Marula

Plates must match both trailer and vehicle towing it, or it did when I did my class 1.

These make for a very comfortable and smooth day.

[emoji1360]Good going, very good thinking. How was that cheaper than a truck mounted 70m articulated platform though? What do they hire for in your area? Also didn't that swing around every time it was manoeuvred into a new position?

You need a mewp with reach for jobs like that, the ones we use have a huge reach and are articulated so you're not under the tree in any way.

I don't think there's anything wrong in your call, if uncertain, especially with K.D then down it comes. We all have the odd tree where the decay wasn't as bad as we thought it was but whether the tree you ordered taken down came down now or in a years time it would still have had to come down.

We used to use the articulated truck mounted machines quite a bit and you could reach a whole canopy without moving it very often, even if we did have to move it, it was just a few minutes and we were back on the job. My experience with the spider lifts was that they did need repositioning quite a bit, but I'm not that experienced with them so others may have had a bit more luck.

Just to clarify, I think that a mewp has its place and climbing equally so. I'm not advocating one over the other, however if I had the option of a spider lift or climbing I'd take climbing, I can't stand those small bases with those dodgy looking legs, but a truck mounted mewp with a crane job can make for a very comfortable day.

I suppose my question here is, how often did you use that machine? Were you proficient with it or was it hired in for a day or two? Also, when I talk about a mewp I'm not really talking about spider platforms or towable, I agree that they take longer due to setting up and moving etc plus they're no fun on extension. I'm specifically referring to a large machine which can reach around a whole canopy and doesn't need to be moved.

I agree, generally it's finical in my book too. I did work for a chap who had a towable nifty, years back, and he had this weird obsession with this thing being sent out all the time, most of the time it would have been easier just climbing and getting on with the job instead of having this thing cramping up the work area. [emoji1360]agreed, definitely prolongs your life in tree work. If I have to choose a chog down from a mewp or on spikes it's the mewp without exception. I only like the ones on the 7.5t base or above, saying that though the 100ft machines are serious bum squeakers when on extension irrelevant of base size.

I did an emergency call out which was a 70ft+ on a bank, leaning with its root plate lifted. Everything had to be rigged down either on itself or hand held and taken over to the drop zone about 5 to 10 metres away from the base of the stem by the bucket on the platform. That is the definition of "unclimbable" in my book.

Thanks Neil, it does. Your company looks like a really well equipped and slick operation, I hope you get someone decent for that job you advertised, looks like a really excellent opportunity. I would say I was a decent climber at my peak (never had any complaints) with quite a bit of experience doing large euc removals down under from 50+ metre platforms and climbing and there is no way a climber would manoeuvre around a 150ft+ tree faster than a bucket can reposition, especially when chains are involved for cranes. Equally I spent a fair bit of time doing "spready"stuff here in the U.K. climbing and from a truck mounted mewp and the same applies, by the time a climber has repositioned the bucket has already been there and had it off. My only issue with nifty lifts is that they don't have the specific reach which is sometimes required, I've used a 30metre spider lift to do a dead tree and that thing on full extension was a serious bum hole clencher. Thanks for the reply gents, some good comments here and some serious food for thought.

I feel the same about it, I just think 15m is not high enough to do what will most likely be required, reach is also the other big factor, if it can't reach out leaving the ground area clear then it just becomes an issue.

I've been fortunate to use very large mewps often on everything from a prune to big crane jobs. As a climber too I can say that a proficient man in the bucket will have a tree down in half the time any climber can. The issue with hiring for the day is it takes time to get used to the controls, positioning the machine correctly, what angle to work from the bucket etc, so hire versus a daily climber I'd say the climber would be quicker, like everything however if you do it everyday you'll be efficient.

The best post I've seen in a while! [emoji1360][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Do you just not take jobs which would require one?

This looks like a good one[emoji106], should be an enjoyable job once all the paperwork is sorted.

As the title goes, how often do you use a mewp? Do you only use it on really dangerous "un-climable" stuff or do you use it if it looks like it can speed a job along?

Well I guess idiot award goes to me, lesson that was learnt today; read the post and not just the title.

That's from a Syringa, the fruits are poisonous to animals and young children. In Australia it's called a white cedar, the Latin is Mezia azedarach.

I've used plenty and never had issues with them.

Thanks Philip, I appreciate the info, I'll give him a ring this morning. I'm really hoping it's not complicated because the money for a larger lift is just crazy.

Thanks Phillip, that's helpful. Do you think it'd still be such a drama even if it's only an upgrade?

It's a 7.5t with a 14 metre platform on the back but I'd like to stick something bigger on like a 22 or 26m. I've been googling but can't seem to find a company, I may just be thick though. Any help would be appreciated.

Does anyone know of a company that fits/builds custom MEWPS to a truck bed?

That's quite interesting, I would have thought it to be somewhat similar to pine for some reason. I've just googled the timber [emoji1360], bloody amazing colours!