Best Tips for Buying Bucket Trucks

Bucket trucks are the workhorses for many businesses across several industries. Without utility trucks, the telephone lines and electric lines you see all around wouldn't exist. Specifically, these aerial lift trucks are used to set up signs and lights as well as repair them. Bucket trucks are integral machines to different industries like power providers, painters, sign and light repair, tree trimming / forestry, and many more..

On your search for bucket trucks for sale, be extremely careful where you look. It's best to buy utility equipment from a dealer or directly from a fleet. Used utility equipment can drastically vary in quality, reliability, and safety. Don't jeopardize you or a worker's safety by buying a bucket truck in poor condition. Even used utility truck dealers can be suspicious regarding their practices.

Surprisingly, many utility truck dealers don't specialize int utility trucks and sell cars, atvs, boats, and whatever else they can. It's best to buy from someone reputable and is known to sell quality used lift trucks. One of the oldest and established cherry picker dealers out there is Southwest Equipment. Our recommendation is that you should read reviews of the business before you venture to it. Customer reviews can provide lot's of good insight on the business practices and customer service of that particular store. Keep in mind that reviews can be manipulated and you should remain relatively objective in your approach, if you see something in person that correlates to a review, that should send up a big red flag.

Regarding cherry pickers, a.k.a. bucket trucks, it is best to purchase name brand equipment. Utility truck builders like Altec, ETI, Versalift, Hi Ranger, Terex, Aerial Lift of Connecticut, and Lift All are some of the best ones to look into buying. Usually, they are good quality trucks and have parts fairly easy to find/buy. Overall, Altec is the most popular and the largest brand. Altec's equipment is high quality and the maintenance is typically cheaper. There are several Altec dealers across the globe. The bigger brands typically sell utility equipment that is easy to work on.

Keep in mind, it's never smart to have an inexperienced mechanic work on your bucket truck. A good utility truck mechanic will go a long way in providing longevity to your fleet of trucks. Before you buy a truck, whether you're purchasing from an individual or a dealer, get it inspected by an independent mechanic. Make sure the mechanic is trustworthy and doesn't have an angle or agenda to steer you toward or away from buying it.

These tips should set you on your way to making a solid, informed decision on buying bucket trucks either new or used. Finding a good deal may take time and will definitely require patience. Stay focused and remove any and all emotion from buying and you will get that great deal you desire. Good luck!

Sam is a popular blogger about utility trucks and is one of the most respected sources for info on bucket trucks. His blog, the Bucket Truck Blogger, is the most visited blog about utility trucks on the internet. He recommends buying the best quality reconditioned used bucket trucks for the best value/price ratio.


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How to buy Buying Bucket

Bucket / boom trucks are considered under the market threshold... what that means is, it is hard to find good bucket trucks to buy or rent. If you are looking for quality equipment, I suggest renting or purchasing from a bucket / boom truck reconditioner.

What reconditioner you choose to do business with will be the deciding factor between quality and junk. Buying used equipment comes with considerable risk. Risk does not go well with the already dangerous part of operating a cherry picker. If you buy new, be ready to pay a much higher price. New bucket trucks are expensive and a lot like cars, they lose money as soon as you take ownership of it.

The Wrap Up

Maybe this article has helped further your knowledge of bucket/ boom trucks. The idea of it was for you to appreciate them as well as understand what they are used for. If nothing else, cherry pickers are some of the most useful and practical machines in todays world. Utility trucks are relatively dangerous. taking the proper safety precautions is absolutely necessary before operating or being near a bucket truck.

Bucket Trucks are Sam's hobby and passion. He writes several articles regarding the uses and safety of bucket trucks, digger derricks, pressure diggers, and boom trucks. He currently writes for Southwest Equipment in Lewisville, TX. There, he aims to increase exposure of the used bucket truck business.

History of Bucket Trucks

If you have ever seen someone working high in a bucket attached to a long pole that is attached to a truck, then you have seen a bucket truck in action. "Cherry pickers" or "aerial lifts" are what many people refer to them as. As for a definition, they are made to work at heights where ladders cannot safely reach. Bucket or boom trucks are very prominent in today's modern society because they are used to work on lots of different jobs.

Bucket trucks were designed as a tool to easily pick fruits in orchards (thus the nickname cherry picker). Technology grew rapidly and demand as well as adaptations for cherry pickers grew accordingly. Wiring for electricity and telephones exploded in the early to mid 1900's. During that time, cherry pickers were what revolutionized the business. They allowed workers to be more efficient and helped linemen get more accomplished in one day than they could have done in 20 days with out one.

Utility Trucks in Today's World

Modern cherry pickers are used for thousands of jobs and even recreation. Most of the jobs today are line-work (telecommunications, cable, electricity industries), forestry, painting, sign & light repair / installation, window washing, photography, and a lot more. The increase in demand has required utility trucks to adapt to each industry's needs. Now you're looking at forestry trucks that have cab guards, line trucks with insulated booms, etc. These trucks in particular allow companies and workers to be the safest and most efficient they possibly can.

The Best Trucks for Bucket Trucks

Bucket truck brands like Altec, Terex, and ETI all sit on different vehicles. Some of the most popular trucks are Ford, Freightliner, International, and Chevrolet. In this article, we will look at these brands and compare their specs. With trucks in particular, consumers are very brand loyal and probably won't want to hear the real differences between the brands. For those of you that are afraid, turn away now.

To keep a level playing field, we will look at the same class of trucks. We will also compare similar diesel engines.

The International 4700 has 210 hp with a fuller 6 speed transmission. The motor is a DT466E diesel. These internationals check in at a heavy 34,000 GVW. The 4700 provides plenty of torque for operators that need such. However, the International is somewhat lacking in power. With the 34,000 GVW 210 hp seems a little light when compared to the competition. Seemingly, most users get power upgrades from their nearby dealer. Overall, the International holds value well and is one of the most reliable and long lasting vehicles for utility trucks.

Ford's Cherry Pickers use the 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel to power it with 275 hp. It is worth mentioning that International uses the exact same engine but is called the T444E. These 7.3L engines are available in applications above 60,000 lb GVWR. Strong engines that power slightly lighter trucks than International. The main difference between these and the Internationals is the components that Ford did make. So you look at the strength of axels and the transmission. Ford does come away with the better transmission (that is by a non-biased review and from actual road tests) in that it lasts longer.

The last comparison we'll make is with the Chevrolet medium duty trucks, the kodiak C5500 comes with 6.6L Diesel as well as an Allison 5-speed automatic transmission. These motors put out 242 hp and have an inbetween amount of torque. While the Kodiak C5500's are not as popular as the two previous, they still hold a solid market share in the bucket truck business. The availability of cheap parts keeps these trucks in high demand.

Now that you have read the un-biased and fast guide to the trucks that move buckets, which bucket truck is right for you? The simple answer is, the one that gets you to the job site safely and reliably.