I had my first experience with a spider lift yesterday... Rented a "Tracked lift brand" 72'er it was red. Controller was a PIA at first and just a pain at the end. First it only worked when not in the bucket, then some how it started working for a few mins from the bucket. I guess a outrigger sank in the sandy ground some(small mats were included but not big enough for the sandy soil). It wouldn't let me move left or right, only down . I was about 60' up in the canopy trying to get a few hours in before dark alone(help was arriving Tuesday morning). Boom would go down but since I was in the canopy I couldn't get down over the oak tree leads. Rather then making a phone call for help I descended down on a rigging rope... lesson learned never use a unframilar lift alone.
Next morning(yesterday) had to call the rental company to get the controller to work in bucket(had a 5 min. tutorial when I picked it up). Guy talked me threw it on the phone in the morning but the rest of the day controller only would work when plugged into the bucket. Turned out battery was dead in remote, found that out this morning when I dropped it off.
4 dead/dying oaks all over the 2 acre yard, 3 biggins(32"+dbh). 1 over the new fence, the biggest of bunch was 5' from the house w/ 2 week old solar paanels on roof. With just a dead hollow squirll filled stem to rig from I picked and threw everything over the house. Other 2 were in the woods w/ just a shed under 1 side of those 2 trees. So they were pretty easy.
Arrived at job at 7:00 yesterday, didn't get boom functional till after 8. Finished last tree at 6:30. Balls to the wall all day w/out a 1 min break except when saw was sent down to be refueled. I told the homeowner it would be a additional charge if lift was needed for a second day. So you would think since I finished in one day busting my arse he would throw me a bone, Nope.
I hated the lift at first being so used to the bucket truck single 6 position pistol joystick. Now that I understand the quirks of the lift I like them. I needed all 72' and some to get to 2 of the trees to avoid rigging down monster pieces over targets or the wooded area. Going threw the woods was much easier w/ the tracked lift then any lift I ever used.
Got a pin oak removal climb on saturday, looking forward to rigging stuff/pick-throw/chunking again w/ no rental lift under me. Rental guy hooked me up compared to normal rate, charged me 620 for lift and trailer. Then another 190 in tax and waiver and 600 deposit. Nornally it would be 780 for the lift and trailer plus tax/waiver/deposit. It will have to be a necessity in the future to rent that lift again. I'll stick with genie towables or nifty lifts if the trees aren't climbable. Sorry for the novel w/ no pics but really had no time to even think about pics.