I hate bucket trucks.

sherwood7 · Feb 5, 2015

Buckets are a big help in Denver for sure mike. I love to climb but after almost 15 years of it I also like buckets.

wyoclimber · Feb 5, 2015

I don't trust buckets. Shifty bastards. Have you ever noticed they refuse to look you in the eyes?

SRTsteve860 · Feb 5, 2015

anyone ever hear if it called a pail instead of a bucket? knew one guy who did it just to confuse anyone he could. it was the pail truck and you flew the pail haha

JiKeidan · Feb 5, 2015

Boomslang said:
Trucks, chippers, chainsaws, employees....all are loud, expensive, damaging, and potentially dangerous. That's the nature of the game. It's too bad we can't all be paid rec climbers.

lol yeah, i rather like the game the way it is >=)

gotta be crazy, fearless, and have at least one vice to do what we do, and do it well

JiKeidan · Feb 5, 2015

familytreeman said:
(catapult/flicked like a booger if not properly tied in with fall arrest harness)

my uncle D saw a boom fail on an operator

The boom dropped 30 or 40 ft , hit the ground and threw the op into the air, landing on the ground

D says if he had a fall arrest harness on, he would have flipped out and been immediately whipped to ground by the lanyard , which would have killed him.

-When I use lifts , I use a fall arrest lanyard , but this story always scared me about lifts possibly failing, and what good does the lanyard do you if the bucket drops?

the only three things that can "happen" in a bucket is the hinge pins failing, check them often... the leveling rods snapping, don't overlook any play in the buckets auto leveling... and the cylinder seal blowing, even if a hose ruptures it won't fall TOO fast... that being said, I'll bet my life on the rods/chains, grade 8 steel hinge pins, and my damned good instincts as a skilled operator. i ain't getting slung to the ground on account of some stupid rule bread of the ignorant clipboard carrying pencil jockeys

classictruckman · Feb 6, 2015

Umm...any hose blows and it shouldnt go anywhere, if you're in a boom without holding valves, get out before a hose does blow.

Riggs · Feb 7, 2015

If you hate bucket trucks , you must hate making money . WORD

kstreehuggerco · Feb 7, 2015

Riggs said:
If you hate bucket trucks , you must hate making money . WORD

VERB!!!

shaddart · Feb 7, 2015

Some of you guys are so hostile. I didn't say I hated bucket operators, just that I don't like that piece of gear.

Hmmm, why so defensive? Did I hurt your feelings?

I've been making money for 20 years without one, but I guess if I go in debt for the price of a bucket truck then the money I make will somehow be legit because it is bucket money instead of climbing money.

BTW i'm not an owner operator, just a crew leader for most of my 20 years in the biz-

I do this job because I like being up in trees and doing tree work- If I wanted to make lots of money I'd be a lawyer or something.

I just switched employers after 16 years at my last company and being around the bucket all day is making me depressed.

But today I had my own crew and no bucket (back in woods, and in yard- no bucket access) - it was a great day, which included
some pucker factor climbing and some young tree pruning.

RopeShield · Feb 7, 2015

Expensive ladder but good marketing.
Definitely need a redesign.

Stihlmadd · Feb 7, 2015

JiKeidan said:
even if a hose ruptures it won't fall TOO fast

is an interesting sensation though!
I got lucky and sagged down onto the tree trunk and stalled out in a crotch, had the climbing stuff sent up then bailed from there.

Kris Anderson · Feb 7, 2015

I loved buckets for utility work. I've been in 3 failed buckets, all rentals. An actuator was the first one but i was close enough to the trunk to climb down and only 6ft off ground.
The second was a blown hose to the upper controls. My off sider had to lower me down with the ground controls.
The third was a main line at roughly 32 metres . The bucket didn't move, in Australia we have an escape device attached to the bucket. I descended on that and we had to bleed the tower down. I've started climbing now and i do like being attached to the tree.

JiKeidan · Feb 7, 2015

they all have their ups and down =D badum... cha.

no but seriously... there is no perfect wonder tool that does it all. we're always going to have to be compensating and reinventing. hover lift even would be great, but then you have to worry about fitting into those tight areas inside the tree... or a jet pack, then you burn the bastard down... so anti graviton hover boots with climbing tread assembly built into the soles... hmm, actually we may have a winner... but I'm guessing maintenance costs would soar

Steve Connally · Feb 7, 2015

I don't really think it's hostility shaddart. More of a friendly game of dodge ball. In my opinion it's kind of a ridiculous threat anyway. When you post something like this people are gonna push your buttons.

Jeff_Cochran · Feb 7, 2015

I agree that a good climber with bucket skills will make a lot of money quickly.

ROYCE · Feb 8, 2015

There are many days I start off with climbing in the back yard, and finish the day doing bucket work in the front yard. Around here you have to be ready to perform any work that is needed. If you want to make money and be profitable you need to know how to climb, bucket, crane, rig, clean gutter, wash dishes, whatever is needed.
I am sitting here typing this knowing that if the phone rings and I get called out to do a job, there is a very good chance that I can get it done with the equipment and skills I have. I do not need to rely on anyone else. That is why I own a bucket and know how to climb. Occasionally you get the tree that needs a crane. I will just sub the crane out.
Ever rig a tree down with a climber, crane and bucket truck? bucket truck sets slings while climber stays in the middle of tree and cuts? You should try it, wicked fast!!