Bucket truck advice

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a lot of it is going to depend on your location, size of trees, and topography of the clients properties.. If your trees max at 75', you might do OK with the 60' bucket. Trees here generally max at about 100-110', though the first tree I used the 75' bucket on was a 145' tulip...

No matter what size your trees are the extra side reach of the 75'er is awesome..

If you get a good deal on the 60'er and take good care of it, you should be able to re-sell it for near what you paid, when it comes time to upgrade. In the mean time its going to make you some serious $$$..

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upgrade or just add the big boy to your fleet.

another thought, if your lucky enough to have a company such as this in the area they will come to where you are buying for about $350 (aerial truck). and give a documented inspection.

http://www.thomasnet.com/heading.html?co...amp;cid=1312300

buying good used stuff allows you to buy way more stuff.
 
I like my Terex with the elevator alot. Been in service for 11 years for us. The movement of the boom is pretty incredible. Side reach and low angles are very nice to have.

That 10-15 feet is huge.

The extra weight is also HUGE.

I don't know how much leverage the boom puts on the tires on a regular unit, but the front tires are a problem when operating over the front of the truck. It will punch right on through an asphalt driveway. That is the bucket putting pressure on the front, not specifically driving the truck. Front tires do not last long (15k miles.) We had to add leaves over stock on a Freightliner to get the truck to ride reasonably.

Over weight violations will be an issue if you run by many scales. Empty the 15 yard arbortech package, pony motor with tools, the truck weighs in at 37k. Just about any chips or a full fuel load and you are over axle. Loaded with chipper - we were at 46k.

We are about to order another truck similar to the setup we have on this one. The next truck will be a tandem rear and the arrangement of the pony motor will be different.
 
You truly can have the best of both worlds- on a budget. The one thing I don't see discussed here is "how will this purchase truly affect your PROFIT"! Nice, expensive "elevators" are sweet, but they are costly. Can you really justify the cost or are you over spending for a "luxury". For a $40k budget, you could purchase a nice older 55'-60' rear mount and a nice 70' utility type truck. You'll have the convenience and manuverability of the smaller (when needed) and the reach of the larger (when needed). Don't get too boxed in believing you have to have an elevator- make sure your work justifies the purchase. We "tree folks" often get too caught up in having the "right equipmnet" and too often forget we must be putting money in the bank.
 
I have never heard of that happening with the fronts, wow!

I'm going with a rearmount, fwiw.

Why do you like a pony motor, is it for fuel savings? I would think your basic diesel truck engine would take the extra wear and tear of PTO operation without any issue cuz they are so long lived?
 
Good call, WL1123. Having a 75 is not critical if you have a 60, cuz the 60 will get the lion's share of the work done no problem. I want to get a 75 cuz of the incremental benefits you get when doing larger trees. I think it will make a big difference on crane removals by rarely needing a climber to set the high chokers or make the high cuts. And, though much of our big trees are done with a crane, it will make the occasional non-crane big tree much more unlikely to need a climber. I have a good climber but it is nicer to be not as dependent on any one person.

He loves climbing, as do I, yet the less climbing one has to do, the better. Go figure.
 
WL123, your point about profit, again, is a good one. I think a 75 will definetly create some degree of extra profit for my company. However, with the steadily expanding # of cos. getting elevators, having an elevator could arguably be important to maintaining one's competitiveness in your marketplace.
 
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We "tree folks" often get too caught up in having the "right equipmnet" and too often forget we must be putting money in the bank.

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I think that companies that have nice equipment can sometimes be categorized in this manner...

I think tax planning is a very important factor in buying equipment. I have had to take money out of the bank to buy equipment to avoid a big tax bill...

Include your CPA in this decision. I have purchased much nicer equipment in the past because my accountant showed me that I could save a large amount on my taxes by going with the bigger purchase.

FWIW We have a couple 60' rear mount's that are great. Both are under CDL and we carry alturna mats... They can out maneuver my pick-up. I almost bought a 75' this year... Maybe someday...
 
We have six buckets and four of them are elevators and one is going to be replaced by one soon. It was a big issue the first time we bought one and now we see it as a no brainer. If it fits in your budget then do it.
 
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We "tree folks" often get too caught up in having the "right equipmnet" and too often forget we must be putting money in the bank.

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I think that companies that have nice equipment can sometimes be categorized in this manner...

I think tax planning is a very important factor in buying equipment. I have had to take money out of the bank to buy equipment to avoid a big tax bill...

Include your CPA in this decision. I have purchased much nicer equipment in the past because my accountant showed me that I could save a large amount on my taxes by going with the bigger purchase.

FWIW We have a couple 60' rear mount's that are great. Both are under CDL and we carry alturna mats... They can out maneuver my pick-up. I almost bought a 75' this year... Maybe someday...

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good points but surprised your 60 footer is under CDL...wouldn't be in this state.

Don't see the advantage of being under CDL as the process of becoming licensed is such a positive learning experience imo.
 
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good points but surprised your 60 footer is under CDL...wouldn't be in this state.

Don't see the advantage of being under CDL as the process of becoming licensed is such a positive learning experience imo.

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Well... We're in the same state and they are both under CDL. Most of our drivers have CDL's.

They are 25,900 and if you add a trailer they are CDL vehicles. Both are de-rated chassis. If you add the axles up they total more than 26K, but the manufacturer de-rated the GVW to be under CDL.
 
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good points but surprised your 60 footer is under CDL...wouldn't be in this state.

Don't see the advantage of being under CDL as the process of becoming licensed is such a positive learning experience imo.

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Well... We're in the same state and they are both under CDL. Most of our drivers have CDL's.

They are 25,900 and if you add a trailer they are CDL vehicles. Both are de-rated chassis. If you add the axles up they total more than 26K, but the manufacturer de-rated the GVW to be under CDL.

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interesting...the mfctr. can devalue the chassis weight and that permits someone to go below the cdl even tho they installed a huge boom on top of it and hyd. system, and it is literally going down the road above the cdl wt.?

just curious.
 
I don't think the state matters in determination of weight rating.

26000 or more classifies the vehicle as CDL class B. I believe it is a federal classification.

To do it correctly you go to the manufacturers tag on the door jamb and add up the axle ratings.

And yes I believe the manufacturer can change the axle ratings as can certain after market installers.

Also remeber that adding a trailer changes the "Gross Combination Vehicle Rating" not the "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating"
 
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I don't think the state matters in determination of weight rating.

26000 or more classifies the vehicle as CDL class B. I believe it is a federal classification.

To do it correctly you go to the manufacturers tag on the door jamb and add up the axle ratings.

And yes I believe the manufacturer can change the axle ratings as can certain after market installers.

Also remeber that adding a trailer changes the "Gross Combination Vehicle Rating" not the "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating"

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You are correct. I looked in the Ohio CDL Handbook and the flow chart terminology for "do you need a cdl" is not GVW but GVWR or rating is the operative word.

I actually got my old crane's gvwr from Ohio State Police by providing the vin # prior to selling it last year.

I used to think you needed a cdl if you had air brakes but that is not so according to the chart. It is part of the test though ofcourse.
 
Back on topic...does anyone prefer a material handler?

4wd...tandem...?

Does anyone prefer a double bucket (me) esp. on the bigger picker to capture logs in? Keep a scabbord on both sides.

It would bother me to hang a saw outside the bucket for gm's safety.
 
IMO - Pony motor is a no brainer! The Kubota pony motor uses about 5g a day, compared to around 20 for the truck. At $4 gal - just in fuel that is $60 a day. That is only a small part of the problem. The 150 hour "service" on the truck motor is about $300 if you do it (7g oil, $50 filter couple of hours, grease). The pony motor - $30. That is 20 - 8 hour days where if you were just driving it down the road, it would be 70 working days.

I know a shop that had bucket trucks that they were working off an odometer for servicing - every 3k. New motor was required at 23k.

With weight and CDL issues - I think industry wide we need to go higher weight and more stout vehicles, better braking. It terrifies me to drive the bucket (legal, but over) down the road just in the event that there was ever an accident. It isn't nearly as bad as the firetruck though - 2 axles weighing in at over 54k on 2 axles with 8000lbs of water sloshing around. Don't EVER pull in front of a responding firetruck!
 
Classictruckman show us some pics of the cab and chassie before and after. Are you mounting up a new boom are did you get a used one, altec or terex? What will the total wheelbase be,and est.total weight.
 
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