What Is a Boom Truck?
A boom truck utilizes a winch to recover heavy things or move supplies to places which are typically not accessible. Like for example, they are commonly used maneuvering supplies to a hillside or over a ditch or to reach the top of a building.
Larger trucks are equipped with a boom winch which is mounted in the truck's bed. It is capable of moving construction items and other equipment from the side of the street to a specific location. There is one more boom truck configuration that is outfitted with a cherry picker. This model allows arborists to easily access treetops.
The Vehicle
Terex's Stinger BT 3063 model has a reach of 113-feet and is equipped with both stabilizers and outriggers. A boom truck could range from an aerial work platform that is moved by a hydraulic lifting mechanism that is mounted on the bed, up to a Class 8 tractor-trailer rig with a bucket. It is also possible to have a customized boom lift made to suit the particular requirements of the buyer.
Cherry Picker
Cherry pickers are bucket trucks that can lift workers to great heights. Normally, buckets or cherry pickers transport employees from the ground up to high places like treetops, the sides of a building, for fire department and firefighting or up utility poles.
Location
The boom platform is able to be operated by remote from the truck's cab. Either the boom is mounted on the bed of a large truck or on a separate trailer. Booms which are bigger need outriggers that extend horizontally from the truck in order to level out and stabilize the crane throughout its use.
Controls
A cab-over-engine model boom truck has a control cluster capable of moving the boom located in the cab. It is usually a panel in the boom itself on the side of the bed.