Radio controlled Knuckleboom Cranes

Mike Poor · 2nd March 2007, 03:42 PM

I've been using radio controlled Knuckleboom cranes for my arboricultural/ tree hacking service for 9 years now. I've found they work much better than standard bucket trucks or cranes! You get both in one truck and they're much more manuverable. In some instances it's made my job: safer, more productive, and taken wear off my bad back, shoulders, and knee! Anyway i'll posts some photos in case someone is interested.

Ekka · 2nd March 2007, 10:30 PM

In that pic, with the boom like that, how much weight can it lift?

Allmark was saying you dont need a crane ticket to use one of them as it has no cables???

That's pretty nifty, I haven't seen anything like that round these parts.

More pics I reckon.

TreeCo · 3rd March 2007, 12:29 AM

Awesome stuff Mike! I've followed all of your postings at the buzz.

Who makes that unit?

Mike Poor · 3rd March 2007, 05:58 AM

Hey Tree co. the boom is made by Effer (Italy) Hey Ekka professional site you're on here! The boom in that position was good for 2000 lbs. At full side reach 100' radius it can lift over 1000 lbs.

TREE-SURFER · 3rd March 2007, 06:14 AM

That is some piece of kit.
And I love my gadgets. Radio controlled. I could sack my groundies. LOL

Ekka · 3rd March 2007, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TREE-SURFER

Radio controlled. I could sack my groundies. LOL

I bet Mike's after one of those R/C grabs so he doesn't need anyone to untie the load on the ground either. Maybe when he's real good he can even feed the chipper from 50' up a tree.

That's awesome, 100' foot reach.

What's the maintenance like on it, must have a ton of hydo pistons and lines etc.

Also, does it tell you what weight you have lifted?

a_lopa · 3rd March 2007, 12:04 PM

Very handy peice of equipment!

Ekka · 3rd March 2007, 07:06 PM

Imagine how handy that'd be for plucking palms out of people's yards.

l2edneck · 5th March 2007, 02:32 PM

very nice maybe a rear mount would make it easier to position?

a_lopa · 5th March 2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Imagine how handy that'd be for plucking palms out of people's yards.

Would make it real easy,and save docking them up just dump at the tip in one peice.

Mike Poor · 6th March 2007, 09:13 AM

You would love it for palms Ekka! Great for Eucs. too! When i bought my first knuckleboom i thought i would just use it for lg. trees but it's so quick to set up i use it all the time. It will pick up 36000 lbs. right next to the truck. My old crane was very high maint. but my new one has been better. here is a photo of my old crane.

yooper · 6th March 2007, 11:48 AM

Nice rig!!!...big o'll tree in the back of yer old truck.

TreeCo · 6th March 2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Poor

It will pick up 36000 lbs. right next to the truck. My old crane was very high maint. but my new one has been better. here is a photo of my old crane.

Nice chunk of wood!

allmarktree · 6th March 2007, 12:06 PM

Ekka...The crane licensing here currently varies by state. Some states dont require licensing for any cranes. Mine(NY) is tough but your quote is correct for here.

Ekka · 6th March 2007, 04:43 PM

That some serious log in there!

That's awesome, man that'd make life better.

Not to be nosey but just the lift, not the truck, what sort of $'s ya looking at?

Oh, by the way, just wanted to let ya know in that very first pic ... ya left ya lights on. lol

a_lopa · 6th March 2007, 06:50 PM

Wow!

Mike Poor · 8th March 2007, 12:58 PM

The booms in that ton/meter class are about 150-200 thousand u.s.d. I know that sounds insane but if you have the work and good credit it will pay for itself faster than you'd think! Here is some photos of how fast the average palm or small 20 inch dbh tree goes. As easy as: ONE!

Mike Poor · 8th March 2007, 12:59 PM

Two!

Mike Poor · 8th March 2007, 01:03 PM

Three!

Ekka · 8th March 2007, 01:11 PM

Yes it's awesome, fast and makin me jealous. lol

I honestly dont think you'd get enough work for it in this town! You guys seem to have a lot more trees or tree work or something?

Hey Mike, unlike TB you can load up 6 pics in one hit, load them one at a time but 6 in one post.

Sean Freeman · 8th March 2007, 05:20 PM

That's one heck of a useful crane!

SF

TrevMcRev · 8th March 2007, 06:34 PM

Hey Mike, Do you have competitors in your area with similar equipment?
Or is your Company a bit unique with this gear? Are you in a position of running rings around your competition as a result or is it a matter of have to have this to compete?

Trev

Mike Poor · 14th March 2007, 04:18 PM

Hey Ekka, We do have alot of volunteer trees here. They grow all kinds of places people don't want them: between buildings, near foundations, etc. It's like the people don't notice them until they're pushing in the house and 4 feet D.B.H. Hey TrevMcRev, there is only a few other tree services in the u.s. with lg. Knucklebooms (and they don't operate them from in the tree like I do) I live in the hometown of the ISA home office, so there is a market flooded with knowledgeable arborists and a combined pop.of 100,000! There are about 40 advertised tree services here, most either prune or remove. I try to do both and do all the work myself. The equipment me do more work. Here is a photo of a pruning job where I pruned: a lg. silver maple (over wires and 3 houses), a lg. tulip poplar, sugar maple, and a red oak in 6 hrs.

Ekka · 14th March 2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Poor

and a combined pop.of 100,000! There are about 40 advertised tree services here, most either prune or remove.

That's a flooded market alright, prices must be down ... is there lots of undercutting going on?

I suppose you wouldn't see too many topping jobs then in that town.

So you put a basket on the end and use it like a EWP, cool, serious machinery very handy indeed.

TrevMcRev · 15th March 2007, 09:02 PM

Thats really interesting. If ya dont mind (pm me if prefered) what sort of $$$ are you billing a day to run a rig like that and with how many crew on site. The equip sounds a lot but when you think of 3-5 guys fulltime wages for a single year its not bad. Sorry if i'm too forward on this, just interested in how you justified doing this in a very unique way.

Mike Poor · 21st March 2007, 02:11 PM

Hey Ekka, We still have our share of hackers here. If i drive by a job i've bid and it's been done right that's fine but when i see poor quality pruning etc. that stinks! Hey Trev McRev, The truck saves labor and workers comp insurance, etc. It definately seems to be working out. As long as I'm careful and don't overload it or something it should work out great. It'll be paid for in three years so if it holds up I'll be rid of that nasty 3300 per mo. payment!

TrevMcRev · 21st March 2007, 08:59 PM

Yeah equip payments seem high but when you save labour you save money. $3300 per month wont get you much labour from the 2-3 guys you dont need with that rig.

Mike Poor · 24th May 2007, 04:48 PM

Here's a few more Knuckleboom photos! (sorry i haven't posted much lately but i've been super busy)

Sean Freeman · 24th May 2007, 05:52 PM

As always your photos fascinate me, mainly because the technique is so far removed from anything I've done, never having had a radio controlled anything! Plus not being permitted here (thats a quess it might be legal in other states don't know).

Interested in what tree you were removing? Also whats the tree to the left in the first photo in bloom? (very nice!) and....man your truck is shiny!

Ekka · 24th May 2007, 08:20 PM

No doubt about that bit of equipment.

Looks like there's plenty of work for it too, good on ya.

Great pics and some big wood on the back of the truck.

2nd March 2007, 10:30 PM	#2
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort & Seldom Wrong Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,791	In that pic, with the boom like that, how much weight can it lift? Allmark was saying you dont need a crane ticket to use one of them as it has no cables??? That's pretty nifty, I haven't seen anything like that round these parts. More pics I reckon. __________________ TAS Training & Assessment Services\| Arb and Hort Training available here Free Online Tree Value Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online TPZ and SRZ AS4970-2009 Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online Tree Surface Area and Tree Volume Calculator by TreeWorld Free Tree and Green Industry Deep Link Directory ... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist, Tree and Arborist Reports \| Project Arborist

3rd March 2007, 06:14 AM	#5
TREE-SURFER Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 378	That is some piece of kit. And I love my gadgets. Radio controlled. I could sack my groundies. LOL __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work What experts say about TOPPING

3rd March 2007, 12:04 PM	#7
a_lopa Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,307	Very handy peice of equipment! __________________ Drouin Tree Services and Excavator Hire \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland

3rd March 2007, 07:06 PM	#8
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort & Seldom Wrong Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,791	Imagine how handy that'd be for plucking palms out of people's yards. __________________ TAS Training & Assessment Services\| Arb and Hort Training available here Free Online Tree Value Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online TPZ and SRZ AS4970-2009 Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online Tree Surface Area and Tree Volume Calculator by TreeWorld Free Tree and Green Industry Deep Link Directory ... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist, Tree and Arborist Reports \| Project Arborist

6th March 2007, 11:48 AM	#12
yooper Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Upper Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 138	Nice rig!!!...big o'll tree in the back of yer old truck. Last edited by yooper; 6th March 2007 at 01:33 PM. Reason: im not sure

3rd March 2007, 12:29 AM	#3
TreeCo Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 295	Awesome stuff Mike! I've followed all of your postings at the buzz. Who makes that unit?

5th March 2007, 02:32 PM	#9
l2edneck Palm Tree Rat Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 53	very nice maybe a rear mount would make it easier to position?

6th March 2007, 12:06 PM	#14
allmarktree Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 130	Ekka...The crane licensing here currently varies by state. Some states dont require licensing for any cranes. Mine(NY) is tough but your quote is correct for here.

6th March 2007, 04:43 PM	#15
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort & Seldom Wrong Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,791	That some serious log in there! That's awesome, man that'd make life better. Not to be nosey but just the lift, not the truck, what sort of $'s ya looking at? Oh, by the way, just wanted to let ya know in that very first pic ... ya left ya lights on. lol __________________ TAS Training & Assessment Services\| Arb and Hort Training available here Free Online Tree Value Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online TPZ and SRZ AS4970-2009 Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online Tree Surface Area and Tree Volume Calculator by TreeWorld Free Tree and Green Industry Deep Link Directory ... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist, Tree and Arborist Reports \| Project Arborist

6th March 2007, 06:50 PM	#16
a_lopa Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,307	Wow! __________________ Drouin Tree Services and Excavator Hire \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland

8th March 2007, 01:11 PM	#20
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort & Seldom Wrong Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,791	Yes it's awesome, fast and makin me jealous. lol I honestly dont think you'd get enough work for it in this town! You guys seem to have a lot more trees or tree work or something? Hey Mike, unlike TB you can load up 6 pics in one hit, load them one at a time but 6 in one post. __________________ TAS Training & Assessment Services\| Arb and Hort Training available here Free Online Tree Value Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online TPZ and SRZ AS4970-2009 Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online Tree Surface Area and Tree Volume Calculator by TreeWorld Free Tree and Green Industry Deep Link Directory ... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist, Tree and Arborist Reports \| Project Arborist

8th March 2007, 05:20 PM	#21
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 2,149	That's one heck of a useful crane! SF

8th March 2007, 06:34 PM	#22
TrevMcRev Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,433	Hey Mike, Do you have competitors in your area with similar equipment? Or is your Company a bit unique with this gear? Are you in a position of running rings around your competition as a result or is it a matter of have to have this to compete? Trev __________________ Total Tree Care - Melbourne Arborist Reports & Consulting,Tree Pruning & Removal \| Elm Leaf Beetle Treatment Melbourne www.treegear.com.au - Australia's Best Value Arborist Supplies

15th March 2007, 09:02 PM	#25
TrevMcRev Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,433	Thats really interesting. If ya dont mind (pm me if prefered) what sort of $$$ are you billing a day to run a rig like that and with how many crew on site. The equip sounds a lot but when you think of 3-5 guys fulltime wages for a single year its not bad. Sorry if i'm too forward on this, just interested in how you justified doing this in a very unique way. __________________ Total Tree Care - Melbourne Arborist Reports & Consulting,Tree Pruning & Removal \| Elm Leaf Beetle Treatment Melbourne www.treegear.com.au - Australia's Best Value Arborist Supplies

21st March 2007, 08:59 PM	#27
TrevMcRev Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,433	Yeah equip payments seem high but when you save labour you save money. $3300 per month wont get you much labour from the 2-3 guys you dont need with that rig. __________________ Total Tree Care - Melbourne Arborist Reports & Consulting,Tree Pruning & Removal \| Elm Leaf Beetle Treatment Melbourne www.treegear.com.au - Australia's Best Value Arborist Supplies

24th May 2007, 05:52 PM	#29
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 2,149	As always your photos fascinate me, mainly because the technique is so far removed from anything I've done, never having had a radio controlled anything! Plus not being permitted here (thats a quess it might be legal in other states don't know). Interested in what tree you were removing? Also whats the tree to the left in the first photo in bloom? (very nice!) and....man your truck is shiny! __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran http://wanderingarborist.blogspot.com/ http://veterantreegroup.blogspot.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/VeteranTreeGroup

24th May 2007, 08:20 PM	#30
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort & Seldom Wrong Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,791	No doubt about that bit of equipment. Looks like there's plenty of work for it too, good on ya. Great pics and some big wood on the back of the truck. __________________ TAS Training & Assessment Services\| Arb and Hort Training available here Free Online Tree Value Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online TPZ and SRZ AS4970-2009 Calculator by TreeWorld Free Online Tree Surface Area and Tree Volume Calculator by TreeWorld Free Tree and Green Industry Deep Link Directory ... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist, Tree and Arborist Reports \| Project Arborist

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