And I will bet my left nad that the spiderlift will be a memory in 18 yrs.
I do not see the longevity in that unit to be still working in 18 yrs.
Spiderlifts will be around in 18 years. Just think, only 10 years ago the cell phone was a luxury, now 10 year old kids have them.
Less than 90 years ago the modern chainsaw was created. We no longer use axes to cut down trees. I am sure the loggers back then saw the price of the chainsaw and laughed, all while merrily sawing back and forth, or swinging the ax. Chainsaws are still around today.
The bucket truck is old technology. It is the land line telephone. it is the ax of yesteryear. Climbing was cut by 50% when the bucket truck became a mature product.
Here is about where the tree industry is with lifts today:
60% traditional bucket truck
30% climbing
10% Spiderlift, trailer mounted lift or other alternative
Here is what i see happening for the tree industry in the USA in the next 10 years:
50% traditional bucket truck
40% Spiderlift or trailer mounted lift or other alternative
10 % climbing
Don't laugh. Remember, we were all driving cars without airbags and anti-lock brakes only 15 years ago. Technology is moving fast and every piece of equipment you add will make work easier and more profitable.
Please give me some feedback. What does everyone here think? Are my numbers off?
The single biggest drawback to the spiderlifts is their lack of bulk. The best, most secure feeling I ever had in my bucket was the one day I screwed up a cut and sent a 150 lb chunk of wood down almost 50 feet and smack on top of the truck. I heard the crash and knew there was body damage but I didn't feel a hint of movement in the boom. Those tiny little spiderlifts simply aren't beefy enough to sustain that kind of hit without collapsing and/or flicking me off into the horizon like an unwanted booger, and even with 20 years experience I still screw up a cut once in a while. I can see trimming out of one but I certainly don't want to be cutting any big wood while up in one. Call me a skeptic, call me ignorant but my ass is safer in a bucket than in a spiderlift.
A valid concern. However, after having used multiple types of lifts I can confidently say that a Teupen is far more stable than a normal bucket truck. Granted, if you drop a large log on it you will do damage. But, it is not going to be unsafe.
Lets assume that you can place the Teupen in the best, safest possible location.
A Teupen does not allow you to put more than 70% of the load on any outrigger at any given time. A standard bucket truck will let you lift an outrigger anytime you want. What if you have an outrigger up on the bucket and you make a mistake and it tips? which is worse, fixing a Teupen after making a mistake, or having to buy a whole new bucket because it tipped?
I guess it all depends on what your definition of "safe" is. Our safety has the operator in mind.
Can I arrange a demonstration of a Teupen so that your concern is addressed?
Andy, there is too many electronics, hydraulic drives, and leveling systems in the Spiderlifts that will fail over time and be too costly to replace (especially since it is an import).
A Bobcat is not a good comparison. In a Bobcat you would still use it if the loader pins and bushings were sloppy and worn out, you probably wouldn't think twice. Would you go 60' in the air on worn pins and bushings?
The old bucket trucks that are still around are the ones that were simple no gadgets or doo dads to maintain just simple engineering.
The Spider lift is not engineered simple.
Last year I was at Six Flags and noticed that the pressure sensors on the roller coasters are the exact same sensors that we use on our machines...
Not all the parts are import. Most parts are available here in the US without coming from overseas. Most of the electronics come from Hetronic, which is based in Tulsa, OK. All the sensors and electronics are standard parts, except for a few unique parts that we have been testing for years.
It is not the parts that makes this machine unique; it is the combination of the parts and the way they work together.
Obviously, care needs to be taken when going up high. but if you own a bucket truck, the maintenance is very similar.
Regarding our ads in the TCIA magazine, I am listening to your comments.
Suggestions are certainly appreciated as well!
Everything we say comes directly from our own experience and the experience of our customers.
We in no way are trying to trick anyone or give the wrong message.
Having said that, a competent grounds man can learn to be a Teupen operator in much less time than a standard bucket man because of the saftey systems that they have. You can not, under normal operation, lift an outrigger on a Teupen.
Granted, 1 month experience does not replace 3 years experience. But from a safety perspective, after 1 month a competent ground man would be a safe Spiderlift operator.
