Top 10 Bucket trucks 2024

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Bucket Trucks Buyer's Shopping Guide

Bucket trucks are one of the staples of industry and transportation today. Industries such as construction, utility, forestry and telecom rely on bucket trucks for installation and maintenance tasks. The average bucket truck can safely elevate a worker up to a height of 125 feet. Bucket trucks also have repositioning features for worker safety. Equipped with fabulous maneuverability, bucket trucks can simplify normally high risk tasks like sign installation and maintenance, tree trimming, line servicing and landscaping.

The aerial component of today's bucket trucks means some states require additional certification for operation, including California, Minnesota, Utah and Washington. The cost of bucket trucks depends on truck type, function, size and platform height. Body type is another cause for cost differences. As you compare all your options for purchasing a new or used bucket truck, you can use this Buying Guide to decide what the best truck type is for your job type.

Types of Bucket Trucks

There are four main types of bucket trucks. The type you need will directly relate to the type of jobs you need your truck to perform. You will want to carefully evaluate all aspects of your jobs before you begin your search for the right bucket truck. So first take a look at the height you need your workers to have access to, then at the amount of articulation (bucket maneuverability) for hard-to-access or tight work spaces. Now look at the terrain - will you be maneuvering up or down or across rough terrain or will your roadways be paved and smooth? Once you have a clear picture of the details of your jobs, you can pick from these four main types of bucket trucks.

• Type #1: The articulated overcenter lift bucket truck. This bucket truck type gives you a typical height range of 35 to 55 feet. The center boom gives workers access to tight or hard-to-reach work spaces. You have horizontal reach out to 30 feet and heights reaching up to 50-55 feet, which makes this truck a great choice for forestry, landscaping, construction and other jobs that may take your crew into uneven or rugged areas. Pricing starts at around $50,000 for just the chassis (body). Add the lift and vehicle for another $100-$200,000 for a total price ranging from $150,000 to $250,000.
• Type #2: The articulated non-overcenter lift bucket truck. This bucket truck type typically gives you heights ranging from 35 to 45 feet, with articulation ranging from 70 to 175 degrees. This type of bucket truck is ideal for telecom and maintenance jobs that offer easy access and stable surfaces that do not require any repositioning during the jobs themselves. Your price for this type of bucket truck will range from $45,000 to $120,000.
• Type #3: The telescopic articulated bucket truck. This type of bucket truck can get your workers up as high as 61 to 70 feet in the air. These are workhorse trucks that can accommodate up to 2,000 pounds of cargo, which makes them ideal for forestry, construction and other rugged jobs. The price range for this bucket truck type can go from $70,000 to $150,000.
• Type #4: The insulated bucket truck. If your crews are regularly encountering cables and electricity lines, you will want an insulated bucket truck, which are made of fiberglass to prevent risks associated with electric shock. The insulated bucket truck comes in overcenter, non-overcenter and telescope models depending on your needs. Because of the fiberglass aspect, you will find these are the most expensive bucket truck types, starting out at around $90,000 and ranging upwards of $230,000.

Bucket Trucks Specs

Each type of bucket truck comes with its own specifications, or specs. The specs most commonly relate to height, side reach, fuel type, weight capacity, chassis type and transmission type. Here is a look at each of the specs in turn.

• Platform Height - Non-overcenter models have a platform height ranging from 29 to 45 feet. Overcenter models typically range from 45 feet to 65 feet. Some custom overcenter models and telescopic models offer heights of 65 to 125 feet.
• Side Lift - Side lift, or reach, depends on the model's functionality. Typically you will find the side reach begins at around 30 feet and can go as wide as 47 feet.
• Chassis - The chassis is like the truck in the name bucket truck. The chassis weight limits typically differ for the front and rear axles. Rugged (heavy duty) chassis models may permit up to 20,000 lbs. on the front and 47,000 lbs. on the rear axle, while less rugged models may only permit 6-7,000 lbs. on the front and 6,700 to 14,700 on the rear axle.
• Weight Capacity - The weight capacity is the total overall capacity of the entire bucket truck, inclusive of the chassis, the boom, the bucket and even the operator and workers. Your typical weight capacity begins at around 400 lbs. and extends up to 2,000 lbs. The more platform height or side reach you require, the less weight capacity you can have. As well, the higher your required weight capacity, the higher your total price tag will tend to be.
• Fuel Type - Nearly all models are designed to run on diesel fuel. Certain newer models may offer the option of hybrid fuel technology, which will incorporate an electric motor plus diesel fuel. For companies desiring to establish a green footprint, this new hybrid model offers a quieter operation, lower emissions and lower maintenance needs.
• Transmission - For bucket trucks, you can choose between automatic and manual transmissions. More rugged jobs may be better suited to manual transmission, although automatic transmission comes with less risk of roll-back. In general, you will pay at least $1,000 more for an automatic transmission.

Bucket Trucks Accessories

Depending on the type of bucket truck you choose and your industry, you can choose from a number of different optional accessories and add-ons.

• Forestry - Here, choose from a chainsaw boom, chainsaw scabbards and a boom strap.
• Telecom - Here, choose from a hotline jumper holder, wire dispenser, air compressor and bucket step.
• General/Utilities - Here, choose from a bucket cover, tool box, ground protection mat and wheel chock.

Choosing a Bucket Trucks Dealer

When choosing the dealer to work with, you want to consider more than just the sticker price. Take a careful look at what the warranty covers and how it is administered. Check the track record and customer satisfaction ratings for the dealer. When it comes to the Service Level Agreement (SLA), you also want to know how quickly they can respond to service requests, how and where service is provided and how technicians are trained. Also ask if operator training, commercial drivers license training and local regulations guidance is provided by the dealer. Now that you have reviewed the information in this Buying Guide, you are ready to select the perfect type of bucket truck for your job requirements.