How to Choose the Right Knuckleboom Truck for Your Business

Are you looking for a knuckleboom truck for your business? These trucks can help you work better. They can lift heavy things. They can reach hard spots. But how do you pick the best one?

This guide will help you choose a knuckleboom truck that fits your needs. We will use easy words and share facts from real businesses.

Why Choose a Knuckleboom Truck?

Knuckleboom trucks (also called articulated boom cranes) have arms that bend like your finger. These trucks can:

• Work in tight spaces where other trucks can’t fit
• Lift and move many types of heavy loads
• Help you do more jobs in less time
• Make your work safer

These trucks are great for tree care, building jobs, and moving things.

7 Steps to Find the Perfect Knuckleboom Truck

1. Know What Your Business Needs

Before you buy, think about:

• What will you lift? Trees? Building parts? Other heavy things?
• How often will you use it? Every day? Once a week?
• Where will you work? In cities? On big open sites?

Tree care companies that cut down many trees each week find these trucks very helpful. One expert says: “Once you have a knuckleboom truck in your fleet, it opens the door to work with other tree care companies.”

2. Look at Key Features

When picking a truck, check these important things:

Feature	Why It Matters	What to Look For
Lifting Power	Must match your heaviest loads	Match to your typical job needs
Boom Height	Determines how high you can reach	Make sure it can reach your work height
Truck Size	Must fit in your work areas	Check if it works in tight spaces
Control Type	Affects how you operate the boom	Remote control or seat controls

Did you know? A crane mounted right behind the truck cab allows for more bed storage but may need a front stabilizer for safe 360-degree operation.

3. Think About Safety Features

Good knuckleboom trucks have:

• Tip-over protection that stops the boom if it might fall
• Emergency stop buttons to cut power fast if needed
• Safety lights to warn people nearby
• Backup cameras to see behind the truck

The best operators for these trucks are people who have done the work manually before. They know how to think about cutting trees with a remote control.

4. Compare Costs: Buy or Rent?

When you look at costs, think about:

• New truck costs vs. used truck costs
• Repair costs (used trucks need more fixes)
• How long will you use it? (Years or just for one job?)

If your company buys a used truck, you might pay for:

• Truck payments
• Repair costs
• Lost money when the truck can’t work

When you add these costs, a new truck might cost less than you think!

5. Check the Truck Brand and Dealer

Look for:

• Brands with good names
• Dealers who help after you buy
• Parts that are easy to find
• Service near your work area

A good dealer will let you try the truck before buying. They will also train your workers to use it safely.

6. Test the Truck Before Buying

When testing a knuckleboom truck:

• Lift things like what you’ll use it for
• Try all controls to see how they feel
• Check if it’s stable when lifting
• See how it fits in tight spots

7. Plan for Care and Training

Once you buy a truck:

• Train all workers who will use it
• Set up regular check-ups to keep it working well
• Keep a parts kit for quick fixes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t make these errors:

1. Buying too small a truck for your loads
2. Forgetting about road rules for wide or tall trucks
3. Not checking fuel use (some trucks use more gas than others)
4. Skipping training for your workers
5. Getting the wrong controls for your jobs

Types of Knuckleboom Trucks

You can choose from:

• Behind-cab mounted booms (good for more bed space)
• Rear-mounted booms (needs special gear systems)
• Hydraulic power (stronger) vs electric power (cleaner)

Knuckle boom trucks offer better fuel savings and lower upkeep costs compared to straight boom trucks. This means more money saved over time.

Real Business Benefits

Companies that use knuckleboom trucks see:

• More jobs done each day
• Fewer worker injuries
• New income from helping other businesses
• Less fuel used

Expert tree care companies use their knuckleboom truck as their main machine. They put their best climbers in charge of the remote control to use their knowledge.

How to Make Your Final Choice

Make a list of what you need most:

•  Lifting power needed
•  Height needed
•  Space restrictions
•  Budget limits
•  Safety features needed

Then compare trucks that match your list.

Questions to Ask Sellers

1. “Can this truck use a grapple?” (Important for tree work and waste jobs)
2. “What is the true lifting capacity?” (Not just what’s on paper)
3. “What training do you provide?”
4. “What is your service plan?”
5. “How long do parts take to arrive?”

Taking Care of Your Investment

Your knuckleboom truck will last longer if you:

• Check it daily before use
• Follow all service schedules
• Train new operators fully
• Keep it clean and dry when not in use

Table: Comparing Knuckleboom vs. Straight Boom Trucks

Feature	Knuckleboom Truck	Straight Boom Truck
Best For	Tight spaces, tree work	Reaching high places
Arm Movement	Bends like fingers	Straight up and out
Space Needed	Less room to work	More room needed
Fuel Use	Uses less fuel	Uses more fuel
Cost to Run	Lower maintenance costs	Higher maintenance costs

Knuckleboom trucks are better for jobs that need reaching hard-to-get places, while straight boom trucks work best for high places and holding loads steady.

Final Thoughts

Picking the right knuckleboom truck takes time. Think about what you’ll lift, where you’ll work, and how much you can spend. Test the truck before buying. Get training for your team.

A good knuckleboom truck will help your business grow. It can help you do more jobs, work safer, and make more money.

Ready to learn more? Check out our guide to crane trucks for more information on lifting equipment options.

If you’re looking at other options, our articles on truck-mounted mobile cranes and mobile crane solutions can help you compare different lifting systems.

For heavy-duty work in rough places, our guide to all-terrain mobile cranes might be what you need.

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