Bucket truck rental?

Why tree work of all things. Stupidest business out there in my opinion. Way better things to do with your weekends than get into a dangerous, underapreciated, high overhead, unpredictable, unforgiving and only sometimes profitable work that requires years and years of training to become only somewhat proficient. Stay far far away unless you are oddly and fundamentally fulfilled in some way by touching trees.
 
treebing said:
Why tree work of all things. Stupidest business out there in my opinion. Way better things to do with your weekends than get into a dangerous, underapreciated, high overhead, unpredictable, unforgiving and only sometimes profitable work that requires years and years of training to become only somewhat proficient. Stay far far away unless you are oddly and fundamentally fulfilled in some way by touching trees.
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Preciate ya, bub. Nailed it.
 
Funny I had the same disease as you, but I went the climber route and mine struck at 62 lol.

Oak back yard.webp
Dummy's first small piece ;-)

Did the pine on the left a couple of months later.
 
I know you were asking about bucket truck rental and this only kinda relates. You mentioned looking at tree jobs. Are you licensed and insured for doing tree work? In most state around my area, if the homeowner hires someone that isn't licensed and insured and that person gets hurt on their property, their home owners insurance won't pay out. I doubt any of the places that would rent a bucket truck would rent to you without any insurance. What happens when you destroy their expensive bucket truck because you cut something wrong and it lands on their truck? Another thing related is if you don't have insurance and you destroy something, how are you going to take care of your customer? If you don't, how are you going to pay for your lawyer when they sue you because you destroyed their house or car or whatever you managed to land a tree on?
 
Good. I've seen to many people in a similar position to what you have described figure out how expensive tree work is but not realize the real costs of doing it correctly. They seem to think it's a great way to make some side cash on the weekend but don't think it through all the way. I've seen the city fine these folks and know of one that has landed in court locally.

On a different note, if you are doing tree pruning and removals you may need specific certifications in your area. Either way, get the isa's certified arborist study guide at at minimum. You don't want to be out there doing bad work that will cause future problems to the trees. If you have questions after going through that, this place is a great resource to ask.

Be aware this is a slippery slope that is likely to lead to a real side business that may consume all of your not at work time. It's also likely to spend almost all of your 'cash' buying equipment. I started out kinda like this. I no longer have said day job but now work full time running our tree service. I have bought way to much equipment to talk about in this post without a derail.
 
I'm not aware of any bucket trucks for rent closer than a few hours drive from me, tow behinds and snorkle lifts to 45 feet and then they want some additional insurance and certificate at the rental yards for taller lifts.

On the point of working with a tree company to gain some experience you wouldn't have to drive too far to be out of many companies area of competition all together. I know of three brothers that have three different tree services within several miles of one another and they only rarely bid on the same jobs. I rarely bid against guys I know 5 miles from me and certainly seldom against the guys 12/15 miles away. (About 80 or 90 reputable or advertising tree services within 20 miles of me at last rough count.)

LordFarkwad I watch the guys flying wingsuits in the Alps etc and marvel - wouldn't do it myself but admire some aspects of their skill and daring. Whatever you like about tree work is a bunch safer to pursue intelligently than that and has tons more opportunity for a paycheck at the end. Good luck to you.
 
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