Having had bucket trucks from almost day one, I'd recommend it. However, make sure you get the 40ft version with a 2 arm boom as opposed to the 36ft versions. Also, go with one that is PTO rather than generator powered. So you'll probably need a F550 or equivalent which require DOT and DOT medical card for the drivers. You might find a F450 version but they are few and far between. With have a couple that are Isuzus and they get a little better gas mileage and have a much better turning radius but the cab-over design makes them bouncy when driving and not all techs like driving them.
The only problem I have with them is that once the installers use them, they NEVER touch the ladder again. One thing I hear a lot is "we can't reach the roof because a car is parked in the way." My typical response it, "Well, I installed it with a ladder. Take the ladder off the truck and get up there that way." Site surveys are quick and painless with a bucket truck. Installing cameras, putting ballast on the roof, making tower climbs easier, cutting down trees, all sorts of things. I can't imagine like without at least one in service. The downside is that repairs can get expensive. Our bucket cracked and that would have been a $5000 repair but had a friend that owns a company that fixes them do it for free. In that case, I would have sold it and bought another one. Plan on about $20-25k for a good F550 w/40ft bucket. Smaller 36fts you can get for as low as $12k but I feel the F550s are worth the added expense. Depending on your terrain, you can also get them in 4x4. On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 4:12 PM, Jason McKemie < [email protected]> wrote: > That sounds like it would fall under commercial use. Might want to be > careful where you do that and who sees it. > > On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 1:37 PM, Ryan Ray <[email protected]> wrote: > >> For a quick site survey I have been making use of a Phantom 3. Nice and >> easy to launch it and zip above the tree line to see what's what. Cheaper >> than a bucket truck! >> >> On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 10:47 AM, Ken Hohhof <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Years ago, I would use a guy for contract install work who had a bucket >>> truck. But the bucket rarely seemed to fit or open the right way. It’s >>> one thing if you are working on the front of a building, like tuckpointing >>> or installing a sign. But if you want to put something on a sloped roof, >>> the bucket never seemed to go where you could work without getting out of >>> it, and the door always seemed to be in the wrong spot to get out onto the >>> roof. >>> >>> For putting a dish on a utility pole or something like that, a bucket >>> truck is great. Or for a quick site survey to see if a small tower would >>> get LOS. >>> >>> >>> *From:* Josh Luthman <[email protected]> >>> *Sent:* Monday, January 18, 2016 12:12 PM >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Bucket truck or vans >>> >>> What happens if you need to get to that equipment *NOW*. I'd be afraid >>> you need to rent it and won't arrive until tomorrow...or worse... >>> >>> >>> Josh Luthman >>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>> 1100 Wayne St >>> Suite 1337 >>> Troy, OH 45373 >>> >>> On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 1:09 PM, Nate Burke <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> We have a local rental shop that rent's a 60' tow behind bucket for >>>> $300/day. We've used it for a couple business installs when it's needed. >>>> Especially usefull for hauling ballast to a roof. Cheaper than buying a >>>> bucket truck. >>>> >>>> That said, there are some times when just having a bucket would be >>>> nice. >>>> >>>> On 1/18/2016 12:05 PM, Jason McKemie wrote: >>>> >>>> Might work good for wireless installs around there, I've had limited >>>> use of mine for that purpose due to the likelihood of it leaving ruts in >>>> customer's yards. >>>> >>>> On Monday, January 18, 2016, Jaime Solorza <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Yes I resisted buying one when I had ISG but that was long ago in a >>>>> galaxy far far away.... I hit myself for that.... I can always rent one I >>>>> guess. >>>>> On Jan 18, 2016 10:55 AM, "Josh Luthman" <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> 22k for both is a great deal! >>>>>> >>>>>> Just keep in mind any install that you do with a bucket truck will >>>>>> probably require a bucket truck. If the thing breaks you may not be able >>>>>> to reach some things. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>>> >>>>>> On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 12:52 PM, Jaime Solorza < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Considering buying a bucket truck or van as I get older. That fall >>>>>>> on ice in Amarillo made me realize body no longer wants me to have >>>>>>> lightning quick cat like reflexes. My rotator cuff is still sore...my >>>>>>> son >>>>>>> in law has a sign business with a 36 ft boom on van and 60 ft on diesel >>>>>>> truck. He paid 22k for both!!! here is van ...what you guys think? >>>>>>> Great >>>>>>> for camera installs and even cutting tree branches. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >
