The Pros & Cons of Bucket Trucks

[MrPez]

Legislation in the UK is aiming at making MEWPS (mobile elevating work platforms) our first option over climbing. This has traditionally not been the case with our difficult access 'higgledy piggledy' towns and 'quaint' narrow country roads. Therefore, mewps small enough to get access don't have sufficient reach, have been forgotten about and are rarely used.

However, the rest of the world, particularly the states, use them on a regular basis - it seems. Therefore, what I wish to know is:

- What are common mewp accidents and how are they best avoided?

- When do you decide not to use the mewp, even if you do have it with you and there is access?

- How does the safety/quality/efficiency compromise compare with climbing?

I'm no stranger to mewps and have some opinions myself. However, I wish to hear some considered debate to allow me to make reasoned decisions when deciding their use.

I'll be away from treebuzz for 2 weeks, so look forward to some interesting posts on my return!

Thanks for your previous replies

Paolo

 

[Stumper]

Not having worked from a bucket,(I did use a mobile platform once)I can only give the observations of an "outsider". Tree workers in buckets tend to overthin in order to gain easier access for the bucket. Hazardous removals can be blocked down in greater safety. Local news- in the last couple of years 1 climber has fallen. He fully recovered(reportedly he landed on his head which may explain that). 1 bucket operator was killed when the boom 'auto-disassembled'. The bucket truck was quite old and undoubtably years overdue for rebuilding.
Like everything else ,so much depends on the operaor/technician employing a tool.

 

[treeclimber165]

I've used bucket trucks with a couple different employers, luckily most were fairly new and regularly inspected. When using a fully operational and inspected bucket, we used it pretty much whenever we could gain access. Exceptions were smaller trees where it was more trouble than it was worth.
On some jobs where we could only reach half the tree, I would get what I could from the bucket and transfer into the tree from the bucket to get the rest. It's a whole lot easier pushing a lever than hauling your butt up 50' into a tree. (FYI- I never transferred into a tree from the bucket without being tied in first)

 

[Matt_Grailich]

I've used both Hi-Rangers and Aerial Lifts of CT, from 52'-70' working heights, and it all depends on the unit, the tree and where the truck is located. A good bucket operator will position the truck in an optimum spot to hit as much of the target area as possible, and will seldom visit the same spot in the tree more than once while operating the lift. The more working height available, the more boom there is to swing, so keep that in mind, as well as cylinders and chains or cables which may get caught up in brush or hammered into the tree.
One thing that I tend to notice about pruning out of a bucket is the amount of time spent. Most people feel that because they're in a lift, they can hit the entire tree, from stem to limb tip, and they end up actually being over-thorough (yes, it does exist, and for a salesman, it can cause ulcers). Ornamental shaping and pruning from a bucket is unparalleled in ease and speed.
Deciding when the bucket is not warranted also requires a great deal of restraint and will. Small trees are better left climbed, and large trees will also need to be climbed, since pruning with three pole extensions from the bucket leaves for very shoddy work.
Most bucket accidents are caused by lack of experience, or too much experience, coupled with laziness, also known as complacency. We've all seen it, haven't we, Boys? Proper maintenance and thorough training (read the manual!) will greatly reduce the chance of a calamity.

 

[rborist1]

Matt,

Having run many types of lift for over 10 years, you hit the nail right on the head. Over pruning is very common with the use of lifts. I see it on a regular basis.

I have not run a lift in over 5 years now and can't say that I miss it. I used to have all kinds of lower back problems (L4-L5) as a result of pruning with a chainsaw out of a lift (10x the weight of the saw exerted on the lower back when extended from the body). Now since I climb 100% of the time my lower back is virtually pain free.

 

[Treebeard]

I think like any other equipment the operator is what makes it efficient. I am not an efficient lift operator and so I do not look at situations to use them. I have always felt that areial lifts are for the utility line companies and not residential tree care. some cons could be limited access in yards and in certain areas of the tree. when doing a removal with a bucket truck you have now placed very expensive peice of equipment under the tree that is being removed. putting heavy equipment in customers yards doesn't always put smiles on their faces. They can be useful in hazard pruning and maybe w/larger commercial accounts. the company that I work w/now uses a man-lift. A platform that has 4 wheel drive, full rotation and all the comforts of a bucket truck but no truck and has a reach of 85 feet if needed (that can go horizontally as well). I have always been a climber and reluctantly used ariel lifts so i might be a bit biased.( I have had one break where the bucket meets the boom, caused by employees wanting to drain water by drilling holes at the bottom thus weakening the structure.)

 

[lahave]

I am a well trained buckethead. I have worked with many bucket trucks. After the ice storm in Montreal in 1998 I was removing hazardous limbs covered with ice. For a climber the bucket truck makes it more efficient to remove these limbs. I do believe that a manual lift may have its appropriate time for use. It has been a few years since I have used a bucket truck. I don't miss it or do I ever feel that I need it. I mean don't get me wrong if you have a 100' lightning struck tree you would be thankful for a manual lift. For everyday use I have always felt safer when I was tied in to the tree. I might come across a tree in someones back yard that has been dead for years and after careful observation is not safe to climb. The client pays the price for thier negligence.

Do you have a well trained operator who thinks he is ontop of the world because he has a really expensive piece of equipment?

Do you have a professional trained climber that you can trust to be comfortable in any situatoin?

 

[klimbinfool]

Mr.Pez,
Most accident that I have encounterd In the almost eleven years of bucket work and climbing are not really major ones, but small ones that add up to be costly.
Smashing the bucket into the limbs , breaking hydrlic lines and bibs, putting deep gouges in the boom comprimising its dialectrics, back injuries and pulled muscles from tryng to handle loads , rather then use a rope, dropping wood onto the vehicle because of misplacment etc . etc...How can these be avoided? well, experience and a good trainer and when the owner of the vehicle gets tired of footing the bill. A lot of major accidents occurr because of the bucket operator ( or Owner) not being aware of his cituation, pre inspections to the MEWPS, underqualified for the job, being to complacent with his job, surroundings (WIres).Taking uncalculated risks, being in a hurry and just plain tired. Ah ! and another, being lazy. TRying to get your MEWPS into a spot that it shouldnt go. Cracking cement from the wait load or the outriggers. However, there are freak accidents.But I do believe that most accidents are caused from the list above.Using common sense will avoid most of these.
When I pull up to a job and make a decision to use the tower or climb, it is plain and simple for me.If the tree is to dense or crowded by others we climb. It is fastwer in the long run. Rather then trying to jamb the bucket between the crotches and taking a chance of breaking something.On the other hand, when I pull up to a 120' valley oak with a 100' spread.We will tower the ends and climb as well.
Quality, effieciency, comprimise, compared to climbing?.If the tree is accesible with the tower,wether it be prunned or removed, I have not yet seen a climber be able to do a more effecient, or faster job then a tower truck,Especially in a larger tree.Is it easier to do tip work with A tower truck then to be all sprawled out on a forty foot cant trying to do the same work.Much faster to remove a tree when accesible with a tower then climbing to .Of course, you have to use your own descretion and experience.
Ive seen over prunning work both ways.Yes sometimes a tower opereator will over prune mainly because he doesnt now how to prune or have the experience. On the other hand, a climber will tend to lions tail because he doesnt want to climb out on the ends and do the work that needs to be done.Or take the latteral back to a place that is a comfortable zone for him. Is this experience or fear factor? A good tower operator with good trimming experience doesnt over prune and the same goes for a good climber.
I work for a municipality, so my trees arn't in the back yards or sides of the house as pivate co. deal with. However, I we , deal with the same problems. Time , Efficiency and safety. Two rules I stand by . I never comprimise myself or my ground crew.
Hopefully this has helped and not created animosity to your post.

Thasnks ,
Greg

 

[Sep]

In my expierence the main downfall of a bucket truck on removals is that the open space that the truck is set up in, is often the same spot a climber could be using for there drop zone. So in some locations the bucket causes you to do much more roping than would be nessacary if the removal was climbed. The other negative factor on bucket removals is that while roping you always have to be aware of the bucket. Often times when climbing you can butt hitch tops out into other crotchs and have them swing safely away from you. With a bucket the boom itself is often times in the swing path which causes you adjust and use a diffent method which may be more time consuming.

 

[MrPez]

Thankyou everyone for such a reasoned debate.

I think Sep's post illustrates my biggest fears - using a platform when rigging, and not being able to get out of the way. Also, I worry about felling the tops of trees from a boom - if the hinge is cut/ strong gust of wind comes, it can fall across the boom.

I don't feel that bucket trucks are necessarily a safer option - just a different set of risks. They may be a better option on streets, but then there is the danger of traffic colliding with the truck, or the boom colliding with a bus etc.