What to look for when purchasing your first hooklift

If you’re in any way involved in trucking or transportation, it’s likely you know the many advantages of hydraulic hooklift systems.

Users purchase a single truck chassis, outfit it with a hydraulic hooklift, and then purchase as many truck bodies as they need. Roll on a dump body for today’s excavation work, roll it off at sundown, and go with a water tanker body for tomorrow’s schedule. One truck can do the work of many — and contractors, municipalities, waste haulers and many others are reaping the cost savings!

If that kind of efficiency appeals to you, then you’ll want to know what to look for when purchasing your first hooklift. And, perhaps your most important first decision is hook height. Here are some considerations that will guide your choice before signing that purchase order …

• What’s the best hook height? 36-inch, 54-inch and 62-inch hooklift heights are available. And, so are dual-height hooks … at an additional cost.
• Some suppliers will, of course, push you to go with the more expensive dual-height hooklift. But beware; this makes no sense when purchasing your first unit. Why? You’ll also be purchasing your equipment to match the particular hook height of the loader you are buying. With a dual-height hooklift, you might end up with a mismatched collection of 36-inch and 54-inch bodies and containers!
• Another argument against dual-height hook loaders? They entail additional expenses and maintenance costs that are not required for your initial purchase!
• Next question: If a single hook height is best, should you go with a 36-inch type? No. Because limiting yourself to a 36-inch hook height only allows for restricted-size bodies and containers. Similarly, 62-inch hook heights will be too large for most operations. Both are decisions you’re likely to regret in the long run.

Your best first choice? A 54-inch hooklift height.

With the 54-inch, you get maximum flexibility for your investment. Even if you’re considering a smaller hook for, say an F-550-class chassis, Ampliroll always recommends a 54-inch hook height. The reason? It allows for future expansion and growth of your company to bigger containers and larger equipment. Now, and down the road, it’s a good decision.

For selection, savings and service, make Ampliroll your first choice in hydraulic hooklift systems.

Ampliroll Hooklift Systems are manufactured by Marrel – the inventor of hooklifts in 1969 and first again in bringing them to users across the U.S. in 1980. Today, Ampliroll is the nation’s leading provider of hooklift systems. Of course, we also offer high-quality pre-owned hooklift vehicles.