I'm looking at a 03 Int 4300 75' mid mount elevator. I'm familiar with trucks so this is question is oriented to buckets. I'm getting up there in age and want to save some labor on my old injured ass. 60k for this and I'm making some daily coin without killing myself. What's everyone think of this?
Looking for advice on a bucket truck.
- Thread starter 96coal449
- Start date
Very often my body still hurts after using the bucket for extended time. I typically find that standing in it for extended hours hurts my lower back and my legs. But, i just try not to run it day after day. If I take a break every few days then I am fine.
I would image it would help to pro-long your career. You can get a lot more work done as compared to climbing. Price seems good too.
Thanks Royce. I'm mentally and able to purchase this baby but my girl is a little hesitant about me spending 60k. I figure even if I only charged 100 an hr for 30 hrs/wk @ 45 weeks of the season I'm at a gross income of 135k. Even 80k is nothin to laugh at. Anyone else want to ad some advice on this bucket set up? I've read some of you guys praising the MAT 3 but I like the Altec Elevator price much more.
TreelineNH
New member
- Location
- Southern, New Hampshire
Post some pictures if you get it. I'll be in the market for a bucket truck next year. I usually see 60's around by me. 75 with the elevator brings much more money, but I would think the 15 feet would be much needed since almost all the trees I deal with are 75-100'. The guy that does my crane work has a 75, he built it on an older international chassis. Think he paid 80k or around there for just the lift in 2014.
Jeff
Branched out member
- Location
- Marlborough, MA
You have no idea how great that 15' is! In some ways, you're actually gaining 30'. Here's how: 100' tree, house on 1 side of it and you set up the bucket on the other side of it.
With the 60' bucket, you're hanging the block at the 60' mark, folding over a 40' top, and without letting it run at all, the tips are now only 20' off the ground and likely hitting the house.
With the 75', hang the block at 75', now you're only folding over a 25' top, so the tips of it are at 50' (vs. 20') This is now well above the house. Big difference!
A word of caution ⚠ the 4300 should have the VT365 motor. VT 365 is poop! They can be made "bullet proof" , but a majority of the ones we had were fraught with electrical problems and they are prone to EGR cooler problems. I prefer the T444E or even better-DT466 motor-just my .02
Jeff
Branched out member
- Location
- Marlborough, MA
^^ What @LimbLoppa said!!^^
VT365 = Garbage
T444E = (Ford Powerstroke) = Ok, but grossly underpowered in a 4300
DT466 = The Bomb! I wouldn't buy an International with anything less in it!
Both of our 4300s have the 466, and love them both. Yes, both of them got an in-frame overhaul, but they were both past the 12,000 hour mark when that occurred and the DT is one of the easiest rebuilds, being a wet sleeve engine. Most equipment managers consider the 10k hour mark to be a red flag for Diesel engines, with rebuilds considered likely after that.
VT365 = Garbage
T444E = (Ford Powerstroke) = Ok, but grossly underpowered in a 4300
DT466 = The Bomb! I wouldn't buy an International with anything less in it!
Both of our 4300s have the 466, and love them both. Yes, both of them got an in-frame overhaul, but they were both past the 12,000 hour mark when that occurred and the DT is one of the easiest rebuilds, being a wet sleeve engine. Most equipment managers consider the 10k hour mark to be a red flag for Diesel engines, with rebuilds considered likely after that.
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
I love my 6.0 liter fords (vt365 international)! I pick them up a dime a dozen because everyone thinks they are junk. They have a few deficiencies that need to be corrected but once straitened out they make good power and are fairly fuel efficient.
One of my trucks had a few extra go fast goodies on it (okay maybe a lot). I took it out to the local drag strip and ran in the 12's in the 1/4 mile with the dump insert in there too! The look on the guy's face sitting in a brand new Camero after getting smoked by me in a pickup was priceless.
One of my trucks had a few extra go fast goodies on it (okay maybe a lot). I took it out to the local drag strip and ran in the 12's in the 1/4 mile with the dump insert in there too! The look on the guy's face sitting in a brand new Camero after getting smoked by me in a pickup was priceless.
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Gorman
Branched out member
- Location
- Rhode Island
This is very true. A guy in Quonset strictly deals with that engine and fixes them. Doesn't really cost that much compared to what you're saving on buying a used 6.0. People write them off. I've never heard of someone bulletproofing and tinkering with a vt engine on a intl but it sounds like a great idea.
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
Wayyyy less than $10 grand
A mechanic around here (good friend and a Ford freak) told me it would take $6000 easy. I'm no mechanic btw I just had several bucket trucks and chip trucks with that motor. I remember him saying something about heads and studs-IDK!? I guess that dump bed insert must be for all that ass ur hauling?-cuz that truck is cleeaaaannnn!
This thread is getting hi-jacked and I love it! I'm a gear head at heart and love motorized vehicles. I have several projects sitting on the board and a few diesels laying around besides my daily drivers. This bucket truck has the 466 in it which brings a smile to my face. I will post pics if I get ... I mean, WHEN I GET IT. Keep the vehicle posts coming in and don't forget the pics!
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
Ha thanks, the dump insert was used mostly for rakings. It usually pulled my dump trailer with my tractor in it. I've since replaced my tractor with a mini and a trac loader. That truck was my daily driver, gave my estimates in it, and it brought the extra equipment to the job site.
You wanna sell it?
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
I'm often found hi-jacking threads in the rubber hits the road section cuz I'm a big gear head. I think I got into tree work to justify my equipment addiction. I could talk about diesels all day. My next project is a Freightliner M2. It's a 26k lbs gross truck with air brakes and air ride, C7 cat (not my first choice but I'll take it) and an automatic! I have a 16 foot flat bed dump I'm still contemplating whether I should build a nice chip box on or just buy a new south co or arbor tech box. I'll also have a deck between the box and cab for a mini, hell maybe it'll be enclosed too.
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
I just sold it last week. It was starting to rot out. I replaced it with another 6 liter from Texas!
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
I'm looking to build a new shop now. We have an accepted offer on our place and are looking for a new place that we can build on and run the business out of. My parents had a nice pole barn where I worked on my stuff but they sold their place last year and moved to Arizona. Currently I'm bouncing around working on my stuff either in my driveway or at friends farms. So I guess it's a lil combination of both.
7.3 definitely under powered! That's what I have in mine empty and towing nothing shes still a slug
