A bucket truck is a staple of almost every tree service. There are many different options and configurations out there, so we spent a considerable amount of time researching the truck that would be right for us.

We landed on a specific configuration that we purchased. Our truck is a Rear Mount, meaning that the swivel and stand for the bucket is on the rear of the truck. That takes away the ability to have a chip box on the truck, but that allows the truck back up to a tree, keeping the body of the truck out of the drop zone.

Our truck also has a service body on it instead of a flatbed. While there are times a flatbed would be useful, having lockable tool storage is critical for us. Because of the sheer amount of tool storage, we are always able to have the right piece of gear with us for whatever situation arises.

It is not common to have 4x4 on such a large truck chassis, but it has been absolutely critical for our success in the winter. Having 4x4 on the truck allows us to get into places you wouldn’t dream about with a standard truck. We still move the snow off of our work area before pulling the truck in, but now even if the work zone is on a slope or there are curbs and obstacles to cross we can still get our truck right to the tree, saving us time and you money.

We have a special Altec boom on the truck. 62 feet of total height is great, but it is almost 30 feet of horizontal reach that is the game changer for our truck. The boom is also equipped with a 2 person bucket. We don’t often have 2 people in the bucket, but a large amount of area allows us to bring multiple saws along with the necessary gas/oil for the day. On the end of the boom is a material handler, which can be used for rigging pieces of debris down to the ground, but the main advantage is the overbuild of all systems to work with the material handler. The boom is larger, the outriggers are beefier, and the truck's frame is beefed up, all adding up to a safer and more efficient bucket.

Every once in and while we have to work around high-voltage power lines. Altec is the main company for building line trucks, so our boom is insulated and undergoes an annual dielectric test. You still never want to come in contact with a high-voltage line, but being insulated and having the truck grounded is a nice safety net to ensure we make it home at night. The downfall of an insulated boom is the upkeep and constant testing to ensure that it meets the insulation standard. It is also imperative to not develop complacency when working around high-voltage lines, just because we have the insulated boom does not mean the boom can contact the lines wherever we want.

Even though we have carefully selected our International 7300 it is not the end all for tree and canopy access. Our truck is merely an additional tool in the arsenal, only providing benefits to its specific use. Large tires, long chassis, and heavyweight restrict the areas we can drive this truck. There will always be situations where the truck cannot help, that’s why it is so important that we have as many tools as possible, allowing us to provide the best service we can possibly offer!

If you think that our International 7300 would be perfect for your tree project, stop barking up the wrong tree, Text or Call us Today!

320-321-3677