Tracked aerial lift considerations

I hear from a pretty reputable source that spider lifts used in aerial operations in tree care will need to be non conductive in the coming years. Not sure how this will play out, and I believe their is some politics to this as well. But something to consider when purchasing.
 
ROYCE said:
I hear from a pretty reputable source that spider lifts used in aerial operations in tree care will need to be non conductive in the coming years. Not sure how this will play out, and I believe their is some politics to this as well. But something to consider when purchasing.
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I understand if you work around utilities but sounds like a big over reach. I would be very interested in hearing of any more information on this from anyone in the know.
 
RoyalTree said:
I understand if you work around utilities but sounds like a big over reach. I would be very interested in hearing of any more information on this from anyone in the know.
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Problem is most often your always working around electric lines. Maybe not high voltage, but electricity is present in almost all residential and commercial tree care operations. Its on the top of the list of leading causes of death to arborist's. All it takes is one second to have a major accident.....99% of the time you might avoid the lines, but what about that one time when you go just a little too close..because you want to get the job done and you think it will be fine...ZAAAAPPPP
 
RoyalTree said:
Would that same reasoning not apply to cranes, sign company's, phone and cable company trucks?
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I think it could, or should. I am just hearing this as I was interested in getting a track lift. As I was doing the research I reached out to the former owner of the company I bought. He had a few track lifts and I inquired about their advantage over bucket trucks. He was just involved in research and development with a track lift company. It was his advice to steer clear at the present because they are not insulated and that rule is coming down the pipe. Now, take it for what it is. Personally, I think one company might be making an insulated version and they want to pass that standard to corner the market.
 
ROYCE said:
Problem is most often your always working around electric lines. Maybe not high voltage, but electricity is present in almost all residential and commercial tree care operations. Its on the top of the list of leading causes of death to arborist's. All it takes is one second to have a major accident.....99% of the time you might avoid the lines, but what about that one time when you go just a little too close..because you want to get the job done and you think it will be fine...ZAAAAPPPP
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I rarely work around lines, thankfully.

Cutting corners can happen driving out of the driveway, as well as making poor choices around power.

Would be better to be insulated, except when people start working closer than they would have otherwise, with a non-insulated boom.

People make good and bad decisions all the time.
 
southsoundtree said:
I rarely work around lines, thankfully.

Cutting corners can happen driving out of the driveway, as well as making poor choices around power.

Would be better to be insulated, except when people start working closer than they would have otherwise, with a non-insulated boom.

People make good and bad decisions all the time.
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Sometime we have to march at the the pace of our slowest marcher. Im just saying I can see it might happen that track lifts need to be insulated. Look at whats going on in the SRT thread. Insurance companies are looking at ways of making sure they are not held liable for accidents that could cost them tons of money.
The sad thing is it comes down to the instance companies. I can see a day when you might not be able to get insurance to cover lifts that are no insulated. If that was the case, I would want to know that before I purchased a non-insulated lift.
 
Will it earn it's keep before such legislation/ policy, though?

Genies, etc have been around forever. This is on tracks, rather than wheels.

How fast does this change?
 
From what i gather in just recently talking with a company that does offer an insulated BASKET to keep the operator safe...having a self propelled lift that is of any good size, say 70 feet plus, having a boom insert to be fully insulated is not going to happen. Would like to know where you heard this royce...also what definition of "fully insulated" are they refering to? From what i was told, it's not feasible.
 
merle_nelson said:
What would you say is causing them to be the weak link? Machine too heavy for that model of tracks? Something else? Fixable or fatal flaw?

Bailey's has a Demo Day coming up in March and they are only a couple of hours away. I was hoping they would have a Tuepen on site but, no such luck.
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Not sure what is causing the track to roll. Don't think it's a big issue, but one must be gentle while on pavement or concrete.
 
Masterlogsmith said:
Not sure what is causing the track to roll. Don't think it's a big issue, but one must be gentle while on pavement or concrete.
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I can imagine making a sharp turn would be the worst case scenario, where some plywood would help. Two layers of tarps, even. Better to trash tarps, in a pinch, than downtime with a repair.

I haven't really ever wanted a bucket truck, but a tracked-lift, sure.
 
Masterlogsmith said:
Teupen makes a fully insulated lift. Saw it at the tcia expo this year. 75' runs 120k I think.
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Yes, that is correct. My friend was involved with the development of that. I think Teupen will push hard to have that be the standard with all lifts, essentially benefiting because others can't do it, wont do it..etc.
 
Anyone have experence with Teupen’s 2014 models? I am noticing that there are several used units available with approx 200 hrs on them. Known issues? Electrical problems?
 
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