Crane guys please educate me

Here in SE Idaho, NO tree companies use cranes, not one I have ever seen anyway and I think I would have noticed! From what I've learned here, it has occurred to me that if I chose to get into the tree care business, using my existing crane equipment and skills, I could probably kick [pick a different word donkey?] on the local competition. This would assume I had the right experienced crew of course as I'd "just run the crane".

I bought my first boom truck, a little 10 ton JGL, to help me in my home building business at the time, and the next thing I knew I was doing more crane work for others then building, and then the light went on: I could make a living doing this! 4 cranes later,upgrading each time, now with the 22101S, I am doing so, while mostly sitting on my butt inside the heated cab and watching others do the hard work. Point being, if I was already tree savvy and in the biz, getting a crane to help out would be a no brainer, with the thought that a little straight hoisting work on the side could help make the payments. This assumes of course that your area is not already over saturated with existing small crane companies, mine wasn't and in fact was grossly under served by an outfit with junk equipment and a snotty attitude. I came along with good and constantly better equipment and even with my snotty attitude stole all his business that he thought he had a lock on. Having two businesses may be better then just one at times. Two that compliment each other like crane AND tree service really does.
 
you're average tree guy fights using a crane until he is forced to on some job, then he realizes that they are an aide to his business not a threat. kinda like "we don't need no stinking cranes".
 
Agree^. It's less about what you need. And more about want and production. Sure there's lots of jobs I can climb and have done in a day. But I would much rather do it in a few hours without breaking a sweat then move onto another job.
 
First I've seen of your post as for a 422,my advice is to run away,don't know what this guy has experienced but these cranes were electronic nightmares.
 
As for crane choice,KISS,keep it simple stupid,(nothing personal here) any good AT is going to be European,complicated and very expensive to maitain,take it from someone that pays for said repairs.You can own a very usable larger BT and rent larger when you realy need it,example;one tire on my 50 $3000.00 to $4000.00,depending on where you lose it,most of the time they cannot repair them,new tire.As for the two business theory,"do what you do",When the conflict arises,something has to suffer,now you have a bad rep on two fronts,every job takes focus and unless you are Superman you will regret it.
 
Well put!
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There's a guy I've seen around my town for a few years now that has the biggest damn extension ladder I've ever seen! He'll have it jacked up and tied off what looks to be up 50' or so, and then he'll climb up and start cutting. Don't know if he climbs also, the big donkey ladder is what stands out, I've never seen one taller. He is very slow, I've seen his operations take several days, giving everyone who drives by a good show, I mean this ladder setup is spooky looking. I stopped and talked with him once and he is strictly a one man tree operation and confident he is doing things cost effectively. I admired his attitude as far as it went, and gave him my biz card and told him just in case you get something you can't handle your way it would be a pleasure to work with you, and I meant it.

He reminds me of a building contractor in town that has cobbled up a truss setter for his backhoe, it is pretty ingenious and he does some amazing projects with it. But, when he really needs a crane he calls me, and I really enjoy working with him as I know he, more then most, fully appreciates what the right tool can do for the right job.
 
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there is no such thing as too big a crane when doing tree work.

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Until you cant get in the yard or in the driveway.
 
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As for crane choice,KISS,keep it simple stupid,(nothing personal here) any good AT is going to be European,complicated and very expensive to maitain,take it from someone that pays for said repairs.You can own a very usable larger BT and rent larger when you realy need it,example;one tire on my 50 $3000.00 to $4000.00,depending on where you lose it,most of the time they cannot repair them,new tire.As for the two business theory,"do what you do",When the conflict arises,something has to suffer,now you have a bad rep on two fronts,every job takes focus and unless you are Superman you will regret it.

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This is good advice. Ive lived this before.
 
Also like I think was said once. It worked out good for us to buy the newest tallest crane we could reasonable afford that does 99% of what we need. Then we bring in a NBT 45 for that other 1% of the time. Being that we made a smart purchase price wise. No one has a heart attack if the crane sits in the shop for a week. Come this time of year we don't take the trucks out when the roads are horrible. It's a big difference when you can sit back and not worry about payments.
 
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Also like I think was said once. It worked out good for us to buy the newest tallest crane we could reasonable afford that does 99% of what we need. Then we bring in a NBT 45 for that other 1% of the time. Being that we made a smart purchase price wise. No one has a heart attack if the crane sits in the shop for a week. Come this time of year we don't take the trucks out when the roads are horrible. It's a big difference when you can sit back and not worry about payments.

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Is that ever true! Words of wisdom! Looks like NO crane work this entire week for me, no biggie with the paid for 22101S sitting in the paid for shop. Something for me to remember the next time I lust after a brand new 40124SHL, or even a used one for that matter! Not to mention my last few jobs were just truss setting, and the 101 was more then big enough for that.

BTW, the big CON EXPO show in Las Vegas is coming up in March, one of the world's largest heavy equipment shows, I went the last time they had it, 3 years ago I think, and it is well worth the $80.00 admission. I got more then that in free hats, gloves, and other free crap. The biggest down to the smallest of everything you can imagine, it will all be there.
 
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