Bucket trucks

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When you think the economy in your area can support it, I still believe you should consider a refurbished '94-'97 truck. There is a bunch of them available now that have been released from Asplundh. You will be amazed at how much you can reach with the added height and the break-over-center lower boom. Most jobs I don't have to rotate the boom around because I can get so close due to the over center lower boom. An added benefit to having nice equipment is that you tend to get more quality conscious customers that will pay more. I've had people come up to me from within the neighborhood I was working and ask for estimates due to my truck. They say " I like your truck, you must do first rate work". I charge more now because people expect to pay more. Just a thought.
 
well you are totally right about that.... Believe me i would be very happy to get a newer truck.. However this one works for now. You guys got me scared sitting here at the computer. I may sound reckless but believe me i'm not .
 
the boom on the truck i work with is very bouncy . if you dont easy off the hydraulics and just let it go it bounces. working around lines you get to konw the controls very quickly
 
Originally posted by Abbershay
actually my tires arent on the ground, the riggers pretty much take out all the tire weight.


Abb, you don't set your bucket truck up like a crane, with the tires lifted off the ground. Bucket trucks are designed to use the tires along with the outriggers for stability.

I've operated maybe 4 or 5 different type aireal lifts over the years, and I've never had one that required the tires lifted off the ground to level/stabilize it.

That there might be part of your instability problem.



Hey Erik, ORclimber, do ya'll lift your tires off the ground when you set-up?
 
Originally posted by MasterBlaster
Hey Erik, ORclimber, do ya'll lift your tires off the ground when you set-up?

No never did, but I've been out of buckets since leaving Asplundh. And you spelled my name wrong it's E-r-i-c
:D :D :p Just kidding Erik.
 
I will have to do that. i Always have seen it done that way , so thats what i did. thanks i will remember that.
 
Cool, Abb. I would try keeping as much weight as possible on the ground, using my outriggers only to stabilize/level the truck.

Oh by the way, do you use outrigger pads? 90% of the time you should use them.

If you've ever had one sink on you, you would understand where I'm coming from.
 
i know thats a good practice, one i havent been doing because my pads on the out riggers are real big, and cover just as if i was using pads.
 
I don't know how Abb's truck is set up, mine has 4 stabilizers.

The two front ones level the truck itself, the rear ones are there for additional stability, they will raise the rear end, but I never raise the tires off the ground. Raising the tires off the ground just puts undo stress and strain on the stabilizer and the main frame supports.

When you raise tires you are also raising the differential, and brake drums, that is alot of extra weight for a rigger that IMO wasn't designed to hold that much weight, plus do the job of stabilizing the truck.
 
Gheee i feel like the guy who brought the chainsaw back to the store and said it doesnt cut that great.. they after its started whats that sound...
 
Abb

You started this thread, don't look at it as we are getting down on your case, but more as trying to help you get going in the right direction.

Also look at it this way, when you go to update your truck at least you know what to look for in a truck and what NOT to buy, not every body gets it right the first time around.
 
pads

How big is real big? 2'x2'? or 3'x3'? Guess you've never measured the lid on a septic tank yet? Then there is the part about "I seen it done this way." Don't sit at the computer and worry about what is said, try it and see if it works for you, meantime give it some grease once in a while. Then let us know how it did or didn't work for you.
 
After reading this thread I see that Abbershay is not far from right. I had new pins and cables put in my truck. A friend of mine has been in business for about 25 years working on equipment, including bucket trucks. He told me that there will be a certain amount of play in any older boom. It only takes the slightest tolerance in each pin to be magnified out to the end of a 50-60 foot boom. The pins in a bucket truck are usually larger than those in a backhoe which receive a much greater amount of stress. If the pins in backhoes and high hoes can with stand the stress, a bucket truck can easily withstand it. I do agree that you should watch the turret bearing as well as the pins but the chances of one of these pins breaking almost unheard of (from normal use). I say normal use because a guy in town used to rope off huge limbs to the boom and then cut them, letting the boom take the shock. He is no longer in business, went to prison for selling drugs.
 
sway to much

abber da i am use to 3/4 vans and 1 ton cc bodys no riggers but we had one gmc with 80 ft bucket used for working highway lighting that was almost new 4 out riggers ,and that would sway in alite breeze so would the 100 ft light mast, a bulb change was like playin pin the tail on the ******* ! on week ends the boss used it to set roof trusses .only the new guys would take the overtime!!! once. [when i grow up i still want to be me !] zero happy holidays when i was young all iwanted was my two front teeth this year i got a full upper plate! :blob2: :blob2:
 

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