How To Buy a Bucket Truck

How to Buy a Bucket Truck
How to Buy a Bucket Truck

A bucket truck is a specialized vehicle used in a number of industries because of its many purposes. It can serve as a vehicle which can lift or move objects from one place to another. Generally, bucket trucks are used as a crane system and are often used by power-line and construction workers.

This type of vehicle comes in a number of sizes and sets of utilities. Its general design, however, include jacks and storage bins for stability and utility. Buying a truck such as this is not something that should be taken lightly. New bucket trucks can cost a fortune but they can also be very useful sources of income. This is the reason why you have to put enough attention when buying a vehicle like this. The following are factors and important pieces of information which can help teach you how to buy a bucket truck.

What Type of Bucket Truck Do You Need?

Just like purchasing other items, the most important thing that you should determine before buying a bucket truck is the type that will suit your needs. Examples of types of trucks under this category are the versalift, cherry picker, and digger derrick.

Versalift

The versalift is made with a single lifting platform which can extend a couple of feet in the air. It is best used for lifting materials and people on average heights like rooftops and upper ground platforms.

Cherry Picker

The cherry picker, on the other hand, has a lifting platform with a single person enclosure. This type of bucket truck is the one commonly used by window cleaners because of the protection provided by the enclosure.

Digger Derrick

If your project does not require much lifting but requires more digging, however, then the digger derrick is the best for you because of its precise digging mechanism. Make sure that the type of truck you will be purchasing has the proper capacity of doing the things you’ll need it to perform.

What Type of Hydraulic System?

Once you’ve already decided on the type of bucket truck that will best cater to your needs, the next thing you have to consider is its hydraulic system. Check if the hydraulic system of the bucket truck you are eyeing can manage your jobs. Afterwards, have a look at the main parts of the truck from its engine, transmission, to its tires. Triple check them if they are in good condition.

How Long of a Boom?

You should also take a look at the boom specifications of the truck before purchasing it. This is very important to those who will be using the aerial lift function of the vehicle. Identify the lifting capacity of the aerial lift and also check its safe working loads (SWL). Once you’re satisfied about the lifting capability, then you can move on to check the control system of the truck. How hard will it be for your people to manage your bucket truck? Will they be able to easily maneuver it?

If the bucket truck you are considering passed all of the mentioned considerations, then you can now move on to having your big purchase. Now that you’ve done your homework and checked everything in your list of ‘how to buy a bucket truck’, you can be more confident about your investment.

Andrew Matthews

Hey there's not much to know about me other than I love Bucket Trucks! I've been around them most of my adult life and have a passion to share my knowledge with anybody and everybody who wants to learn about them!