Home / Non-running boom trucks
Won't start, won't lift
A truck that won't start or a crane that won't lift is still worth something. We buy it and bring the right tow.
Load tag · Free offer, no obligation
About a minute. We call back with a number.
Why they stop
Batteries, starter or a seized engine.
No drive, or stuck in gear.
Truck runs, crane doesn't.
Valve, cylinder or hose failure.
No air to release the brakes.
Flat tires, rot, rodents.
Before we come
Boom truck sitting in the yard? Get a number in minutes.
Fix it or sell it?
Get the repair quote and our number, then compare. Engines, transmissions and crane pumps add up fast.
Dead boom trucks in depth
A dead boom truck needs the crane secured before it moves.
If the boom is stuck up or out, it has to be secured or lowered before the truck can move. Never try to force it down, and keep people out from under it. Tell us the boom's position and send a photo. Sometimes a portable power unit can bring it down; sometimes it is strapped in place for a short, slow move.
Outriggers stuck down have to be raised, blocked or pinned before towing. A failed pump or a broken hose often leaves them stranded. Tell us which ones are down and whether they look bent. We plan the tow around them, and in some cases the outriggers are freed with a hand pump or a power unit on pickup day.
A heavy boom truck with no air in the system has its spring brakes applied, so the wheels won't turn. The tow operator cages the brakes or supplies air before moving it. Tell us if the truck has air brakes, whether the engine can build air and whether any brake chambers are damaged. That decides how the truck gets hooked up.
Boom trucks are heavy and tall, and a stowed crane can sit above the height of a standard tow. We send a heavy wrecker or a lowbed that suits the size, and we check the route for low clearances. Tell us what's around the truck: fences, trees, overhead wires and how close a tow truck can get.
Cranes, engines, transmissions, axles and hydraulic pumps often have resale value even when the truck doesn't run. That's why a non-running boom truck is still worth more than its weight in steel. Tell us what failed and what still works. A truck with a dead engine but a healthy crane is priced very differently from the reverse.
Major repairs rarely pay off on a truck being sold as it sits. You'd pay full price for parts and labour, and the figure rarely rises by as much. If you're unsure, get a repair quote and our number, then compare. Small things like a new battery so the crane can be stowed can be worth it; a rebuilt engine usually isn't.
Questions
Yes. The tow driver can supply air or cage the brakes. Tell us ahead so they come ready.
Send a photo. We'll plan to lower and secure it safely before the tow.
Yes. The chassis, the crane and the steel all count.
Keys help, but they aren't required. We need proof of ownership: the registration for a plated truck, or a bill of sale or company records for an unplated one.
Usually. Heavy tow trucks can winch a stuck unit onto firm ground before loading. Tell us how long it has sat and how close a truck can get.
Yes. A seized engine is common on trucks that sat for years. We price it on the crane, the chassis and the parts, and arrange a heavy tow.
Send what's wrong and a few photos. We quote it as it sits.
