".

 

[Brando CalPankian]

View attachment 91916We are able to tap a market doing this sort of work I encountered a lot more after lift purchase beyond the dead and decayed nasties, being able to basically hedge clip and maintaining privacy rows of trees in tight back yards where people are close in the property arrangements. We strolled through a 36 inch gate and arbor to reach this set up! These trees were twice the height of the best tripod ladder and your able to do such a great job compared to working off a ladder you’ll gain a lot of repeat clientele once they learn you are capable to do this sort of pruning. It’s low risk high reward relatively speaking and not removing ton of debris Is always bonus.

Quality of work is a huge incentive. Just because I can climb out and am comfortable reduction pruning doesn't mean I can find or forge others who are. If I can get the average guy able to do high quality work it changes things.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Congrats bud! How much was it out the door? A local outfit is running one of those and they look wicked stable. Weight?

My questions exactly.

 

[Sfoppema]

Congrats bud! How much was it out the door? A local outfit is running one of those and they look wicked stable. Weight?

It weighs 10,700. Footprint is about 13x15 set up which really isn't big at all for 52 feet side reach....
175 for the machine and another 10 for trailer. 2 weeks prior a guy I know bought it for 185 same dealer... they dropped price last month or so. 3 year parts and labor warranty they're only 1.5 hours from me in NH. It's a big nut, but I'll keep it forever. It'll be huge on big reduction prune jobs. 92 feet is a long way up! Still cheaper than a 75 foot bucket. Didn't want to buy used. Probably only lift I'll ever buy

 

[southsoundtree]

My next purchase will 100% be a lift. EAB is starting to hit here and there are a lot of backyard ash trees in town with limited or no access for bucket trucks and cranes.

Sounds like the

I've turned away around 10-15% of jobs due to danger or pricing myself out with using a rental. That number will expectedly increase as we keep growing. An option is to buddy up with a competitor who wants that work, but I've not found anyone who is decent enough to want my name in their hands sort of a thing.

I work a normal 40 at my day job. I anticipate this being another 40 but hopefully as me doing admin/foreman if I can hire another climber. Right now this stage of buying a lift hinges on finding a climber/foreman. Then I can focus on selling and consultations.

Yeah a family on top of this too. Right now I'm at about 70-80 hours a week running the company "part time".

Did you lose them because you didn't bid them or because you weren't chosen for your product at your price?


I would be wary of investing in a plan with large numbers dependent on finding and keeping a great employee. What will you do when you're employee is no longer available or reliable?

 

[Sfoppema]

Are there any restrictions on movement when up working , if you can understand what I’m asking ?

I am not sure yet honestly have hardly used it. I haven't even gone all the way up... got too afraid lol.