Essential information on bucket truck parts!

Bucket trucks are undoubtedly a major asset in many industries: utility, cable, forestry, exterior construction work including painting and window washing; and of course the fire departments. When purchasing one of these vehicles, as important as it is to identify the right model for your business, it is equally important to know how easily you can purchase bucket truck parts and accessories when you need them.

What are the normal parts you might want to replace? What accessories can you add to improve the work environment of your employees? This is essential information to know even as you research the appropriate make and model for your purchase, especially if the economy makes you consider a used versus a new version of your desired vehicle.

Below is a list of parts and accessories that you can review and determine how quickly you can purchase them before making a purchase decision.

The bucket and relevant accessories:

pail – Obviously this is the most important part of the vehicle and can be replaced quite easily. They can be replaced by the original manufacturer or many other manufacturers available. There are several layouts available, as well as several other options, including whether you need a size for one or two people, where the controls are mounted, step-specific information to include in or out placement, which side, and number of steps.

Transatlantic- One of the main accessories that you must have is a polyethylene liner, as these liners are well known to save lives. Original equipment fiberglass buckets generally do not have full dielectric protection. Liners are like a lineman’s rubber gloves; They provide a barrier to the passage of electrical current through the body. It is a plastic product that fits inside the bucket to protect it from damage and improve worker safety. These liners must be tested annually to ensure they still retain their safety prevention usability.

cover – If your company does not have a garage for trucks, the bucket must be protected from the weather. A cover is required to protect it and is usually mounted using buckled straps that fit under the edge or lip. These covers are usually made of vinyl or fiberglass.

Guard- Similar to siding, this is a cover for various parts, including controls, winches, boom tips, pulleys, brakes, hoses, collars, extensions, and knuckles. It is a barrier or guard that is placed to protect against the contact of live line phases with any part of your body or indirectly through conductive materials, tools or equipment.

The Arm or Boom:

The boom or arm is one of the main parts of the bucket truck that needs to be properly maintained with a high quality safety standard. Unfortunately, anything less than this could result in worker injuries when put into operation. Before use, each of these should be thoroughly examined by a person competent to assess the condition of this device.

Arm replacements are readily available from the original manufacturer and/or from other commercial vendors who offer insert replacements that meet manufacturer standards. A replacement may be made of steel like most original arms; the steel version can be replaced by a fiberglass version that is dielectric and structurally sound.

Since the arms are an important part and can be expensive to replace, an expert in the field should perform a thorough inspection and can usually offer a recommendation on whether to repair or replace. It is always better to follow the inspector’s recommendation to avoid future problems or accidents. Production records and a permanent serial number must be available for each bar.

Miscellaneous accessories:

non-slip surface – This is a dielectrically solid non-slip material that can be adhered directly to the floor of the liner, eliminating the need for a traditional scratch pad. The purpose is to eliminate slippage on the floor of the coating.

ergonomic mat – A bucket floor mat that provides two-thirds of the surface air; it is non-conductive and temperature resistant. It reduces slipping, keeps worker’s feet above water when working in the rain, and acts as an insulator for worker’s feet when working in cold temperatures.

ergonomic support – Hangs from the top of the bucket or liner and allows the worker’s thighs to lean against it and support the body when the worker needs to lean against the edge and pry the work, which otherwise creates serious injury back strain. With this device, the inherent tensile stress is transferred from the back to the legs.

tool board or table – It is a plate that is mounted inside the bucket or liner to hold tools and/or supplies; it can also provide a stand for a laptop.

Bucket truck parts come in many shapes and sizes, just like the trucks they came from. They are also manufactured by many different companies to improve the working environment for these high-rise work vehicles. If you do your research early, you’ll know you’re making the right buying decisions.