Bucket truck

H

holden4646

Location
CT
just bought a 58 foot working height aerial lift of cr bucket truck. Just was wondering any things to look out for, never been in one before
 
Yes everything passed inspection last year. It's a 4 wheel drive 91 GMC c7000 with a 8.2 Detroit diesel. 52 foot mid mount aerial lift of ct. Picked it up for 10,000. I know those booms have value so I thought it was a good buy. Not the prettiest thing but if I slap some paint on here she will look good. It's really in decent shape. And I don't feel like spending 40000 on a newer one so I figured it would be a good place to start. As far as working in a bucket truck do you have any pointers as far as doing removals go? It's going to be different that climbing I'm sure
 
Well just make sure you keep up with the maintenance and inspections. Also always where your fall arrest harness. When I ran a 55' I found myself climbing out of the bucket often. No matter how many times I climbed out I always had an uncomfortable feeling. Be careful and always double and triple check your tie in point and harness connections.
 
Climbing out of a bucket is a very different feel than climbing off the ground: the bucket sways, it flexes and rises up as your weight comes off it, and oh yeah! that first step is 50' down if you don't get it right. Like TJ said, double check EVERYTHING before you step off! Also good to have someone on the ground flip it back to the lower controls before you exit, less something on your saddle catch and move one of the upper controls.
 
Gotcha, makes sense. do you generally have to climb out of the bucket regularly? It's kind of hard to tell how high 60 feet is looking up at a tree from the ground. I'm going to pick up the truck Sunday so I guess I'll know what it's got when I get it just hope I can do most of my tree work from it
 
When I ran a 60' forestry unit (behind the cab mount with a chip box) I did a lot more climbing out than I do now with a 75' rear mount elevator. I'm not sure which factor helps the most (75', rear mount, or elevator) but the combination of those really makes a difference. Most of my climbing now is trees you can't get to with any truck.
 
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I agree with what was mentioned above. If its your first time in a bucket it will be different than climbing. When I first started running a bucket years ago I used to HATE it. I felt I could do the tree faster with climbing. I could. But it was because it took me some time and practice to realize what is involved with running the bucket. Once you get good at it, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in a day with a bucket truck. However, there will still be those trees that are just easier to do with climbing.
When running a bucket truck I always look at the tree from all angles before setting the truck up. I do this because I want to try and accomplish whatever task is at hand, pruning or removals, with the least amount of set-ups as possible. If you have to keep coming down, cradling the boom and then re-setting up your killing your production. Very often this can be avoided by proper set up and looking a the tree and understanding how the booms need to move in order to get you to your locations. I hate setting up directly under a tree. I prefer to stay back a ways and boom into the tree. This keeps me out of the limbs and allows the boom room to move without constantly hitting limbs. However, sometimes you need to set-up as close as you can to get the height needed to reach the top of the tree. This is much more common with a smaller bucket truck. That will all come with experience and learning how your particular bucket works.
The other issue to keep in mind is that your now working above a truck. When climbing you have more space to drop things. Now your truck is in the drop zone and needs to be considered. You drop limbs the wrong way and you could do damage to your truck. Another thing to realize is that you have another obstacle to work around. Thats your boom and YOU. Usually in a tree if you take a top the wrong way it is still going to fall away from you. In a bucket truck that top could fall onto your boom, so it's important to remember that you need to be cautious of the boom and your rigging.
SET UP, SET UP, SET UP!! Don't get lazy. Get some good DICA out rigger pads...and use them..all the time. Even on pavement. I get lazy with this and need to constantly remind myself to use them. You have to be cautious of soft terrain and make certain that your stabilizers are set and secure. I heard a statistic one time at a conference that mentioned that very often your don't fall from your aerial lift..You fall WITH it. That means it's tipping over and your going with it. That can be avoided with proper set-up! Take this serious because it could save your life. It can be hard when your doing a lot of work where you might set-up and tear down your bucket truck a dozen time in one day or more. It's easy to get complacent, but stay focused.
A bucket truck is a great tool. I wouldn't run a company with out one. I love them. Just take it slow at first. I'm sure I could come up with some other tips as well. But these are what come to mind. This is just some of my opinions and things that have been taught to me along the way. I hope it's helpful to you. Be safe!!
 
ROYCE said:
I agree with what was mentioned above. If its your first time in a bucket it will be different than climbing. When I first started running a bucket years ago I used to HATE it. I felt I could do the tree faster with climbing. I could. But it was because it took me some time and practice to realize what is involved with running the bucket. Once you get good at it, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in a day with a bucket truck. However, there will still be those trees that are just easier to do with climbing.
When running a bucket truck I always look at the tree from all angles before setting the truck up. I do this because I want to try and accomplish whatever task is at hand, pruning or removals, with the least amount of set-ups as possible. If you have to keep coming down, cradling the boom and then re-setting up your killing your production. Very often this can be avoided by proper set up and looking a the tree and understanding how the booms need to move in order to get you to your locations. I hate setting up directly under a tree. I prefer to stay back a ways and boom into the tree. This keeps me out of the limbs and allows the boom room to move without constantly hitting limbs. However, sometimes you need to set-up as close as you can to get the height needed to reach the top of the tree. This is much more common with a smaller bucket truck. That will all come with experience and learning how your particular bucket works.
The other issue to keep in mind is that your now working above a truck. When climbing you have more space to drop things. Now your truck is in the drop zone and needs to be considered. You drop limbs the wrong way and you could do damage to your truck. Another thing to realize is that you have another obstacle to work around. Thats your boom and YOU. Usually in a tree if you take a top the wrong way it is still going to fall away from you. In a bucket truck that top could fall onto your boom, so it's important to remember that you need to be cautious of the boom and your rigging.
SET UP, SET UP, SET UP!! Don't get lazy. Get some good DICA out rigger pads...and use them..all the time. Even on pavement. I get lazy with this and need to constantly remind myself to use them. You have to be cautious of soft terrain and make certain that your stabilizers are set and secure. I heard a statistic one time at a conference that mentioned that very often your don't fall from your aerial lift..You fall WITH it. That means it's tipping over and your going with it. That can be avoided with proper set-up! Take this serious because it could save your life. It can be hard when your doing a lot of work where you might set-up and tear down your bucket truck a dozen time in one day or more. It's easy to get complacent, but stay focused.
A bucket truck is a great tool. I wouldn't run a company with out one. I love them. Just take it slow at first. I'm sure I could come up with some other tips as well. But these are what come to mind. This is just some of my opinions and things that have been taught to me along the way. I hope it's helpful to you. Be safe!!
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Thank you! Some great advice! I'm soaking it all in
 
The first advice I got when I was learning bucketeering was:

Keep your hands INSIDE!

Don't hold onto the lip and move the bucket around. Too likely to get them pinched off.

Second advice was:

Go TO the work, don't reach for it.

Over-extending or bad positioning will find you reaching and putting your whole body in terrible ergonomic positions. Try to fly to a spot where you can make as many cuts as possible without repositioning AND not putting you in bad form.

In the next version of ANSI Z133 the use of outrigger pads ALL of the time is mandated. Might as well get used to it. The chance that this section would be deleted no matter how much negative public commentary it might generate is pretty slim.

Also, in the proposed new Z, a handsaw SHALL be in the bucket at all times. There might be room for discussion on this point. Even so, unless there is some compelling safety reduction issue for NOT having a handsaw along it will likely stay.
 
Awesome stuff here as well! I like the keeping your hands inside the bucket.. Seeing as I'm a guitar player keeping my hands safe is a must!!
 
Sweet! Welcome to bucket land.

I started climbing for many years. Swore no buckets for me.
Almost bought a crane and got a 60' rear mount bucket...most recommended.
Stepping stones to the 100'+ grapple/cutter kboom, radio controlled mini...
Not too many trees round here are over 60'. Though...we do have enough over 100' though that buckets don't always cut it.

I do relish the opportunity to stand on the rim of the bucket. Most of the time it's too deploy into the canopy. Some times it is to reach that, just out of reach cut.

I too thought I was as productive as any bucket. No climber can cut and toss like a bucket master. Or weld a 90-120cc saw and slice giant limbs with no under cuts like it did not know it was coming. I have wished for round buckets with foot hooks all over to brace from...

I have four out riggers, and I am rather anal about putting stuff under them. We have 1" rubber matts for drive ways, (6)24" pressure treated 4"x4"s with (2) threaded rods together for soft footing. We also have a bunch of 4'x4' 3/4" ply wood for the wheels, I don't hesitate to put under the outriggers pads. If I'm ever concerned about the footing I will overextend the outrigger fully, then pull back, to kinda test/compact the footing prior to leveling the unit. I have a level ap on my phone I used for a few years to get a feel for it. That said, I've seen utility/union linemen show up and deploy outriggers, work side on the soft sloped shoulder and then float the road side a few inches as they reach out to work on the pole. Ain't but a thing.

My favorite, is to set my climbing tip from the buckets max, pull it back some bit for a nice swing...with the hand saw in the teeth!
 
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Keep your repel kit in the bucket even if its a short trip! Couple times I had to get down and was glad I had brought my stuff to do so.

I joined here because I am also weighing the pros and COSTS of owning a bucket truck. Here in Austin Texas, my 42' working height truck will reach most of our elms, and live oaks; but the MAINTENANCE is killing me!

So I am here to see if it is worth spending an extra $10k or $15K to up grade to a newer truck.

I have an old 89' Chevy, with a gas engine and a manual transmission. VersaLift 34' knuckle, insulated boom. I chose that old of a truck because I DID NOT want an electric over hydraulic system. When something simple goes wrong they seem to shut down. True I have no safeties what-so-ever on my truck, but I always use the outriggers and common sense. Plus I really love the complete speed control of hydraulic lever valves.

What do you all think, are the newer trucks worth the extra $20k? (I mean newer than 89 but still less than $30,000.)
 
al.of ct are a good boom easy to work on and get parts for
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my truck 75'
 
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