Boom loaders

[MichelleB]

I've ordered a catalog from Ezyloader in Australia to get the dirt on their self-leveling boom loaders (i.e. the 200) but I know I want to find one second-hand if I go that route a few years down the road. (planning to have a couple hundred colonies by '09 or '10).

One guy up in Canada is a broker, and has the 200 USD used...for ten grand plus change. Haven't found anything else to use as a price comparison.

So...for those who've shopped around or who have themselves gone this route:

What's a good ballpark figure for a decent, used, electric self-leveling loader, plus installation on a one-ton flatbed?

Does this equipment hold its value well?

Thanks in advance. Just doing my homework.

[arkansasbee]

Has anyone ever heard of using a bucket truck to load/unload hives, perhaps with a hive adaptor in lieu of the bucket? I've been wondering if this would work. I've seen several older bucket trucks in good working condition for 2-3 grand. An additional plus would be for high swarm retrieval. Comments?

[bluegrass]

I don't know how you would make the bucket truck work? The booms on those are designed to keep the bucket level, so it really is not all that versital Boom truck booms with lumber forks show up from time to time on ebay for 5 grand or so.

[swarm_trapper]

if a used boom is 10 grand my feelingin is for a few more bucks to go with a swinger or bobcat it seems to me it would be easier.

[MichelleB]

Agreed, at that price!