Crusty the Rusty Bucket Lift Truck (picture heavy post)

[atothec]

Am I crazy for considering this thing?
1989 Ford F450 Super Duty 7.3 IDI Diesel with ZF5 Manual Transmission. 40ft Bucket Lift, no outriggers.
Owner previously used vehicle for a sign painting and cleaning business, and he says he used clorox/ bleach as a cleaning agent which got all over the rear surface of the utility bed. As a result, most of the utility bed is trashed.
He demonstrated that the boom would max out and rotate full 360 much to my surprise without outriggers.
Started up for the first time in months in front of me, strong starter and battery, cranked for a minute or so, I partially covered the intake intending to choke the motor, and it fired up, smoked for a few minutes, and idled fine. Drove it about 15 minutes down the road without major issue.
Why would I even consider this? $1,500 Price tag, down from $3,500 asking price.

I've got a nice chipper truck I'm doing the middle cab mini platform conversion on, but I need something for logs or a dump trailer, and I figure my guys can get some easy pruning or removal work done with a 40ft boom rather than me teaching new climbers. I figure this thing would pull a dump trailer with the 7.3

What say ye fellow Tree Men?

 

[southsoundtree]

28 year old, life-support machine/ safety technology with lots of bleach all over it...

 

[atothec]

somewhat worth mentioning, comes with all the parts to fix the front end cosmetic damage (hood, fender, headlight, bumper)

 

[southsoundtree]

Has the boom/ bucket been inspected and passed?

 

[atothec]

Of course not =D
Although any of the boom trucks I could afford at the moment wouldn't carry current inspection either (10-20k)

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Whewwwwwww!

I'm from the ice and salt zone and haven't seen such body deterioration for a while

If the service body is so corroded the truck frame HAS to be corroded too. Then...the boom???

I work for a city and we have a few small buckets like that. They are ideal for a lot of the work we do on small trees. The last three trees we pruned today were 6-7" maples. My team mate did a great job of subordinating the codoms in the trees. The work would have been a challenge to do by climbing the tree. That...and a lot of physical work and time in the process. The 40' bucket has its place...as long as it isnt rusted away

 

[david1332]

I would walk away, wouldn't trust that truck let alone the boom with my life

 

[96coal449]

If your looking for a project ...... sure. The 7.3l IH will run for thousands of miles with basic maintenance.
Looking for turn key/ ...... run hard and fast.
Nice International BTW. I'd sink the $1500 in that or something else.

 

[hseII]

Am I crazy for considering this thing?
1989 Ford F450 Super Duty 7.3 IDI Diesel with ZF5 Manual Transmission. 40ft Bucket Lift, no outriggers.
Owner previously used vehicle for a sign painting and cleaning business, and he says he used clorox/ bleach as a cleaning agent which got all over the rear surface of the utility bed. As a result, most of the utility bed is trashed.
He demonstrated that the boom would max out and rotate full 360 much to my surprise without outriggers.
Started up for the first time in months in front of me, strong starter and battery, cranked for a minute or so, I partially covered the intake intending to choke the motor, and it fired up, smoked for a few minutes, and idled fine. Drove it about 15 minutes down the road without major issue.
Why would I even consider this? $1,500 Price tag, down from $3,500 asking price.

I've got a nice chipper truck I'm doing the middle cab mini platform conversion on, but I need something for logs or a dump trailer, and I figure my guys can get some easy pruning or removal work done with a 40ft boom rather than me teaching new climbers. I figure this thing would pull a dump trailer with the 7.3

What say ye fellow Tree Men?

Run Away.

@luckydad has a bucket he has considered selling.

 

[flushcut]

No, nope, ain no way hell is that a good buy. IMO it looks like it has both feet in the grave.

 

[96coal449]

The drive train is worth $1500 .... parted out. And then you need the time, energy, and place to do it.

 

[tc262]

The drive train is worth $1500 .... parted out. And then you need the time, energy, and place to do it.

Nope, its an idi not a powerstoke. Idi's aren't worth squat.

 

[96coal449]

Nope, its an idi not a powerstoke. Idi's aren't worth squat.

Your absolutely correct, tc. Wasn't eventhinking about the age of the engine.

 

[ROYCE]

Don't buy this truck...You can accomplish just as much from a brand new ladder. 40 feet is useless in a bucket truck. Never mind the condition of the truck.