How to Buy a Digger Derrick

Are you in a business where there is a need to regularly dig holes for posts, lift certain materials up extreme heights, or involves workers painting exterior walls or trimming trees? Do you want to work with light cranes? Or just do jobs that involve being at heights which normal ladders or scaffolding can’t cover? If you’re answer is yes to any of these questions, then buying a digger derrick is for you.

Digger derricks are specialized equipment that aid in efficiently carrying out digging jobs and lifting heavy supplies and materials. It is an essential tool for people working in the infrastructure industry. One can pick a digger derrick from an array of brands, and choose between brand new, used, or refurbished. Whatever your choice is, here are some useful tips for buying a digger derrick:

Linemen and Boom Bucket Trucks

Originally used for picking fruits in orchards, the boom bucket truck is now identified more with linemen. This revolutionary utility vehicle has enabled countless courageous men install, maintain, and fix electrical and telecommunications wiring that bring light to your home and allow your phone function.

The toolbox is also important in their work but many linemen consider their boom bucket trucks as the one thing they can’t live without while on the field. Indeed, they’re going to have a hard time going up utility poles without them, and ladders have a limit on how high they can rise up. It’s unimaginable to see linemen climb poles halfway using ladders and move up the rest with the help of climbing spikes and a safety harness.

Finding Used Digger Derricks

Digger derricks have become a necessity for most businesses in the infrastructure industry. Fortunately, thanks to the increasing number of heavy equipment dealerships, finding affordable used or refurbished digger derricks won’t be such a challenge.

Buying used equipment is not a new concept. Acquiring pre-owned machines and tools has proven to be economical and equally reliable as getting new ones. To make sure that you get the best out of used digger derricks, consider these two factors before making a purchase: condition and price.

Landscaping and Bucket Trucks

When people think about landscaping, most conjure images of well-manicured lawns, beds of colorful flowers, and neat rows of ornamental shrubs. However, most of them forget that trees are also an integral part of landscape design.

Here’s another thing most people don’t know about trees: aside from beautifying a lawn and offering much-welcome shade, trees can also increase a property’s value by up to 20%! If they’re well-maintained, that is. Let a tree’s branches grow out, and pretty soon it will be more of an eyesore instead of an asset. What’s more, strong winds can snap the branches, which can damage surrounding properties or even injure someone as a result.

Trusted Bucket Truck Manufacturers

Walk into any bucket truck dealership and you’ll likely find bucket trucks from a wide range of manufacturers. While it’s perfectly alright to pick a truck at random (following a thorough inspection, of course), sticking to equipment from trusted manufacturers does have its advantages. With a good manufacturer, you can:

• Expect a certain level of quality in the equipment.

• Rely on the fact that replacement parts will continue to be available for your equipment in the future.

• Benefit from the manufacturer’s own guarantees for their equipment.

Several manufacturers stand out for the quality of their bucket trucks. Here are some of them:

Terex

Founded in 1945, bucket trucks from Terex Utilities have been a mainstay in the utilities industry. The company’s Hi-Ranger line is a recognized name in the business and is available in overcenter, non-overcenter, and telescopic configurations. Recently, the company has also started offering hybrid aerial devices that appeal to environmentally minded customers.

Altec

With a history in the industry of building utility trucks spanning over 80 years, Altec is undoubtedly one of the most renowned manufacturers of bucket trucks worldwide. The company ships its trucks to more than 100 countries and has built a reputation of providing great equipment.

Time Manufacturing Company

Time Manufacturing Company has been building aerial lift devices for more than 42 years. The company operates under two brand names. Versalift manufactures smaller models, while Condor manufactures specialized heavy duty bucket trucks with working heights of up to 210 feet.

Is a Used Bucket Truck Really Worth the Money?

Buying a new bucket truck can sometimes be a prohibitive expense companies may want to avoid. In such cases, either leasing or buying a used bucket truck are the options cash-strapped businesses can turn to. However, with the option to lease, is buying a used bucket truck really worth the money?

The answer to this question hinges on a number of factors:

Frequency of Use

Any company that regularly uses bucket trucks should consider buying a used bucket truck rather than leasing. The cost of leasing can accrue over time, thereby making it more expensive in the long run compared to buying a new bucket truck.

Availability

The market’s demand for good used bucket trucks can drastically limit supply in some cases and drive their cost higher than would be economically viable. Fortunately, however, the credit crunch caused by the recession saw many gently used bucket trucks sold, meaning there is a surplus of great bucket trucks on the market right now at really great prices.

Maintenance

Some people think that used bucket trucks bite back on their lower prices because they cost a lot more than new bucket trucks to maintain. However, that isn’t always the case. Fleet trucks, especially, undergo strict maintenance and inspection routines that keep them in top condition until they are eventually sold when the fleet is updated.

Taking the factors above in consideration, if your business requires the frequent use of a bucket truck, buying a used bucket truck is definitely worth the money.

Several Tips on Choosing the Right Bucket Truck

Can’t safely reach up a utility pole or treetop that you need to work on immediately using a good old ladder? Fret not, you can rent a trusty bucket truck and reach the elevated problem area safely. You can also bring the necessary tools with you inside the bucket so as to make things more convenient.

However, you must remember that not all bucket trucks function the same way. There are different types meant for different purposes, and you must figure out which bucket truck will suit your needs best.

Rental Bucket Truck Preferred for Start-ups

Bucket trucks provide elevated platforms that help perform a variety of tasks such as setting up transmission lines, window cleaning, construction, exterior painting, and tree trimming. While it delivers plenty of uses, there are instances when buying new or used bucket trucks is not viable. One such situation is when you’re running a small to medium start-up business.

Renting a bucket truck can be a new business’ stepping stone to learning the trades of the industry it operates in. Someone who’s just started a landscaping business, for one, can try out an array of bucket trucks first before making the decision to buy one that meets his specific needs. Rising contractors for energy firms, on the other hand, get to review which brand and model of trucks are more reliable.

Simple Bucket Truck Maintenance Tips

Just like your own car, you need to regularly maintain your bucket trucks to keep them performing at an optimum level. Yes, bucket trucks are manufactured to be incredibly durable; but time will eventually wear it out if you don’t care for it well, leaving you with a need to buy another truck.

Maintenance becomes increasingly important when you purchase a used bucket truck. In fact, regular inspections and tune-ups can make a 12-year old truck running like the day it came out fresh from the assembly line. That in mind, here are a few maintenance tips to help keep your trucks in great condition:

Setting Up a Bucket Truck for Tree Removal Work

If there’s a very big tree in your community that poses a danger to the public, authorities may warrant removing them right away. Even then, stripping the tree away requires some precision cutting and trimming before the final act of uprooting it can be done. Part of the precision can require using a bucket truck – and you may be in the right position to move in on this opportunity if you operate a tree pruning or removal service that just had its very first bucket truck ready for action.

Removing a tree is not like simply felling them in the manner of logging operations. There are numerous safety considerations to account for, such as wind speed, proximity to other properties, and the level of traffic in the area. For instance, tree removal crews will have to tie up rigging lines to various sections of the tree so branches can be taken off piece by piece.