Was more of a joke. Iirr, he lives or is from washington state. Not sure he'd fly out to Ohio and make a youtube video for free.
a 4x4 jlg lift will work but since it sounds like you have easy access, save yourself some hassle and follow Chvymn99 advice and rent a tow behind. Here’s a 64 footer that’s pick up towable: TM64 | Towable Cherry Picker I’ve used one a few dozen times for tree work and they are cheaper/easier for the task. There are several makers of pretty much similar machines. Haulette, genie, etc. I believe JLG even makes one. Just the opinion of a tree man who knows which way to put his spurs on.
I will see if I can make it work. would be cheaper and easier than getting the 4x4 delivered. Once I get the other trees out of the way I'll have a better idea.
I’ve had sites go both ways. no-training certifications- unable to load and they want to charge for an operator. Tend to be union sites like this. Others the crews are already gone and I’m left to my own devices to get it loaded and hauled out.
This was a half day rental from a local place. Guy handed me the harness and said it wasnt required for me to wear it.
Harness = wear it. Lets not take safety for granted gang. It only takes a second for things to go sideways real fast.
In a lift, up in the sky, going sideways is not as much a worry as going vertical! The tow behind lifts are the least expensive to rent, it's just the repositioning that's the downside, it's somewhat involved in comparison to a self propelled unit. The other thing I've learned from experience is the difference between a straight boom and an articulated should be considered. Dropping limbs from a height, a straight boom will put the machine further away from the drop zone. The picture that @ thewood wolverine posted is know as the "articulated" and in JLG's lineup there's an "A" in the model # where there's a "S" in their straight mast booms. Both (I believe) have a "J" that they offer meaning jib. That's a 6' extension that is very handy for both types.
Some of the articulated ones are also known as a “Z-lift”… Straight lift. Generally only on the smaller machine. jib lift. When you start getting up there, the main boom gets jumpy when you move it, so that jib lets you have a much smaller swing. Especially when you’re over 60’ up articulated. Likely be dropping the tree on top of the machine with one of these
my intention is to get an articulating one with a jib. The 4x4 I chose due to stumps and not a wide area to maneuver around in (with a tow vehicle) Probably the biggest reason I didn't consider a towable is how to get it back into the spot. May not be possible. There is a deck and the garage that needs to be threaded and than it will need jack knifed around the garage and the tow vehicle will probably have no room to swing due to the deck. Once I get everything cleared, I'll be able to see if I can pull it in. It's all planning stage, subjected to change at a moments notice. Maybe I can find a 1k a day tree guy to knock it down most of the way.
I rented a towable one before to trim some of my tree's. I found exactly what you mentioned. Getting it positioned right was a pain but my yard and my wallet would not justify the 4x4 one. It was very convenient to move that drivable one around in his yard to get to every limb. And that helped allow droping stuff w/o the unit being directly below. One key, IMO, his was $xxx per 8 hours of usage. He rented on a Friday and had it all weekend. The hour meter only ran with the motor on, so as soon as you get it into position, shut it down to save.
been there , done that . rented one about 10 years ago for $ 300 bucks and towed it home with a 3/4 ton pickup. reach was 60' if I recall correctly
I hired a crew a few years ago and this is how they took down 30ish tall trees on our property. The operator did wear a harness. Took him about 1.5 days and they did it in February when ground was hard and no snow.
I’m with you… I seriously would just get a machine and have at it… but it gets to the point that the liability, rental, time cost and opportunity cost to do the job… I go fishing instead… and I’m more relaxed and money/ time ahead.
It's not a boom lift, it's a high reach. Buddy has one that will extend to 125 feet that I can borrow if I need it. Always better to have more than required than to not have enough reach Getting ready to paint our big barn and I'll be using it for that. Already own a commercial airless, all I need to do is get up the nerve...lol
All the JLG's I've unloaded in the past, you NEVER operate them (unload or load) from the basket. You do everything on the ground next to the machine. Used to haul them all over for Herc Rentals. Hauled some big ones too and overweight was never an issue. Hauled them on a 53 foot single drop.
Trying to remember which controls it was that operate the drives from the ground panel. I know you can raise and lower the boom. Never seen a drive control.
