Many elevating or aerial work platforms are mounted on a truck and sometimes on an all-terrain chassis. There are truck-mounted work platforms that have a vertical or upright reach of more than 100 meters or a lateral reach of up to 40 meters. Areas of application for these large-size machines with a total weight of up to 60 tons are wind farms, industrial facilities such high chimneys, cooling towers, tank facilities, telephone and radio towers. In addition, these truck-mounted elevating work platforms are best suited for building restorations or for TV and movie productions, during concerts or sport events.
In addition to this large equipment, hydraulically operated truck-mounted work platforms are often used for daily operations by building trade companies, municipal services, and utility companies. For example, municipal services typically need work platforms with a height range of 10 to 20 meters to maintain street lamps. For trimming trees or cleaning buildings and facades or for paint or roofing jobs, equipment up to a working height of 30 meters and above is utilized.
The advantages of truck mounts are:
- large working heights of over 100 meters and a large lateral reach of more than 40 meters. They have a high bucket capacity and are easy to operate.
- high work speed with a large oscillating range
- variable support possibilities up to the minimum width of the vehicle, while maintaining a high stability
- the jib provides the best mobility. Some of them have a telescopic and rotating bucket.
- In addition to hydraulic, air, water connection and sometimes a separate power generator, electrical power, too, is supplied by a 230-volt connection and outlets inside the bucket.
- sensitive proportional control with a joystick
- Heavy truck-mounted work platforms come with complete equipment packages such as 4WD and differential lock, roof protection of the driver cabin.
- Large buckets with a high load capacity are in some cases hydraulically extendable and are made of aluminum or steel.
- If needed, the buckets can be made of fiberglass with a 1,000-volt insulation protection.
- Complete accessories for tree trimming such as chain saw brackets and safety guards, special brackets for TV cameras and triax cable
- Small compact devices with a weight under 3.5 tons and a working height of up to 25 meters are available.