Let’s talk about hook lift trucks

[Lumberjack]

@Treetopflyer The tag axle is just an axle that affords greater ground clearance through its high lift suspension and smaller tires. The tag axle on the grapple truck is fantastic at hanging the truck up, making me use the differential locks and power diverter in the silliest of circumstances... I didn't build the grapple truck.

Payload is a fickle thing to define with legalities and practicalities that change with the circumstances. The truck weighs 18klb without a container. It doesn't struggle to handle 15 tons in the container. It had considerably more in that first picture.

A tag also allows towing heavy trailers, with or without a container and its reasonable payload. Here the container weighs ~19-20klb, 72klb combination.

 

[Treetopflyer]

@Treetopflyer The tag axle is just an axle that affords greater ground clearance through its high lift suspension and smaller tires. The tag axle on the grapple truck is fantastic at hanging the truck up, making me use the differential locks and power diverter in the silliest of circumstances... I didn't build the grapple truck.

Payload is a fickle thing to define with legalities and practicalities that change with the circumstances. The truck weighs 18klb without a container. It doesn't struggle to handle 15 tons in the container. It had considerably more in that first picture.

A tag also allows towing heavy trailers, with or without a container and its reasonable payload. Here the container weighs ~19-20klb, 72klb combination.
View attachment 97417

That’s a nice combination power pack

 

[Lumberjack]

There's a track loader in the container, had just finished cleaning up a lot for future construction.

 

[Gorman]

The tag axel is great if you can add it after you buy the truck new. Having one on a new build will force you to pay excise tax on the truck. It's a lot of money. Just add it after.

 

[oceans]

I’m going to chime in quickly here but can definitely vouch for a hooklift.

Just to start, a point about cab-overs, and a HUGE bone of contention I’ve picked with the Isuzu rep @ TCI…GVWR is one thing, but you really need to watch the GCWR here.

FTR:
GVWR 25,950
GCWR 30,463
Carry a little less, tow a little something.

FVR
CVWR 33,000
GCWR 33,000
Carry a little more, can’t tow anything.

Having my CDL is great but forcing me to reevaluate my tiny fleet. I am going PACCAR with the next hooklift build and trying to make something that takes the place of my two larger trucks.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I’m going to chime in quickly here but can definitely vouch for a hooklift.

Just to start, a point about cab-overs, and a HUGE bone of contention I’ve picked with the Isuzu rep @ TCI…GVWR is one thing, but you really need to watch the GCWR here.

FTR:
GVWR 25,950
GCWR 30,463
Carry a little less, tow a little something.

FVR
CVWR 33,000
GCWR 33,000
Carry a little more, can’t tow anything.

Having my CDL is great but forcing me to reevaluate my tiny fleet. I am going PACCAR with the next hooklift build and trying to make something that takes the place of my two larger trucks.

Curb weight 33k on that fvr?
So I’m asking that’s how it sits unloaded ?

 

[oceans]

Curb weight 33k on that fvr?
So I’m asking that’s how it sits unloaded ?

Curb Weight cab/chassis is probably around 11,000

 

[Treetopflyer]

I’m going to chime in quickly here but can definitely vouch for a hooklift.

Just to start, a point about cab-overs, and a HUGE bone of contention I’ve picked with the Isuzu rep @ TCI…GVWR is one thing, but you really need to watch the GCWR here.

FTR:
GVWR 25,950
GCWR 30,463
Carry a little less, tow a little something.

FVR
CVWR 33,000
GCWR 33,000
Carry a little more, can’t tow anything.

Having my CDL is great but forcing me to reevaluate my tiny fleet. I am going PACCAR with the next hooklift build and trying to make something that takes the place of my two larger trucks.

I thinking the same thing with a hook trying to eliminate insurances from n two rigs and ball into one bad ass capable hook lift that would most likely require a full time driver to keep up with our money making shenanigans of pre staging cans and picking / dumping materials moving to next job
It maybe a logistics nightmare but most my work is so close I think it’s feasible

 

[Lumberjack]

I’m going to chime in quickly here but can definitely vouch for a hooklift.

Just to start, a point about cab-overs, and a HUGE bone of contention I’ve picked with the Isuzu rep @ TCI…GVWR is one thing, but you really need to watch the GCWR here.

FTR:
GVWR 25,950
GCWR 30,463
Carry a little less, tow a little something.

FVR
CVWR 33,000
GCWR 33,000
Carry a little more, can’t tow anything.

Having my CDL is great but forcing me to reevaluate my tiny fleet. I am going PACCAR with the next hooklift build and trying to make something that takes the place of my two larger trucks.

It it worth the hassle of a cab over? The only cab over I've had was a Mack MRU.... Unless something comes along to change my mind, I won't be getting another cabover.

The Isuzu has a up to a 50* cut angle, the M2 106 has up to a 55*. The bumper to back of cab is roughly 2' shorter on the Isuzu. 106 can have double the weight rating, obviously I enjoy mine.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I thinking the same thing with a hook trying to eliminate insurances from n two rigs and ball into one bad ass capable hook lift that would most likely require a full time driver to keep up with our money making shenanigans of pre staging cans and picking / dumping materials moving to next job
It maybe a logistics nightmare but most my work is so close I think it’s feasible

Same boat. Watching this thread like a hawk now.

 

[Treetopflyer]

It it worth the hassle of a cab over? The only cab over I've had was a Mack MRU.... Unless something comes along to change my mind, I won't be getting another cabover.

The Isuzu has a up to a 50* cut angle, the M2 106 has up to a 55*. The bumper to back of cab is roughly 2' shorter on the Isuzu. 106 can have double the weight rating, obviously I enjoy mine.

I believe oceans was just going off my example of Isuzu f series. I didn’t know m2 had some of the features you me mentioned , like cut angle, so thanks for bringing that to the convo Carl!

 

[chiselbit]

After watching my buddies hook lift in action I truly regret not going that route when I had my chip truck built. He has a flatbed equipment hauler, debris boxes, log bunks, water truck tank with all the sprayers and hoses, maybe others I don’t recall and can pull a trailer behind any of them.

 

[oceans]

A cabover definitely has its place, and for a given wheelbase, that extra 2’ can mean an entire I-Pack toolbox loaded with gear.

If I’m hearing you, Aaron, your hook will be driving and spotting all day, not parked on site as a support truck. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t consider much in the way of tool boxes, just versatility.

Does it need to spot trailers and equip or just race around bobtail? If you never have to tow, an FVR could be a great bet. If you want to tow, I would go with a T370 at the very least. You can add a tag or a pusher to one of those single axle trucks, or even find tandem rear versions of T370s. I don’t think I’m going less than a T440 right now.

 

[oceans]

As far as hook units go, I have 3 years on an American Standard Palfinger HAD185. It’s pretty good, plenty strong, but I’m not a fan of the in-cab morse control cables.

If you can get elec over hyd and keep it protected from the elements, cool. I also hear air over hydraulic is a great performer, and you can even set those up on non-air trucks with a tiny electric compressor.

I also hear Ampliroll (Marrell) is the jam as far as hook units go. I have a quote for one to go on my next build.

 

[Treetopflyer]

A cabover definitely has its place, and for a given wheelbase, that extra 2’ can mean an entire I-Pack toolbox loaded with gear.

If I’m hearing you, Aaron, your hook will be driving and spotting all day, not parked on site as a support truck. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t consider much in the way of tool boxes, just versatility.

Does it need to spot trailers and equip or just race around bobtail? If you never have to tow, an FVR could be a great bet. If you want to tow, I would go with a T370 at the very least. You can add a tag or a pusher to one of those single axle trucks, or even find tandem rear versions of T370s. I don’t think I’m going less than a T440 right now.

Today we dumped 2 loads of wood and a load of chips from two different sites
All the work was within 15 minutes max from my yard. I’m thinking 2 cans that could hold either or equipment or wood and a chip box would’ve been sweet . Job one drop the equipment box off unload that stage for wood. While trees are coming down hook truck Collects chip box and chipper if staging possible or if chipping will be on time with removal process due to space restrictions bring chipper there first. Whatever the case is I see the value in the flexibility it offers ! Tow trailer most days at some point in the day as we usually need to.

As far as hook units go, I have 3 years on an American Standard Palfinger HAD185. It’s pretty good, plenty strong, but I’m not a fan of the in-cab morse control cables.

If you can get elec over hyd and keep it protected from the elements, cool. I also hear air over hydraulic is a great performer, and you can even set those up on non-air trucks with a tiny electric compressor.

I also hear Ampliroll (Marrell) is the jam as far as hook units go. I have a quote for one to go on my next build.

this is the scoop right here , the good stuff !!

 

[Lumberjack]

As far as hook units go, I have 3 years on an American Standard Palfinger HAD185. It’s pretty good, plenty strong, but I’m not a fan of the in-cab morse control cables.

If you can get elec over hyd and keep it protected from the elements, cool. I also hear air over hydraulic is a great performer, and you can even set those up on non-air trucks with a tiny electric compressor.

I also hear Ampliroll (Marrell) is the jam as far as hook units go. I have a quote for one to go on my next build.

What don’t you like about the control cables? I’m at almost 7 years on my Swaploader using cable controls… two chassis, zero issues sometimes punching way out of its class. My first guess is road salt/corrosion causing issues.

 

[oceans]

Cables can be just fine, I just personally think there are better options.

You can think of air/hyd or elec/hyd like a pilot system in a machine. It makes the operation of the main control valve much smoother and easier.

Cable controls require particular routing paths to remain smooth, and the lever mounting inside the cab can be cumbersome, bulky, and inconveniently located when compared to the possibilities of an air or elec pilot control.

The cables can also be left with slop in the connection that prevents full stroke of the actual levers on the valve.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

The pto and dump valve controls on the first chip truck were made from used half inch water pipe, 1.5” C channel and 1/4” pivot bolts. I wish I had pics

 

[climbhightree]

I like hooklifts for tree work, but my biggest complaint about them is the lack of good tool box space. It is far harder to have a good rope box and L or I boxes. Your almost limited to underbody boxes. Another issue I've found is just the overall increased deck height (but this is probably worse due to mine being a crane frame).

But having a container for wood and stump grindings (that can be dropped onsite) is almost priceless. Add that the ability to change bodies as needed is extremely helpful. I can see a huge advantage if running multiple crews with limited hauling equipment...drop a container for them to fill, while you have the truck and another container on a differnt job site.

After having this setup, it had kinda discouraged me from doing a chip truck with a hooklift...as a sole truck. I think I would always want a hooklift in the fleet...just not as my only truck.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I like hooklifts for tree work, but my biggest complaint about them is the lack of good tool box space. It is far harder to have a good rope box and L or I boxes. Your almost limited to underbody boxes. Another issue I've found is just the overall increased deck height (but this is probably worse due to mine being a crane frame).

But having a container for wood and stump grindings (that can be dropped onsite) is almost priceless. Add that the ability to change bodies as needed is extremely helpful. I can see a huge advantage if running multiple crews with limited hauling equipment...drop a container for them to fill, while you have the truck and another container on a differnt job site.

After having this setup, it had kinda discouraged me from doing a chip truck with a hooklift...as a sole truck. I think I would always want a hooklift in the fleet...just not as my only truck.

View attachment 97615View attachment 97616View attachment 97617

Great insight on the truck situation dedicated chip truck. This is semi short cut on the experience I love gaining from guys who work with it. The little things you can only gain through use and time