A closer look: buying a used bucket truck involves more than just kicking the tires. (Vehicles and Lifts).(Brief Article)

Arbor Age, May, 2002 by Peterson, P.D.

ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL TOOLS ANY ARBORIST HAS IS HIS TRUSTY BUCKET truck -- invaluable for those close-quarters jobs, and the insulated ones are a must for power line right of way work.

Renting a lift or a boom truck every time you need it can get expensive, and the cost of new trucks could be enough to give you heartburn. As a result, many arborists buy used bucket trucks. It is not a bad option, because there are several low-mileage trucks on the marketplace with prices lower than the sticker prices on new ones.

There are several places to acquire a used truck -- from a dealer, a broker, a used truck lot or an auction house. When considering price, remember that often you get what you pay for. That truck at the auction house with no history may be...