Why I hate boom trucks

[crane operator]

Brand new altec, no hours on the upper. 2023 on a tridrive pete with a bunch of cheaters.

 

[DMiller]

How in the Hell does one roll a Boom Truck on a FLAT road, Boom DOWN??

 

[crane operator]

Tree job, looks like they've given it a shock load one too many times. The turntable bolts have decided they would rather not be identified as bolts any more.

 

[crane operator]

 

[skyking1]

ow that last picture.
Look how long some of them have been parted.

 

[crane operator]

How in the Hell does one roll a Boom Truck on a FLAT road, Boom DOWN??

I'm telling you- those things are top heavy SOB's in the big ones. Looks like all air ride suspension, and it has those outriggers like a concrete pump, all above the frame rail.

I'm guessing he was hauling a$$, delivering it (WHERE'S MY NEW CRANE THAT'S 11 MONTHS LATE) and took a left off the main highway behind him, and flopped it over right into that pole.

Steer, two air lift axles, tri drive, and a rear air lift. Seven axles all together. Factory says GVWR is either 93,000 or 105,000.

155' of main boom hanging out above that cab. Got a nifty jib too. Hyd. offset to -80 degrees.

 

[Natman]

Wow, quite the jib indeed!

 

[skyking1]

It really does not look nifty in that 2nd picture.
it has.......wrinkles.

 

[crane operator]

As much as I dislike the concept, that 155' plus the jib and a man basket would be super slick for cellphone tower work.

 

[skyking1]

that would be a nice kit. It would be good for grain elevator work too, and setting HVAC if it was not too heavy.

 

[DMiller]

With Skyking on the sheared bolts, should have been able to see there were broken ones by rust trails or loose washers, IF Ever looked close while lubing that, bad day.
As to that ALTEC, if they have to go that heavy, are really no advantage over True Crane machines, these are a nickel and dime distractor of what is really needed. I see MASSIVE Rotator Wreckers on the Highways, several companies around here have them where REQUIRE a Release of DOT Axle Load schedules as Emergency Equipment, drive like crap, cannot take anywhere Off Road as sink like lead balloons. Look Pretty but value or worthiness? Crane can accomplish as well in many instances or if Must Side load pull, just a wrecker as TS Built.

 

[mekanik]

The Altec and Terex boom trucks I used to work on and the National crane required that the rotation bearing bolts torque be checked once a year. A broken bolt would be caught before a failure like in the above posts.

 

[CraneMechanic73]

Broken bolt failure? Read more than my share of boom truck manuals. Have yet to find the section on repeated shock loading and how to anticipate the turntable breaking off. Lol

 

[DMiller]

And there are some that Maintenance is a PITA and oft Ignored, ask Vetech!!

 

[Keith Merrell]

Kinda off topic, but speaking of trucks and idiots, you know how Ritchie Brothers does videos of the trucks driving back and forth now? I always cringe because I keep seeing idiots revving the truck like crazy and then burning the clutch and spinning the tires. lol

 

[Natman]

In my area, a BTC Manitex boom truck that was used for delivering and setting septic tanks, broke off at the turret, and fell onto the ground, pretty exciting I heard thru the grapevine!

 

[skyking1]

Here is a delivery conveyor truck that had a bad day. The jobsite is Freightliner NW and there is a lot full of oddities.


Love this short stout all wheel drive high rail monster knuckle boom truck.

 

[DMiller]

I find it funny, that 4x4 knuckle sitting behind a RSH and aside a RSTank!
Most of those machines likely in there for Emissions Warranty.

 

[crane operator]

National laid over nbt50



And a burned down altec

 

[crane operator]

Roofing company