My brother just built a 4x4 F550 with a knuckle boom and dumping flat bed, he does a lot of tree work and it is perfect for him, he was going to use the bigger truck, but decided he didn’t need one that big and if he needed bigger it would be a tri axle log loader, not a single axle knuckle boom. He is going to install a rotating grapple on the F550, then it will be perfect. I guess I am glad as the F700 with the National N95 boom is a good size for me. It only reaches 26’ hydraulically, then it has two manual sections, that gets it to 39’ and it can still pick 1850 pounds anywhere in a 360 patter, provided the truck is the right setup. I currently have a National 600 series that goes hydraulically to 56’ and then jib sections to 96’, but I rarely use the reach anymore and you have to two part the winch after 5000 pounds, where the knuckle boom can pick 6400 pounds at a 14 foot radius. I figure this will be my first step and I will most likely end up having a larger knuckle boom. What I really want is a hooklift truck, that would be the most versatile for sure. As essentially a one man show, registration for multiple trucks ***** and trailers get expensive, plus maintenance, one truck with several bodies would be awesome.
You have me thinking I need to find some column lifts instead of installing my two post mohawk lift, it is a 15k capacity, but the columns are so much nicer than a fixed setup.