What’s the difference between New, Used, and Reconditioned bucket trucks? Oh, only about $40,000. Let’s look at the drawbacks and benefits of buying bucket trucks in their respective condition.
A new bucket truck is great. It comes with clean, working everything. It has a warranty and approximately 0 miles and PTO hours. They are in the ideal condition. Consider this, “if something were to go wrong with a new truck, it will happen within the first 30k miles”. That’s a little bit of a concern for me, the average user. The likelihood of something going wrong is relatively low but, it’s still a concern. The last thing owners or operators need is something to break on a brand new bucket truck, especially if it causes injury or worse. New bucket trucks are a good purchase if you are well funded or are a big company that can use them to deduct taxes. For the small to midsized business, I don’t recommend buying new bucket trucks.
Reconditioned used bucket trucks for sale are ideal for almost every type of owner or operator. Assuming you buy your lift truck from a reliable and quality reconditioner like Southwest Equipment, you are getting the best combination of reliability, quality, and price. You can get a like-new bucket truck for much less than the price of a new one. Some dealers will give you incentives like a 2 year warranty to aid with your peace of mind. I know Southwest Equipment will also get your Altec bucket trucks manufacturer certified… a guarantee like that is hard to beat. The biggest thing to be wary of is the dealer. Make sure to get a second opinion on your dealership and inspect your truck independently if you are unsure about their work.
Ah, used bucket trucks, the cheapest and riskiest option for buying bucket trucks. If you’re buying a used bucket truck, you have to make sure it is safe to work on and will run long enough to more than pay for itself. Buying from individuals can get you the best deal on price but could also leave you paying more than you should for a utility truck with problems. It’s mandatory you get a 3rd party inspection before buying a used bucket truck. I wouldn’t suggest going up in the boom until you have a non-bias opinion on it’s safety. Watch out for scams when buying used. You can find some great deals on used equipment but you have to know what you’re doing. Most businesses won’t buy used bucket trucks.
Good luck on your adventure finding bucket trucks for sale! Get a good truck and have it pay for itself and then start paying you.
