chips freeze, it creates a huge wood block in the back of the truck. If this happens, the crew has to be in the back with a pickaxe to get them free.” If a bucket truck must be parked outside in below freezing temperatures, a few protective measures can help minimize freeze-related damage to the chip body: •Dump the load daily; •Clean out around the doors, includ- ing toolboxes to prevent the door According to Moses, caring for the chip body in the wintertime boils down to the basics: maintaining it, cleaning it off, greasing everything, and double checking the hoist and hydraulics. “The only time we see issues is when folks don’t grease properly. Grease weekly if you’re dumping every day,” Moses said. “Too much grease is never a problem,” he continued. “Too little is.” WINTER EQUIPMENT STORAGE & PROTECTIVE MEASURES Even when stored or unused for exten- sive periods of time, mobile hydraulic equipment still requires regular main- tenance. Lumberg explained that, de- pending upon the climate, lack of use may begin to have a negative effect in as little as two weeks. from freezing shut; and, •Clean off ice and snow. “Storage for a period of several months will almost certainly produce some de- terioration of the equipment,” he added. “Rust will form on unprotected ferrous metal surfaces very quickly, and water will collect inside unit structures.” Lumberg explained that in dry climates, gaskets will begin to shrink during long periods of non-use, and lubricants will lose their effectiveness. In cold climates, condensation may occur in fluid reser- voirs and other components.
moisture finds its way into latches, han- dles, or hydraulic components, freezing temperatures can quickly interfere with operations. Staying ahead of wood chip buildup and keeping the chip body clean is essential for reliable performance all season long (and beyond). To keep the chip body in good working condition in the cold, Moses said the most important task is to ensure all the different points are greased that need to be greased. “Grease, grease, grease – do this, be- cause everything seems to contract when it’s cold,” he explained. “Make sure the hinges are greased, the rear hinge on the lift of the body, as well as the hoist hinge and hoist pivot points.” Secondly, crews should dump the load and get the chips out. There might be some residual chips left in the body, but they shouldn’t affect operations. “If you have a full load, or even a half load, I’d say to get rid of that almost daily during the wintertime. This will prevent them from condensating and freezing,” said Moses. “When wood
For insulated units, this also includes the OSHA 1910.67(c)(4) required annual boom electrical certification, which verifies that the insulated boom still provides proper dielectric protec- tion. This testing is critical for main- taining the boom’s insulating factor and ensuring crew safety. By ensuring these systems are func- tioning properly, annual inspections help extend the truck’s lifespan, main- tain safe operation, and minimize the risk of costly downtime or accidents. Lumberg advised that components should be inspected to prevent issues like corrosion, cracked seals, or hydrau- lic failures. This check should be con- ducted every year before winter sets in. “[Components] should be kept clean, reg- ularly maintained, and functional accord- ing to the operator’s manual,” he said. WINTER CARE & MAINTENANCE FOR THE CHIP BODY Winter weather can be tough on the chip body, especially when snow and ice build up around doors, hinges, and toolboxes. If
To keep the chip body in good working condition in the cold, the most important task is to ensure all the differ- ent points are greased that need to be greased.
In other words, no climate is truly “safe”
26 | Winter 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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