Bucket Truck, pita or no?

M

MudDuck

New member
I'm pretty much going to need a new truck at some point this year or next for sure and have been looking at 4x4 ton trucks with the service body on it. While looking I have seen a handful of nice service body bucket trucks that were priced to sell for sure. Question,,is the hydraulic systems on the lifts, Altec, do they go out often and what kind of maintenance is required with them. Are they worth it or too expensive to maintain or fix? I don't really have a "need" other than getting on roofs easier for roof cleaning and the occasional sign or store front. I just think it would be a nice "toy" to have when needed but wondering if they are too much a pita to worry about. Thanks,,,
 
The Altec's are a great unit. Of course, with more mechanical things there is more maintenance. You will need to be careful about maintenance. It is up to you to decide if it has value for your business.
 
MudDuck said:
I'm pretty much going to need a new truck at some point this year or next for sure and have been looking at 4x4 ton trucks with the service body on it. While looking I have seen a handful of nice service body bucket trucks that were priced to sell for sure. Question,,is the hydraulic systems on the lifts, Altec, do they go out often and what kind of maintenance is required with them. Are they worth it or too expensive to maintain or fix? I don't really have a "need" other than getting on roofs easier for roof cleaning and the occasional sign or store front. I just think it would be a nice "toy" to have when needed but wondering if they are too much a pita to worry about. Thanks,,,
Click to expand...


Mine has been trouble free so far, it's a Telsta..here is a picture of my lift truck before lettering.
 

Attachments

  • Batwing 098.jpg
    Batwing 098.jpg
    862.4 KB · Views: 36
  • Batwing 097.jpg
    Batwing 097.jpg
    710.6 KB · Views: 22
Yea thats about what I've been looking at and surprized at the deals out there for them. I guess there isn't much of a market for them but I don't want to get one not knowing anything about them and find out I've got to put 3K in the thing to make it work...every year...Or spend 1500.00 just to get it looked at to find out it's low on fluid...lol,,thanks for responding. Again I don't "need" one but there are some great deals right now out there and I think it would be nice to have when you needed or could use one.
 
MudDuck said:
Yea thats about what I've been looking at and surprized at the deals out there for them. I guess there isn't much of a market for them but I don't want to get one not knowing anything about them and find out I've got to put 3K in the thing to make it work...every year...Or spend 1500.00 just to get it looked at to find out it's low on fluid...lol,,thanks for responding. Again I don't "need" one but there are some great deals right now out there and I think it would be nice to have when you needed or could use one.
Click to expand...


Check out these guy's, i bought mine from them. They will also take great care of you after the sale!!


http://buckettrucksusa.com/index.htm
 
You never know when you will need to repair something but there is always maintenance but that goes with the territory.

I would have a good machanic or hydraulic repair guy check it out if possible to let you know what he thinks.

I bought a large Bucket Truck last year and was hoping to use it more than I did and now I am.

Make sure that if you are going to get one, see if you really need it or could get by with renting manlifts.

One good marketing point is that if you buy one, you can tell your customer that you will be able to save them some money by using your lift instead of renting one.

Another is you do so much of this type of work that you bought a bucket truck just for those types of jobs and have a lot more experience that some other companies.

Another is with so many other companies out there damaging the rental units because they really do not know what they are doing in them, makes you wonder if they really know how to clean properly without damage?

Just some ideas.

Good luck.





_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
Exterior House Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas
Cleaning Concrete Driveways Sidewalks and Walkways in Corpus Christi Texas
 
I guess what I'm looking for is someone who has had one for awhile to tell me yea you'll spend x amount a year on maintance or x amount to have it looked at if something goes wrong. Just an average guestiment if anyone knows what the cost of having one is. I know it's all speculative,,, just a laymans yea there great you won't regret it or mine was a nightmare. I know if it totally screwed up it would cost a fortune but whats the normal break down rate? Is it just an ocassional hydrolic hose that blows are they super complicated and need worked on regularly? Again thanks for any info...
 
MudDuck said:
I guess what I'm looking for is someone who has had one for awhile to tell me yea you'll spend x amount a year on maintance or x amount to have it looked at if something goes wrong. Just an average guestiment if anyone knows what the cost of having one is. I know it's all speculative,,, just a laymans yea there great you won't regret it or mine was a nightmare. I know if it totally screwed up it would cost a fortune but whats the normal break down rate? Is it just an ocassional hydrolic hose that blows are they super complicated and need worked on regularly? Again thanks for any info...
Click to expand...

Well my truck has 120,000 miles on it and the lift has 1400 hrs? Never a problem so far for me?

If you need one what choice do you have? I bought this truck to take care of one of my big accounts, this has added good revenue to the job's.

If you only want one as a toy as you stated, well that would be foolish.
 
Well I've seen several that were not much more than some of the other service trucks I've been looking at so thats why I'm concidering it. I'm sure it would add to my ability to get work I wouldn't otherwise get or want and to be able to finish something much faster. It would work out if theres not a lot of maintance cost. Just wondering what others that got them think.
 
First, are you afraid of heights?

Second, are you afraid of heights in a bucket truck where the wind will make it sway while you are working?

Some people that say that the are not afraid of heights are usually on something solid that does not move or sway, things change quick when the bucket sways.

Depending on where you buy it and what kind of condition it was kept in and how often they maintained it is how you will know. There is no magical number we can pull out of the air to give you.

Hydraulic pumps are from around $500.00 to over $3000.00, you probably know what hoses go for, other stuff, etc....

I wanted my bucket truck for a specific purpose and it works great and has made me money and will pay for itself before the end of the year or the middle of next year at the latest. You may do as good or better or worse. It just depends on you and if you go out there and find work.

Are you doing jobs where you have to rent a manlift all the time? Those jobs, do you think you could do with a bucket truck?

Remember, a bucket truck will not move when the bucket is in the air like a manlift, you have to get down out of the bucket to move it or have someone move it for you.

A lot to think about before throwing down some money.





_______________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
Low Pressure Roof Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas
Shingle Roof Washing and Tile Roof Washing in Corpus Christi Texas
 
I had a "Reachall" unit on my first truck. In three years I only had to replace a seal at $325.00 and this was a 1991 truck. Each year I paid $250 for the annual inspection and for that they greased everything up and topped off all the fluids. Hydraulics are a lot simpler than engines.
 
Mine was a Verizon truck that had a great service record. I also have power and air to the bucket.
 
The Cleaner said:
Check out these guy's, i bought mine from them. They will also take great care of you after the sale!!


http://buckettrucksusa.com/index.htm
Click to expand...

Thats where I also bought my Bucket truck which you can see on my website www.cleancounty.com I would also highly recommend that company.
My Bucket truck I use to tow around my trailer with it. I am going to sell it in a few months since I've been renting more lifts over the years...
 
Clean County PW said:
Thats where I also bought my Bucket truck which you can see on my website www.cleancounty.com I would also highly recommend that company.
My Bucket truck I use to tow around my trailer with it. I am going to sell it in a few months since I've been renting more lifts over the years...
Click to expand...


Thats funny, Brian is a great guy. If i need a part, any part for the truck or lift, he will send it to me at NO Charge!! he even paid the shipping. Thats customer service, especially on a Used Truck...He gets my buisness any time!!
 
Christopher said:
John, that is a nice truck, how far out/up will it reach?

What are the holes above the back tire?

Is it on a 1 ton frame? Tell me about the truck.






_______________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
Low Pressure Roof Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas
Shingle Roof Washing and Tile Roof Washing in Corpus Christi Texas
Click to expand...

The truck has a 36' working hieght so that tells you the lift goes up 30'. The black holes above that drivers side tire is where the gas tanks are. This truck takes diesel. Its a Ford F-350 which I believe is a 2 ton truck. The truck is not in nearly as good as the picture looks which is the reason when I put it on ebay possibly I will let it sell for whatever it sells for. On the lift you can no longer shut it off from there because there was a short in there causing it to stay off. I actually had to climb down from a house because of this. Everything else works on the truck. Its a 5 speed manual shifter with the 5th being overdrive and there is no air condition in this truck but to me that did not matter since this is strictly a work truck. I'd be happy to get around $3000 for this truck when I sell it.
 
Too bad you are not selling it later on this year, I really would be interested, just can't afford to right now.

Is it dependable enough for a cross-country drive? Like to Texas?

I did that last year, I could do it again.

In your opinion, is it just worn out or you just getting rid of it?

What kind of mileage does it get?

Thanks.





_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
Exterior House Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas
Cleaning Concrete Driveways Sidewalks and Walkways in Corpus Christi Texas
 
Christopher said:
That truck would work good for some projects I am working on for later on this year after April, wish you had it then so I could buy it.

How bad is the short, do you think it could be fixed or would the lift need to be replaced?

Thanks.





_________________
Superior Power Washing
Chris Chappell
361-853-2513
Exterior House Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas
Cleaning Concrete Driveways Sidewalks and Walkways in Corpus Christi Texas[/QUOTE
The lift works fine. The shutoff up top which shuts of the engine on the truck has been disconnected so when your using the lift you just keep the engine running. I have no idea what kind of MPG this trucks get. I'm guessing around 10-11mpg because its diesel. I just drove the truck today and it runs good but it is beaten up some. If I put it up for sale I'll post the Ebay link here. The last couple of years I was going to put it up for sale but then a job comes along where we need it.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top