Author name: TruckAdmin

6 SUREFIRE WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BOOM TRUCK You’ve worked hard, you’ve saved your money, you deserve to spoil yourself.  You drive to the car dealership, walk in proud as can be and plunk down $400,000 for a brand new shiny red Ferrari 812 Superfast.  One of the world’s most incredible feets of automotive engineering.  You take the The Pilota Ferrari driving course to learn how to get the most out of your new found love.  You never miss the regularly scheduled maintenance intervals and as amazing as this car is and exciting it is to drive, this vehicle won’t earn you a single penny.  None the less, you will love this car like its your child ensuring it is cared for in every way possible to keep it pristine. Nothing is to good for your shiny red Ferrari! Right? Well why not your boom truck? 1. READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL Did you know that less than 1% of boom truck owners read their owners manual unless there is a problem?  Did you know that unless a company is forced to have proper training few companies will ever provide it? We have a local customer who owns several boom trucks.  We won’t see the trucks for months and months.  Then we see the same truck 3 times in one week. This will prompt me to call our customer and ask him how long has he had a new operator? And of course he wonders how I would know. The answer is very simple.  If suddenly we see the same boom truck coming into the shop 3 times in one week, then I know someone is not operating the boom properly. At that point I will notify my customer that I would like to keep his operator there for a couple hours and familiarize him with the boom. 9 times out of 10 when we are finished with the repair and the truck leaves our shop, I never see the operator back. In this scenario, the operator is happy, our customer is happy, and in turn, his customers are happy. So, reading your owners manual is critical to help ensure your boom truck is being operated properly and will have a longer and less costly life.   2. FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE BOOM  I can’t stress enough the importance of having your operators familiarize themselves with operating the boom that you have purchased.  Many operators will tell you they have experience on a different make or model boom than you own, that doesn’t mean they understand how your boom operates.  An improperly trained operator costs delays, causes damage to the boom and perhaps even an injury to someone.  A stitch in time saves nine!   3. PROPER OIL AND FILTER CHANGES Maintenance, now this is a biggie. During my 30 years of industry experience, I have had the pleasure of being involved in many different industries. And the truth is some industries are better than others at maintaining their boom trucks. Remember the Ferrari I spoke about earlier? Remember how you would take care of that? And after all of that maintenance it earns you $0?  Check this fun fact out! Did you know 90% of all boom truck hydraulic issues are caused by contamination?  I have customers show up all the time with boom trucks and when I ask, “when was the last time you replaced your hydraulic filter and oil?”, the usual response is a blank stare. The kind of stare you gave your 3rd grade teacher when she asked you where your homework assignment was at?  It’s at that point I already know the answer. Again, read the owners manual. I always tell my customers to change their oil and the oil filters in the fall. Why? Because the colder temperatures are coming, and you want the best oil you can have in the coldest months. If your climate gets hot in the summer like Florida, but is moderate in the winter, then change the oil and filter in the spring when your weather will be the severest.  If the oil is thickened up and your filter plugged your machine will stand a better chance of overheating and lead to a hydraulic breakdown. A simple oil and filter change can save thousands on unnecessary repairs.   4. DAILY INSPECTIONS Every new boom truck we deliver has daily inspection book in the cab of the truck. It has a list of things to look to as a reminder.  Fill them out!  My father always said if you stand up close to a wall all you see is the 6-inch section of wall directly in front of you, but if you stand back from that same wall across the room you get to see the entire wall. Boom trucks are no different than that wall. If someone operates the same boom truck day in and day out, they may be too close to see a simple problem.  If you have more than one truck perhaps have one operator inspect the other operator’s truck.  He will be more likely to see something the other walks past.   5. ASK QUESTIONS When we sell a new boom to a company, we always look at it as the start of a partnership. You’ve chosen us to purchase your boom truck from us for many reasons. Perhaps the one you didn’t think about was the partnership. Use the relationship aspect as much as you can.  We’ve all heard the expression “the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask”.  We always want our customers to call and ask questions. I may not have the answer, but I guarantee you someone within our organization will. You may be an expert at forming foundations, cutting trees, pouring precast, and that’s fantastic! But when it comes to boom trucks, allow us to be your experts because this is what we do. This is something that we pride ourselves on at the highest level.   6. COMMUNICATE EXPECTATIONS Make sure your operator is aware that this equipment and his or her safety is top priority.  If

6 CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE BUYING A KNUCKLE BOOM TRUCK Buying a knuckle boom truck for your business is a big decision. It will have a significant capital impact: it will also have a lot of revenue generating potential. You should perform a thorough assessment of the real world implications of buying a knuckle boom truck for sale. In this article, we help you do that. We discuss the six critical questions you should ask before you buy a knuckle boom truck.   1. What will my needs be in the next few years? Ask not only what you need in the present, but what you will need in the future. Knuckle boom trucks are more than just a one-time investment. They have the potential to define your business for years to come. It’s why you should look to the future to see what you will need. Keep in mind: –          Truck manoeuvrability –          Load hoisting capacity –          Knuckle boom configuration and retrofit options –          The versatility of the truck –          Hauling capacity of the truck   2. What is the impact of the knuckle boom on the truck’s load carrying capacity? The biggest benefit of a knuckle boom mechanism is that it is compact. However, it will still constrain the truck’s load carrying volume and weight. Make sure that the knuckle boom truck for sale is able to meet your hauling needs as well. Moreover, how the knuckle boom is positioned on the crane can affect how you load it. Being aware of the facts will help ensure that you are not surprised by these nuances. 3. Do the knuckle boom and truck configurations meet my hoisting requirements? Hoisting may not be your primary need, but don’t let it become a hindrance either. Whether you are lifting logs off the ground or raising tons of steel, be sure your trucks meet your hoisting requirements. An inadequate hoisting rating can be a lengthy and expensive retrofit. After all, hydraulic support arms, bed strengthening and engine swaps may be needed. 4. Is my business ready to operate and maintain this new crane? New knuckle boom trucks for sale will throw up a number of challenges for your staff. There will, inevitably, be a learning curve with regards to being able to operate the truck. A few things you should be mindful of:       Size and weight – Are your drivers legally allowed to drive your new knuckle boom truck?     Even if they are, they may not have experience with a larger knuckle boom truck for sale.       Maintenance – This is an important consideration whether you are relying on a truck shop or maintaining the knuckle boom truck in-house. You need to understand what equipment, tools and parts will be required to keep the truck running like new.   5. Will your employees require operational and safety training? The knuckle boom truck for sale is just a tool. It’s your operators who make the biggest difference. Larger trucks and different knuckle boom configurations can affect what training you need to provide. Even the new work you undertake can require new personnel training.  Be mindful of what implications it can have on your workplace safety obligations. Different provincial and federal regulations on crane operation may also apply. Be sure to check the CSA Group for Canadian regulations, or laws applicable to your area. 6. Are you buying from the right seller? Buying a knuckle boom truck for sale is not like buying a new car. Anyone who has purchased commercial vehicles knows there is scope for ambiguity. It’s why business owners rely on reputed sellers. Especially with mobile knuckle boom systems, safety is a critical factor. The Ministry of Labour and Occupational Health Safety Act (OHSA) are demanding, when it comes to the safe operation and maintenance of knuckle booms.  At Bik Hydraulics we thoroughly support this safety culture. It is why our buyers have been regular customers. We are trusted for high-quality equipment, and delivering what we promise.   Buying a knuckle boom truck for your business is a big decision. It will have a significant capital impact: it will also have a lot of revenue generating potential. You should perform a thorough assessment of the real world implications of buying a knuckle boom truck for sale. In this article, we help you do that. We discuss the six critical questions you should ask before you buy a knuckle boom truck.  

The Ultimate Guide To Purchasing the Right Used Crane Trucks For Sale Crane trucks are machines of labour. They are not meant to be kept wrapped up in a garage – they are put to work! Taken from place to place, crane trucks help you lift, carry, extract and install. These are real workhorses in industries ranging from marine to construction. When it comes time to buy used crane trucks for sale, you have to be aware of exactly what you are getting. Crane trucks are sturdy workhorses! Good used crane trucks for sale aren’t tired out, they are just broken in. There are far too many types of boom trucks and far too many configurations to guide a buyer of used crane trucks for sale with every little detail. Instead, in this article, we set you on the path that will lead to the right truck for you. Every used crane truck is different; but, with a little guidance from us, you can find a truck that will serve you faithfully for years to come. Remember: be mindful of the capacity your business can need in the future. How old is it? Crane trucks are sturdily-built, reliable lifters. So, it’s no surprise that they keep running for many years. However, age can have a couple of consequences: it may not be legal on the road anymore, and it may lack the safety features you are legislated to have today. Old-but-functioning used crane trucks for sale may seem to offer a lucrative value for money proposition, but can cost you in other ways. Check for: regulations governing the use of crane trucks in your industry; is the truck still road legal? Corroded or rusted? Once you start looking for used crane trucks for sale, you should keep an eye for rust or corrosion showing on the truck. It can be a sure shot sign that it has led a very hard life. Salt on highways, working in proximity to seawater and even some industrial areas can cause corrosion – external and internal. If the body’s showing signs of rust (or even patches of fresh paint), it’s a sign you should check the hydraulic mechanism and drivetrain thoroughly. Cables, gears and motors, once they start developing rust, become safety hazards as much as causes of downtime. Check for: rust on the under-body of the truck; corrosion on the boom; discoloured or misshapen seals and gaskets. Has it been maintained? Boom trucks face significant wear and tear in their working lives. Regular maintenance is essential for maximizing the longevity of the craning mechanism and the truck itself. Before finalizing from a stock of used crane trucks for sale, you should get a service record. Unexplained gaps or ambiguous references to ‘checked’ should raise red flags. Check for: service history; part replacement and maintenance details. Repaired or botched? Unfortunately, not every boom truck owner has the same mindset of taking care of their truck. Some will take care to replace or repair parts the right way, others will rely on a “botch” or “that’ll do” approach. Replacement parts, especially, should be accompanied by a full record of source and conformity with manufacturer specifications. Check for: different brands of parts; unsightly welds and tape; missing seals and gaskets; inspect hydraulic mechanism thoroughly. What is its capacity today? Just like a car engine that will lose horsepower over time, used crane trucks for sale too may offer reduced peak performance. It is not a sign of damage – it is simply a reality.How much of a performance loss? Well, that can be a subjective answer and will vary from truck to truck. That’s why you need to buy from people who have a good reputation in the industry. At Bik Hydraulics we make sure our customers make informed decisions about their crane trucks. Check for: sufficient capacity overhead in truck performance; working history of the truck. At Bik Hydraulics we have a vast inventory of new and used crane trucks for sale. If you have a need, we have a truck for it. We treat our trucks with the respect they deserve. Our motto: your business should get the boom truck it can trust and rely on for years to come.

NEW OR USED? WHICH SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FOR YOUR NEXT BOOM TRUCK PURCHASE? It takes a long time to gain all the experience needed to operate a business.  You’ve heard the expression “I wish I knew then what I know now”.  What advise do I take? What advice to throw away?  I have 30 years’ experience that tells me the only thing that stays the same, is change. Things always change, always will.    REMEMBER THE TIME Making a boom truck purchase is one of those things that will always change.  Let’s look back at recent history for an example.  If you were looking to purchase a new boom truck between 2008 and 2012 why would you even consider a new boom truck?  The United States was mired in one of the biggest economical disasters next to the great depression.  Even 2nd and 3rd generation companies were going out of business.  Naturally, if businesses were going under their equipment was either repossessed or sold for fractions of what it was worth. With construction and building starts at unheard of lows, anyone who needed a boom truck made off like bandits. DECISIONS…DECISIONS Now fast forward to today.  Should you buy new or used?  While there was lots of fine boom trucks available between 2008 and 2012, all that equipment has been absorbed. To add to it, there were precious few new boom trucks produced between 2008 and 2012 because most companies bought up the fine used surplus boom trucks available. So, today your choice is simple but the opposite of 7 years ago.  New is the way to go, because used doesn’t exist. I get calls every week for used trucks.  I usually help people understand why their options are limited to new.  Even though they don’t want to believe me I provide them with a new boom truck proposal.  About a month later I’ll get a call back and the customer has found what I said to be true and we proceed with the new purchase. NEW OR USED? So, is it cheaper or more expensive to buy new?  Let’s say you go and purchase a used boom truck for $150,000.  A new one costs $300,000 for argument sake. Any used boom trucks available to are priced high because of the laws of supply and demand.  That $150,000 is really a $85-$90,000 boom truck prior to the economic downturn.  IF financed or leased it would cost you more on a monthly payment than new.  New will allow you to get an 84-month term while used is likely more like 36.  Secondly the used interest rate is generally 1.5-2% higher than new.  The used boom truck is……………., well used.  No mater how good it is, it will always be used.  Therefore, there will be repairs.  Repairs mean downtime.  Once you take the shorter term of used, add the additional interest because of the higher rate, factor in the cost of repairs and loss of use, used costs more monthly.  Now, there are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking right now in today’s market used will cost you more to buy than new. 

Your City Wouldn’t Be the Same Without These Mobile Cranes Keeping a city safe, moving and beautiful is a collective effort. Hundreds of people across several disciplines work every day to make your city a great place to be. A sign of industrial and infrastructure development, city cranes are among the most important tools that keep metropolises moving. Whether a stationary crane or a mobile boom truck crane, city cranes fulfil a plethora of needs. In recent years, the biggest development has been not just in capability, but how flexible they have become in terms of capability. In this post, we’ll take a look at five of the most common types of city cranes and truck cranes. Make no mistake city cranes have made modern living possible. Tree Cutting and Trimming Cranes Cranes can be great aids for those in the tree cutting industry. Truck cranes are particularly indispensable if trees have been damaged by a storm and are unsafe to climb. Even large trees or those located on compact residential plots require truck cranes to remove them safely. Similarly, tree trimming is essential to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles from falling branches. Did you know truck cranes are also used to move, replant and stabilize trees that have been damaged! Construction Cranes Construction cranes come in all types of configurations – some mobile, others static. Not only are construction cranes essential for the growth of the economy and creating jobs, they are considered a real metric of growth and prosperity. The more construction cranes a city has, the more prosperous it is considered. These cranes are either temporarily built or attached to a motor vehicle. Most construction cranes are telescopic cranes. Stationary cranes are used to hoist large, heavy loads at commercial building sites. At residential sites, mobile cranes are sufficient to handle all material and equipment lifting needs. More about boom truck cranes WATCH: Our trucks in action 5 Cool jobs cranes are used for How hydraulic systems are used in mobile cranes Streetlight & Overhead Cable Cranes Just like cranes are really helpful for those working with trees that can’t support much weight, cranes have made repairing streetlights and overhead cable installation much more efficient. Mobile cranes enable rapid movement of crews from one point to another. Once there, a lifting platform ensures workers a stable surface to step on and enough room to manoeuver safely.   Car Towing & Accident Recovery Cranes Cranes also play a key role in car towing and accident recovery. Transporting broken or crashed vehicles requires a truck-mounted crane is the best and fastest way to remove it from the road. A network of tow and accident recovery cranes means traffic isn’t stationary for long. Industrial mobile cranes Any growing city needs industry to sustain jobs, and industrial cranes certainly do their part. Small and mid-size businesses, in particular, rely on small mobile cranes to lift and haul cargo and equipment. In fact, some production operations employ the same crane for various different tasks around the facility. It speaks volumes about modern modular boom crane design for mobile cranes.   Bik Hydraulics has become known as one of the largest and most respected new and used boom truck crane sellers across all of North America. Our customers trust us for reliable and well-engineered cranes.