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Ladder trucks vs standard bucket?


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We're in the market for a new (to us) truck. Our 97 ford/telsta a28d has had it!! It's been in the shop more than on the road lately.

Had my mind set on another small chassis utility body truck with a bucket mounted on it. Plus side is units we're looking at have material handlers for picking situations. Most of them are 800lb and under but that's fine. We typically need to pick a channel letter/raceway or light box typically in the 300-400lb range.

Anyways - I've seen a couple Wilkie ladders and am intrigued. Is the ladder useful? Any disadvantages to not having an actual basket and instead the little ledge that pops out? Most of those ladders have higher picking capacity.

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IMO, it really depends what you're using it for. Have you ever used one? Had one at my old employer. I never liked those drop down man baskets. You won't be leaving anything inside it, if you have to drive it 10'. But they have a lot of units out there working everyday. So some folks must like them, or live with them.

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We have had a Altec 41' articulating for years and worked fine. Most jib winches I have seen on utility trucks won't work very well for sign guys ( they don't come up high enough from the bucket).

Right now we are preparing to buy a Shyhoist or Elliott in the 60' range and guys tell me I'll never look back. So as soon as I find the right one I will post How I like it.

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Brian Phillips | expresssignandneon@sbcglobal.net | P. 812-882-3278

Express Sign & Neon | 119 S. 15th Street - Vincennes - IN 47591

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I love my Bucket trucks. We can back up to a strip center or single story building. (75% of our work) And work without blocking fire lanes, or blocking traffic. Get the truck(s) that fit your need. We use our Skyhoist for what it's designed to do. It's not an ideal service truck for strip centers in Dallas.

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We do a good amount of service type / shopping center work. So starting to think that bucket truck would be the way to go. So far only has been 3-4 times a year I wish I had a rig that can pick and has stinger leads in the basket. Managing 30ft of leads from a bucket can be awesome!

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  • !llumenati

There is nothing better then a bucket truck. Buckets are made for the operator to be as comfortable as possible. You can stand, reach and sometimes dance around inside the full enclosure. Bring and keep tools, parts and more with him. And of course drop them also in a protected bucket. I have seen umbrellas and tents around the bucket enclosures to protect the operator from the weather.

Ladder Trucks are made for......quick access to the roof, pulling people out of windows and picking apples from trees. They are really hard on the operators knees and feet. Remember that everything you need must be carried up and down the ladder and you have to hold it too.

Every truck has its ups and downs...likes and dislikes Bucket trucks offer much more versatility then ladders and cranes.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'll throw this option in. Pictured below seems like a cross between the two. Saw this on signweb, may or may not still be for sale. But curious about something like this as well. I know basket can stay on during transport, so it may work as a hybrid service truck as well. Thoughts? I know from experience trying to shove too many responsibilities onto one tool will leave you coming up short, but hey, any chance to stretch a dollar ;)

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I would not buy that truck. It's a Frankenstein. Notice the headache rack about 4' off the back of the cab? The crane and the bed (12'?) came off another truck, obviously. It sure doesn't fit the new chassis. A huge waste of space. I suppose you could fab a lamp bin for that area. I'd just be worried about the outriggers (only 2) being stable enough to work out of. Plus, the basket should be fixed mounted. I'd pass.

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Would be alright for a crane but not a service truck. The boom is gravity retraction and sucks for service work and it does not have controls in the basket

Installation & Maintenance Services

Brian Phillips | expresssignandneon@sbcglobal.net | P. 812-882-3278

Express Sign & Neon | 119 S. 15th Street - Vincennes - IN 47591

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  • !llumenati

geez guys, you guys are showing your young ages. that type of crane truck used to be the norm. It was a crane, had ladders, some did/did not have a bucket on the end. Most did not have controls in the basket. Please remember this was before they started baskets that had urinals, running water, welding leads, power, etc - AND remote controls. Those were the days, like in my 75' Radocy, that you actually carried your tools, and supplies up the 75' ladder, or whatever. Course that was also back in the days when service men/installers knew how to use and carry an extension ladder to service signs, or use a couple aldders and plank to install a sign. It wasn't ideal for service, but it worked.............

gn

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geez guys, you guys are showing your young ages. that type of crane truck used to be the norm. It was a crane, had ladders, some did/did not have a bucket on the end. Most did not have controls in the basket. Please remember this was before they started baskets that had urinals, running water, welding leads, power, etc - AND remote controls. Those were the days, like in my 75' Radocy, that you actually carried your tools, and supplies up the 75' ladder, or whatever. Course that was also back in the days when service men/installers knew how to use and carry an extension ladder to service signs, or use a couple aldders and plank to install a sign. It wasn't ideal for service, but it worked.............

gn

Gary;

Like Bob Dylan said in his song.......... "The times they are a changing".

Best

"Don't be afraid to see what you see" - President Ronald Reagan

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Hey Gary did Noah help you on those service jobs?

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Installation & Maintenance Services

Brian Phillips | expresssignandneon@sbcglobal.net | P. 812-882-3278

Express Sign & Neon | 119 S. 15th Street - Vincennes - IN 47591

express%20neon%20sig.jpg

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  • !llumenati

Hope you are kidding? Noah doesnt use screw drivers..and my old crane was in Phoenix, long before Southwater tried to invent themselves.

And your new toy? What color you decide on?

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Yep just pullin' your chain. Going to go with the lime green like others. I think we will wrap the cab instead of paint.

Installation & Maintenance Services

Brian Phillips | expresssignandneon@sbcglobal.net | P. 812-882-3278

Express Sign & Neon | 119 S. 15th Street - Vincennes - IN 47591

express%20neon%20sig.jpg

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get a combo double basket, you'll never regret it

 

63 foot Elliott v60

50 foot 8 ton crane/auger

Skid steer with forks and dirt bucket


www.signworksinc.com

www.wehangsigns.com

Signworks Inc.
Toronto, Canada
416-653-7227
1-877-912-7446

 

 

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We have a boom like that on one of our trucks and it works great we just wore it out. I like the international better than the liner but they are good trucks.

Installation & Maintenance Services

Brian Phillips | expresssignandneon@sbcglobal.net | P. 812-882-3278

Express Sign & Neon | 119 S. 15th Street - Vincennes - IN 47591

express%20neon%20sig.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Utility trucks with the single man basket are easier to find for sale. Probably because they are plentiful but good for servicing parking lot lamps straight up above. Not as useful for sign installs though. That plastic basket won't hold too many channel letters. Also a short reach out from the side.

I've used the Sponco's and the Wilkie aerial ladders, can you say cable snap catapult. They are good for quick service though. Pull up to a parking lot full of cars. Drop outrigger. Swing aerial ladder to the side over parked cars, extend and walk the ladder to the sign for quick diagnosis/repair. But at more extreme angles...not recommended, IMO.

Double man basket, straight boom with crane. Ideal.

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  • !llumenati

Hey Brian, Gary made the lights for Noah. He needed something to last at least 40 days and 40 nights. LOL.

We just put in the order for a new Altec with a 2 man basket with jib. We used a demo truck for a week and loved it. It was the one at the AC show. We are getting it on a dodge cause the options and durability was better. only down side is that it is 8 month wait for it. Customizing sucks cause it takes time because its not off the shelf but well worth the wait.

As far as ladder trucks, they should be left for the fire dept.

GOOD things happen for a reason......

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  • !llumenati

Utility body and yes, getting it black from the factory, no use in the stock white when its going to be black. Having the battery box location in the bed changed, inside the frame storage from the back for stock material, all the creature comforts inside, multiple outlet locations on the exterior and a ton of other tweeks to it.

GOOD things happen for a reason......

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  • 1 month later...

One more question! Almost ready to buy. Looking at two units now and both are non telescoping over center ALTECs. Have always been in telescoping units so not much experience with non telescoping over center. Any plus minus? I like that the overcenter unit can reach over things easier than a telescoping unit.

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