Rising to the challenge...

[Daniel Meyer]

Looking for advice...since my VRCC brethren as a group are some of the most diverse and knowledgable folks I've been privilaged to encounter...

I need a lift...as in, I need to work on some high things. around 40' it seems...

I'm on a budget...looking at purchasing an older bucket truck or manlift/boomlift.

Any body got one cheap? Any advice from users on one vs the other?

The way I see it the dedicated manlifts are more versital, the trucks have other costs (insurance and registration etc)...but the manlifts are more expensive than a comparatively priced truck...

Rentals...well they average $200/day plus delivery...and would rapidly approach the cost of buying a used one...there may be some other users as well that could help me with the cost...

[Ghost]

Daniel, I work for a company that sells and rents those. you might be able to get a deal on one. Check out this web site and see. www.mitlift.com    I have nothing to do with sale, i am just a wrench. thanks.

[sheets]

Bucket trucks require an annual certification on the lifting component to operate for hire.  If you purchase an old clunker, it likely hasn't been inspected recently.  An old utility tree trimmer truck with a knuckle in the boom (rather than telescoping) sounds like just the ticket.  That much of a boom requires considerable room to maneuver.  40' is way up there.  Hate to be too far up without the assurance of reliable equipment.  A multitude of failures are possible.  It could fail and leave you stranded 40 feet in the air.  Yrmv,      

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I can share a story with you from a co-worker who is nolonger with us...The company I work for ( largest power provider in the nation ) sells off equipment about twice a year with employee's and retiree's getting the first chance to buy . He took his son to a auction ( his son worked at a factory at the time ) and his son made a sealed bid on a old wore out bucket truck he claimed he hit the roof when he found out what he paid for the old truck going as far as calling him stupid ( he paid $3,500.00 for it this was in the early 70's . )  The son started out setting trusses on the big chalets and cabins on weekends and evenings in the Smoky Mountains in the Gatlinburg,Tennessee area. Today he is a millionaire and you would be hard pressed to ride down I-40 or I-75 in Tennessee , Georgia , Kentucky without seeing some of his equipment on the road.

[Stanley Steamer]

I get to use all kinds of "toys" at work....we have several kinds of lifts...anything from 35' to 60+ foot trucks.....we have a small bucket truck that has ~a 35' reach...a used one like that probably doesn't cost too much.....

Our Forester bought us a 42' working height Biljax tow-behind lift that weighs around 3,500lbs....it works great for projects where you can park it and not have to move it around too much, although on level ground, you can roll it around some....and my little electric cart can actually tow it but I don't take it up(or especially down) steep inclines.....the problem is....it breaks down far too frequently...it's finicky with the hydraulics and the computer that controls it acts up also......those type lifts can be rented for less than $200/day around my area.....

We also occasionally borrow one of the electrician's bucket van to change out pole banners...it has a ~30' reach and you don't have to mess with raising and lowering stabilizers which comes in handy when you changing 70 banners at a time.....

As mentioned below, they have to be checked out yearly if they are going to be rented out, but I am not sure if it's only for your personal use....I may rent one of the tow behinds in the future to remove some trees around my house, but I wouldn't have to have it long term....

One of our crews was putting up new Christmas lights a few years ago with the 60' truck we rent every year when a problem with the hydraulics left him hanging  about 50' off the ground....he had to get the guys from the Fire Dept. to come get him down with the 100' ladder truck.... ...thankfully it was very early in the morning when few ppl were around....the mechanic for the company who rented that truck to us was kept VERY busy that year coming up from Atlanta to work on the truck...several times in the month we had it....he told me that the previous renter had turned it over .....

[RoadKill]

I will begin by letting you know I have "learned" a fear of heights from ('fall down, go boom' type ) experiences.
When I was young,dumb,and un-broken I would save time by climbing/balancing or by sure will power and luck with the "giterdun" attitude.
Now that I am financially challenged and too proud to pay any one to do the work for me I have discovered patience !
TAKE YOUR TIME ! Scaffolding and guide wire is all that is required. I have made scaffold from every thing imaginable and guide wire can be as simple as motorcycle tie down ratchet straps and cable from the dog run. I'm sure you can do better if you put your engineering talent to work.

for 40 foot up I  have to take a 6 pack and a couple sandwiches   but if you take your time  you can be safe however you do it. they built the pyramids with out trucks....but I like to tie my guide wires to conveniently placed vehicles any how  .  

I am defiantly of the CRAZY persuasion but if you wanna save a buck...DO IT SAFE !  Commercial scaffolding and 20,000LB ratchet straps are cheaper than a lift...if you have time.  

[Stanley Steamer]

Bucket trucks require an annual certification on the lifting component to operate for hire.  If you purchase an old clunker, it likely hasn't been inspected recently.  An old utility tree trimmer truck with a knuckle in the boom (rather than telescoping) sounds like just the ticket.  That much of a boom requires considerable room to maneuver.  40' is way up there.  Hate to be too far up without the assurance of reliable equipment.  A multitude of failures are possible.  It could fail and leave you stranded 40 feet in the air.  Yrmv,      

I like the trucks/lifts that have the extendable booms....they come in very handy in some situations...

[Stanley Steamer]

I will begin by letting you know I have "learned" a fear of heights from ('fall down, go boom' type ) experiences.
When I was young,dumb,and un-broken I would save time by climbing/balancing or by sure will power and luck with the "giterdun" attitude.
Now that I am financially challenged and too proud to pay any one to do the work for me I have discovered patience !
TAKE YOUR TIME ! Scaffolding and guide wire is all that is required. I have made scaffold from every thing imaginable and guide wire can be as simple as motorcycle tie down ratchet straps and cable from the dog run. I'm sure you can do better if you put your engineering talent to work.

for 40 foot up I  have to take a 6 pack and a couple sandwiches   but if you take your time  you can be safe however you do it. they built the pyramids with out trucks....but I like to tie my guide wires to conveniently placed vehicles any how  .  

I am defiantly of the CRAZY persuasion but if you wanna save a buck...DO IT SAFE !  Commercial scaffolding and 20,000LB ratchet straps are cheaper than a lift...if you have time.  

The hell of it for me is, I've never really LIKED heights....I guess it helps to have the bucket around you...the taller the better!!....I still don't like looking off of tall objects, but being a little nervous tends to makes you safer.....

I remember a few years ago I was over 60' up in the top of the Oak trees in Downtown Athens snatching old light strands out of the trees so the other crew behind me could put up new strands....this took place at 4am in the morning...dark outside except for a small headlamp....the bucket was swaying and rocking proportional to how hard I was yanking on the old lights... ... ... ....I think it helped not being able to see that I was over 6 stories off the ground!!

[JimC]

Daniel,
You are exactly one week late asking that question, Last Tuesday I sold my old high lift, I got $4,000 for it. It wa a 1960 International with 35,000 original miles, and a 65 foot boom. It was in great shape because it was used at an airport and all they did was change light poles in the parking lot with it, other than that it sat inside.
The the ride to you would have been hell, top speed was about 40mph it was all gearing and no speed.
Jim

[Stanley Steamer]

I like the Biljax.....when it's working!!.... .....We have the 3522.....and Facilities has the 4527......

http://www.biljax.com//Products/Described/Product37.aspx

[RoadKill]

I will begin by letting you know I have "learned" a fear of heights from ('fall down, go boom' type ) experiences.
When I was young,dumb,and un-broken I would save time by climbing/balancing or by sure will power and luck with the "giterdun" attitude.
Now that I am financially challenged and too proud to pay any one to do the work for me I have discovered patience !
TAKE YOUR TIME ! Scaffolding and guide wire is all that is required. I have made scaffold from every thing imaginable and guide wire can be as simple as motorcycle tie down ratchet straps and cable from the dog run. I'm sure you can do better if you put your engineering talent to work.

for 40 foot up I  have to take a 6 pack and a couple sandwiches  but if you take your time  you can be safe however you do it. they built the pyramids with out trucks....but I like to tie my guide wires to conveniently placed vehicles any how  .   

I am defiantly of the CRAZY persuasion but if you wanna save a buck...DO IT SAFE !  Commercial scaffolding and 20,000LB ratchet straps are cheaper than a lift...if you have time. 

The hell of it for me is, I've never really LIKED heights....I guess it helps to have the bucket around you...the taller the better!!....I still don't like looking off of tall objects, but being a little nervous tends to makes you safer.....

I remember a few years ago I was over 60' up in the top of the Oak trees in Downtown Athens snatching old light strands out of the trees so the other crew behind me could put up new strands....this took place at 4am in the morning...dark outside except for a small headlamp....the bucket was swaying and rocking proportional to how hard I was yanking on the old lights... ... ... ....I think it helped not being able to see that I was over 6 stories off the ground!!

With out a 6 pack and a couple sandwiches that would be a HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT ! ! 

[Mongo]

My old work truck. I took the photo with my cell phone



Cleaning out what left.



New Work truck.

[Stanley Steamer]

I will begin by letting you know I have "learned" a fear of heights from ('fall down, go boom' type ) experiences.
When I was young,dumb,and un-broken I would save time by climbing/balancing or by sure will power and luck with the "giterdun" attitude.
Now that I am financially challenged and too proud to pay any one to do the work for me I have discovered patience !
TAKE YOUR TIME ! Scaffolding and guide wire is all that is required. I have made scaffold from every thing imaginable and guide wire can be as simple as motorcycle tie down ratchet straps and cable from the dog run. I'm sure you can do better if you put your engineering talent to work.

for 40 foot up I  have to take a 6 pack and a couple sandwiches  but if you take your time  you can be safe however you do it. they built the pyramids with out trucks....but I like to tie my guide wires to conveniently placed vehicles any how  .   

I am defiantly of the CRAZY persuasion but if you wanna save a buck...DO IT SAFE !  Commercial scaffolding and 20,000LB ratchet straps are cheaper than a lift...if you have time. 

The hell of it for me is, I've never really LIKED heights....I guess it helps to have the bucket around you...the taller the better!!....I still don't like looking off of tall objects, but being a little nervous tends to makes you safer.....

I remember a few years ago I was over 60' up in the top of the Oak trees in Downtown Athens snatching old light strands out of the trees so the other crew behind me could put up new strands....this took place at 4am in the morning...dark outside except for a small headlamp....the bucket was swaying and rocking proportional to how hard I was yanking on the old lights... ... ... ....I think it helped not being able to see that I was over 6 stories off the ground!!

With out a 6 pack and a couple sandwiches that would be a HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT ! ! 

Coca Cola is the strongest thing I drink!!....to keep me from doing something silly!!...

Since I have a bladder the size of a PEANUT, I usually take an old gatorade bottle up in the bucket with me...the LARGEEEEEE mouth one to keep from getting it stuck in there... ....I just have to remember to throw it away when I'm done for the day or else wash it out REAL good to use as a water bottle...... .....

[Stanley Steamer]

My old work truck. I took the photo with my cell phone



Cleaning out what left.



New Work truck.

You may have posted it earlier.....but what caused your old truck to catch on fire?

[Stanley Steamer]

We rented this truck back in 2007.....and got one just like it this year....it's got a two man bucket that will turn 180 degrees....that feature comes in handy too....

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Forget the booms, just use some rope. 

[Jess from VA]

If scaffolding won't do it, you could always work from a bosun's chair.  This is how we rigged most of the difficult high jobs painting Great Lakes Steel in Ecorse MI (up to several hundred feet). 

You have to find hardpoint to use a cable choker to hook one end of the block and tackle to, the other end to the chair.  And you need to rig a way to get your working materials within reach.  Tools can be slung beneath the chair.  Takes some upper body strength to pull yourself up, though with a block and tackle, it's reduced.

http://www.harken.com/press/Harken-Bosuns_Chair.php

[hubcapsc]

I bought used scaffolding about 15 years ago, still using it, couldn't get by without it for the various
projects around here...

I've never stacked it more than four levels, I don't think... 40 ft is pretty high, but probably
in the specs of most good scaffolding... I learned you need to tie it to the building (or whatever)
every two levels...



-Mike "don't google for scaffolding erection, though..."

[Jabba]

Everyone needs to remember... Daniel ain't a little wisp of a man neither!  He's like me... 300 + and don't need to fall far to hit the ground a TON.  I hate dangling from ropes or cables.

You never did say Daniel... what the hell are you doing WTF up there anyway?

Jabba

[X Ring]

Coca Cola is the strongest thing I drink!!....to keep me from doing something silly!!...

You may want to rethink that.  It AIN'T workin' 

[X Ring]

Since I have a bladder the size of a PEANUT, I usually take an old gatorade bottle up in the bucket with me...the LARGEEEEEE mouth one to keep from getting it stuck in there... ....I just have to remember to throw it away when I'm done for the day or else wash it out REAL good to use as a water bottle...... .....

TAWEEEEEEET!!!!  PERSONAL FOUL!! ROUGHING THE READER'S EYES!! TWO BEER PENALTY!  4TH DOWN!

[Daniel Meyer]

40' is way up there.  Hate to be too far up without the assurance of reliable equipment.  A multitude of failures are possible.  It could fail and leave you stranded 40 feet in the air.  Yrmv,      

Not too much of a worry for me...I am mechanically inclined and while I am looking for an older rig, all my equipment is reliable and I'll endeavor to continue to keep it so.

I can share a story with you from a co-worker who is nolonger with us...

Ya can never have too many tools! (found several bits of paying work that are waiting for me already if I had one of these handy...that may offset some of the costs...)

Daniel,
You are exactly one week late asking that question, Last Tuesday I sold my old high lift, I got $4,000 for it. It wa a 1960 International with 35,000 original miles, and a 65 foot boom. It was in great shape because it was used at an airport and all they did was change light poles in the parking lot with it, other than that it sat inside.
The the ride to you would have been hell, top speed was about 40mph it was all gearing and no speed.
Jim

Bummer...that would have sure done the job(s)! Bit of overkill actually...

That is about my budget though. Probably have to add another couple thousand just to get that thing all the way here! LOL!

My old work truck. I took the photo with my cell phone

I think this one is well within my budget!

Commercial scaffolding and 20,000LB ratchet straps are cheaper than a lift...if you have time.

I do have 4 levels of scaffold...would need another for this job, and then would have to move it at least once. Also, there is a 10' wide awning at 12' high in the way...the scaffold would have to go on top of the awning, which means I'd have to brace up underneath it...all adds time and money to the job. I've several other jobs that could use the services of a lift as well is why I started looking that way. I may yet do them all with scaffold, but with the construction industry down a bit, lift prices may be within the budget for this. I could get one, use it a couple years, then sell and recoupe the costs.

May yet have to do it with scaffolding though...sure would be easier with two sets that I could erect around the corner...moving it in the middle of the job would make the repair method change (more work)

I want this one!

(it does come with the pretty girl, right?)

Our Forester bought us a 42' working height Biljax tow-behind lift that weighs around 3,500lbs....it works great for projects where you can park it and not have to move it around too much, although on level ground, you can roll it around some....and my little electric cart can actually tow it but I don't take it up(or especially down) steep inclines.....the problem is....it breaks down far too frequently...it's finicky with the hydraulics and the computer that controls it acts up also......those type lifts can be rented for less than $200/day around my area.....

Bummer...I was leaning toward something like this due to its ease in transporting and storage...

-Mike "don't google for scaffolding erection, though..."

Heh...yeah...ya got that right! LOL!

Forget the booms, just use some rope. 

I'm not sure I drink enough to make that possible! 

You never did say Daniel... what the hell are you doing WTF up there anyway?

First project (I need to get it done this winter) is to repair this tower...



It's bigger than it looks...those upstairs windows are nearly 12 feet tall!



The awning is 11 feet up...the roofline of the building is 34 feet up...the street is about 3 feet lower. I figure a working height of 40' will give me most of what I need.

I could rent...but some of the work is "finnicky"...like the paint...ya got to actually fix the thing, then oil-based primer, then lay down the colors. With dry time etc several days is needed to get the job done, even if only actually working a couple hours a day. Renting a lift would cost at least a couple hundred a day...combined with me mostly only able to work on it on the weekends...well...renting becomes a problem.

I also have the Old Vic...which could use the lift too...so it seemed reasonable that if I went with a lift instead of scaffolding, then buying a used one (lift or bucket truck) may make sense...I could recoupe some of the cost in a couple years when done with it.

[Spirited-6]

Coca Cola is the strongest thing I drink!!....to keep me from doing something silly!!...

You may want to rethink that.  It AIN'T workin' 

    

[Tropic traveler]

Daniel, please be careful in the placement of whatever rig you use.
Two years ago Kim & I watched 2 people die from a 40' fall from a rig very much like the one you have pictured in your first post. A 53 year old man with his 19 y.o. stepson & 10 y.o. daughter were at full 40' extension straight up sight-seeing when the whole rig toppled over & threw them to the ground. They had just finished up a day of tree trimming. One of the wheels was unknowingly placed over an old unused septic tank in the yard & the tank collapsed. We were driving by just as it flung them to the ground. They bounced once. The man died right in front of us, his stepson was on top of the girl, breathing but knocked out. The little girl had a mouth full of driveway dirt & a badly mangled leg. She was the only one that lived. Kim called 911 while I went to their aid. Thank God the paramedics got there quick! We couldn't do much more than keep traffic away & dig the dirt from the girls mouth & keep her from hurting herself further.
I had had thoughts of renting a rig like that to trim the bigger trees in my yard but since seeing that I'm going to hire it out. 
Sometimes letting a pro do it is the best way. 

[Daniel Meyer]

Sorry for their loss and sorry you had to witness it.

The "non participants" in the work really shouldn't have been up there, although if they didn't exceed the weight limititation of the rig they really couldn't have forseen the problem.

Firm footing is definately a "must"...although knowing an old tank/etc is there can be problematic. Sometimes life just get's ya...

I will, as always, be as careful as the situation warrants.

Hiring a pro is not really an option. I am a pro, I just don't have the rig. All "pro" would mean in my case is that "I'm paying them for an inferior job."

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

[Daniel Meyer]

Muhahahaha! The barrell is a nice touch! 

(I may skip that part LOL!)