What size bucket?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

JCONN

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
Messages
88
Reaction score
4
Location
Rochester NY
What size bucket trucks do most guys run. I currently rent another guys bucket when I need it, well actually I do some climbing for him in trade, this has been working for me but now I am getting more jobs that would be nice to use a bucket on. I am thinking of buying a truck also for the reasons of with all the other things i have going I am cramming 40-50 hours worth of work in half the time and its starting to catch up. The truck I have been using is an old Asplund truck so prob 50-55 footer forestry bucket. I have never run a rear mount and I understand the benefits but have no experience. I have found some nice trucks around me however they are45 ft trucks with50 ft working hieghts, is this to small. I know it all depends the size trees you do. I am just wondering if in anyones experience with a truck of this size is it more of a hassle or does it get you high enough to get more clearence over obsticles like a house. Does the rear mount help that much that the shorter boom is about the same reach as the forestry truck. Just looking for a little help of what to be looking for.
 
IMO a 45 footer is going to be a little too short but it will at least get ya up there. I run an ALC 55 forestry setup. Got about 60 ft working height and I always find myself wishing I had a 60 footer, my next one will be. A rear mount is going to get you into some tighter places and give you more reach but obviously with a forestry truck you have another chip truck. Its a trade off, you just got to decide what's more important to you. I don't mind sacraficing a little reach for having another truck to chip into. My chip truck was down for a couple months while getting redone and the forestry truck pulled double duty and allowed us to keep working everyday.
 
Last edited:
Most of us run good ol 60ft Big O trucks, referb and nursed, usually we get them from dealers who put band aids on them and we end up dumping thousands into it, to make a decent truck. I wish I had a elevator tho, as most others do aswell.
 
Most of us run good ol 60ft Big O trucks, referb and nursed, usually we get them from dealers who put band aids on them and we end up dumping thousands into it, to make a decent truck. I wish I had a elevator tho, as most others do aswell.

+1, 60' WH is the minimum I would want. Even at that, you had better have some tricks up your sleeve, if you wanna do big trees from a 60 footer.
 
Hey JCONN.

I have done a bunch of work in your area. My family lives in Honeoye Falls and I always try to subcontract climb when I am home. Most companies I worked for out there are running big rearmounts. The forestry trucks are nice but if you already have a truck and chipper you don't need it. Plus the rear mounts have more access and are lighter when driving over lawns and what not. Also with a forestry truck a lot of the times you end up dropping the chipper, then putting it back on at the end of the day and chipping.... that takes extra time. Also, my forestry truck (an ex davey truck) has trouble pulling big chippers.... I pull a vermeer bc1000xl with it.... not the greatest thing for tree removals.

Don't waste your money on a forty five foot truck, what are you gonna do with 45 foot of reach? I would say at least sixty, and even with that you will probably still be spiking up occasionally.... remember a fifty foot wh truck only gets you fifty feet up if you park right under the tree..... usually it is better to have some standoff..... and even then in most trees out there you aren't even getting started at 40-50 feet up.
 
My first one was 45ft and was a little short now i have a 60ft and is plenty high enough so i would say get at least 55-60ft
 
we run 2 60's and a 65' one of the 60's is an overcenter and the other two are your standard high ranger booms... when you have a boom length of "x" you always need "x"+5 thats the way it works no way around it :msp_unsure: but yea 60' would b my min a double over center rear mount is about the best setup
 
We run 58', 62' and 77' booms. The 77 has a 15'ft elevator and is the nuts working with the crane. It has some disadvantages, the size and length of the chassis make it difficult to get into tight areas and requires a cdl driver. Between the 58 and 62, I actually prefer the 58, merely because its mounted on a newer, better chasis. The 62ft boom overhangs the front of the truck and there have been mishaps due to the stinger.

My advice, buy the best truck you can afford, work into the ground and upgrade.
 
Back
Top