There are plenty of applications for used bucket trucks. From construction industries, to landscaping industries and even orchard farms, they all have a great use for this machine. Another industry that cannot do without an aerial vehicle is the forestry industry.
Forestry is a short word for managing the forest. This is done through the responsible utilization of natural resources such as timber, tree plantations, creating aesthetically pleasing landscapes and more. The majority of the work in this industry is about trees. When working at great heights is required, a bucket truck is there to make the job safer and faster.
Practical Uses for Forestry Bucket Trucks
There are plenty of ways a vehicle can be used. One good example of the importance of this type of vehicle in the industry is during tree trimming. Trees with branches that have grown too wide or too tall have to be trimmed to stay balanced. Performing this kind of task using a conventional ladder and ropes could be very risky or even a little scary to many; by using this piece of equipment, the worker can easily access the exact spot that needs to be trimmed.
Trimming dead tree limbs is another task that requires this type of equipment. Dead tree limbs can be very dangerous if not properly managed. These branches can rot down from the main branch and fall off at anytime posing a risk to anyone below it. Ouch!
There is always a huge risk of falling involved when working with trees regardless of their height. Climbing up and down it is also a time-consuming process; but that can be eliminated with the use of a forestry bucket truck.
Unique Features
Working with trees differs from working with electric utility posts even though both involve heights. That is why these vehicles are also uniquely equipped to do the job.
This type of transportation is used a great deal off-road. A conventional street tire tread can’t deliver the right amount of grip for soil and mud. Therefore, these vehicles have wider wheels with off-road tire tread so they can easily trek through rocks and mud.
The trucks are also all-wheel drive with limited slip differentials so all the wheels can provide power equally to drive the vehicle even through uneven and bogged-down terrain.
Another unique feature of this truck is the way the boom is positioned. Vehicles that are specifically designed for forestry applications have their booms mounted just behind the cab. Therefore it is almost centrally located within the frame. The purpose for this design is to improve the boom’s balance and lessen the tendency of rolling.
Like vehicles used by electric utility companies that have insulating features, these trucks also have a unique feature of their own. They are equipped with a cab guard. A cab guard is a very important part of a forestry bucket truck. Its purpose is to prevent debris like large tree branches from falling right into the cab, thus protecting the worker inside.
The bucket for this truck is also much wider than that of conventional buckets. This design is intended for convenience when the worker is carrying heavy equipment, like a power saw, inside the bucket.
These are some of the common uses, as well as the unique features, of forestry bucket trucks. Although the primary purpose of the trucks are still for carrying workers to tall heights, the additional features set them apart from the conventional bucket truck design in order to make the equipment safer and more effective to use. For the workers who use them, they do indeed make the forests less scary leaving the woods only with lions and tigers and bears – oh my!
Christopher Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. If you are interested in learning more about Used Bucket Trucks, go to the website as shown in this link.