Bucket truck or mobile lift

[Superduke 1290R]

I just took delivery of a new Platform Basket PB27.14. I already did a job that I would not have climbed because the tree was so rotten that it was dropping limbs on my clients roof every week. It was the neighbor's tree. In the picture below, we had to drive the lift around the back of several apartment buildings to get to the tree. There was no way a truck would access the area.

I had a job last week that I had planned on using the lift. The yard was on a 14 percent grade and the machine would not level out and the level alarm kept sounding. Instead of fooling around with the machine, I just sent my climber up. That was only the second job on which we tried to use the lift. With experience, I probably could have worked it out.

I also have a two year old Terex XTPro60 mid-mount bucket truck with a 65 foot working height. The lift is supposed to have an 89 foot working height. Surprisingly, the lift cost $25,000.00 more than my bucket truck.

The lift weighs over 11,000 pounds. If you don't want to ruin nice yards, expect to use protective mats.

I expect that if we are doing work on a tree that is within easy access of our bucket truck, we will definitely use the truck. It is a lot faster to set up.

You can't compare speed to a bucket truck. The advantage of a lift is the increased speed and safety compared to climbing.

I have wanted a lift for the past five years and they only keep getting more expensive.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

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?

Both, I've turned down work and when pressured as to why I explain my cost and how it wouldn't make sense to go with us for that job. With the confluent of major tree diseases here, even if I don't want to focus on removals, a lift would be safer and would allow me to be able to serve my clients better.

Is it harder to teach someone to run a lift or teach them to climb is my thinking with it. In some ways it'd be easier on me too, though my monthly sales would need to ensure that's possible first. The last 6 months have shown it, and this is the slow time for my area. We'll see I guess.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

@Superduke 1290R
The weight is a big thing. I want to make sure I'm not having to find unicorns in being a worker and having a CDL, at least not yet. Good to know about the matts though.

Speed is not the thing I'm looking for. I can't think that way because I already know nobody will work like I do, efficiency or effort, for me. That's just how it is. I'm hoping I can train some of that into folks. The biggest thing is serving clients better, keeping people safer, and being able to perform more work. I can climb things just as fast as running the bucket or lifts, but it sure is easier to just stand in the lift. Way easier to keep folks I'd imagine too.

Not kidding on the prices. Things have gotten outrageous. She's a beaut. Glad you got it. Thank you for your response.

 

[27RMT0N]

"I want to make sure I'm not having to find unicorns in being a worker and having a CDL, at least not yet."

For sure. I've seen outfits with CDL trucks looking for a foreman experienced in climbing and having a CDL, annnnd the wages offered were at or less than what simply being a CDL truck driver would pay.

Hell, even finding someone who can drive a 6-speed is getting harder these days.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

"I want to make sure I'm not having to find unicorns in being a worker and having a CDL, at least not yet."

For sure. I've seen outfits with CDL trucks looking for a foreman experienced in climbing and having a CDL, annnnd the wages offered were at or less than what simply being a CDL truck driver would pay.

Hell, even finding someone who can drive a 6-speed is getting harder these days.

Straight up. Dying breed

 

[Sfoppema]

Straight up. Dying breed

You can send a guy to cdl school in Wisconsin for 5 grand. Teach them to drive a manual. It's a hell of a lot better value than trying to stay under cdl forever and you can get alot more value out of the guy/crew. Chippers over cdl are way more efficient. Have to have a guy that wants to put in the work. It's not every guy by any means but when you see them you should give them the chance or someone else will... I bought the lift for reduction prunes and dead trees. It's no faster to limb a 100 foot pine with a bucket than it would be climbing. Probably slower honestly having to work around the lift footprint.... reducing 3 or 4 big trees in a day with a nice lift with good side reach is a lot faster....

 

[VenasNursery]

Companies around me are paying 5k for their employees but they have to sign a 5 year contract or they have to pay it back

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I have to get to that point first. I hope that'll come this year. The one guy I have I really do want to invest in and that is my plan tbh. We'll see. Haha. Good to know it's not too expensive at least.

 

[evo]

Companies around me are paying 5k for their employees but they have to sign a 5 year contract or they have to pay it back

I’m not sure that would be legal on the west coast.

 

[evo]

"I want to make sure I'm not having to find unicorns in being a worker and having a CDL, at least not yet."

For sure. I've seen outfits with CDL trucks looking for a foreman experienced in climbing and having a CDL, annnnd the wages offered were at or less than what simply being a CDL truck driver would pay.

Hell, even finding someone who can drive a 6-speed is getting harder these days.

Truth!

Back to the lift, it’s looking like any thing 80’ or so is greater than 10k lbs. So it would have to be on the back of a truck (that can support the payload) to keep it under CDL.

 

[VenasNursery]

I’m not sure that would be legal on the west coast.

One of the companies has over 100 employees so I think they’re legal and would be willing to bet they do nothing illegal but maybe things are different in Michigan

 

[evo]

One of the companies has over 100 employees so I think they’re legal and would be willing to bet they do nothing illegal but maybe things are different in Michigan

I’m sure it a state thing.

 

[southsoundtree]

They might just need an airtight employment contract... still would have to sue over it, I'd Guess.

 

[data farm 26]

There was a company here that was offering 10k sign on bonus for climbers. Less than a down payment on a lift I guess?

 

[VenasNursery]

One of the companies has over 100 employees so I think they’re legal and would be willing to bet they do nothing illegal but maybe things are different in Michigan

I didn’t really clarify what I was saying I was talking about companies paying for their employees to obtain a CDL

 

[Treetopflyer]

Truth!

Back to the lift, it’s looking like any thing 80’ or so is greater than 10k lbs. So it would have to be on the back of a truck (that can support the payload) to keep it under CDL.

I believe the 87 from easy lift is under 9k lbs
Acually just looked 101 is 9350 as well

 

[Treetopflyer]

I believe the 87 from easy lift is under 9k lbs
Acually just looked 101 is 9350 as well

Not that it really matters because any trailer to support it brings the weight on scale over 10001 pound on trailer anyway most likely unless it’s aluminum and engineered very strong so to evo point you need a truck to keep it legal for dot

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Would this be a bucket truck or a mobile lift?

Trailer-Powered Cherry Picker

Wayne Beauchamp, Tampa, Florida, gets a lot of use out of his converted cherry picker which began life on an electric power company truck. He modified it to pull behind his New Holland 75 hp front wh...

www.farmshow.com

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Would this be a bucket truck or a mobile lift?

Trailer-Powered Cherry Picker

Wayne Beauchamp, Tampa, Florida, gets a lot of use out of his converted cherry picker which began life on an electric power company truck. He modified it to pull behind his New Holland 75 hp front wh...

www.farmshow.com

It'd fit in the category of a lift but more like a nifty lift pull behind. Neat that it's hydraulic powered from the PTO. I've seen a couple of those around.

 

[TUBES]

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!

price? why the dino?