As a hard core climber who spent ten years climbing doing climbing for my biz without even getting into a bucket, I can tell you that I was terrified by my truck at first. It makes noises- especially when going over center, kind of like a loud "KA-KRACK". It used to stiffen up my spine big time. I got a buddie that is a mechanic for a line trimming company that asked one of the Altec guys about it and he said "oh, ya got an older altec that makes noises??- get used to it! I did, however I still baby it so it doesnt make that noise. Its gotten better though, now when it does do it I'll still shoot a quick look at the boom at the same time the groundie does and then I laugh. I'm told most booms make some noises, I cant really remember running other peoples trucks. All that said I love that truck and am glad I bought it. I always make my money when it goes out, and now when a potential customer says "do you have one of those cherry pickers", I proudly say "yes maam" and proceed to give her a cherry picker price, lol.
