Tree Service · Equipment

Tree service equipment

The equipment a job needs is the main reason two quotes differ. A bucket truck with clear access makes a job fast; no access means climbing and rigging, which is slower and more skilled. A crane is used for very large trees or removals over structures, and Fixr puts crane-assisted removal of 80-foot-plus trees at an added $1,500 to $2,500.

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Bucket truck (aerial lift). Fastest and safest option when the truck can get within reach. If your tree is in a back yard behind a narrow gate, the bucket truck is useless and the price goes up accordingly. When you call for quotes, describe the access honestly — a company that shows up and discovers it cannot park will re-quote on the spot.

Climbing systems. Where a lift cannot reach, a climber ascends with rope and saddle and rigs limbs down in controlled pieces. This is the highest-skill work in the trade. One detail worth asking about: climbing spikes damage bark and should be used for removals, not for pruning a tree you are keeping. A crew that spikes a tree they are only trimming is doing lasting harm.

Crane. Used for very large trees, trees over structures, and situations where dropping wood is not an option. Fixr cites $1,500 to $2,500 added for crane-assisted removal of trees 80 feet and up. Expensive, but often the difference between a controlled removal and a limb through a roof.

Chipper and grinder. A chipper turns brush into chips on site — quick and cheap. A stump grinder is separate equipment, often a separate visit, and almost always a separate line item. Fixr prices grinding at roughly $150 to $300 per stump. Ask whether the grindings are hauled away or left in the hole; they are two different prices.

How to choose

Describe your access on the phone: Gate width, overhead wires, slope, driveway load. It gets you an accurate quote and avoids a re-quote on the day.
Ask whether they will climb or use a lift: It tells you how the price was built and whether they have understood the site.
No spikes on a tree you are keeping: Climbing gaffs wound the trunk. They belong on removals. Ask explicitly if a climber is pruning a tree that will remain.
Ask if a crane is needed and why: Fixr's $1,500 to $2,500 crane adder is real money. It should be justified by size or by what the tree is standing over — get the reason in writing.
Confirm what happens to the wood and chips: Hauled, chipped and left, or stacked for firewood are three different prices. Get it in the scope.

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All tree service equipment

Stump Grinders

Chippers

Aerial Lifts Tree Work

Climbing Gear Arborist

Crane Assisted Tree Removal Equipment

FAQ

Tree Service equipment — common questions

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Why does a crane cost so much extra?

It is a specialist machine with an operator, mobilization cost, and often a road or setup permit. Fixr puts the adder at $1,500 to $2,500 for crane-assisted removal of trees over 80 feet. It is used when the alternative — dropping large wood near a structure — is unacceptable.

Is climbing more dangerous than a bucket truck?

It carries different risk and demands more skill. Crews use climbing systems when a lift cannot reach the tree, which is common in back yards. What matters is that the crew is trained and that the company carries workers' compensation.

Can they get equipment into my back yard?

Depends on gate width, slope, and whether the ground can carry the weight. Describe it before the estimate. Some companies use compact tracked lifts that fit through a standard gate; many do not own one.

Will heavy equipment wreck my lawn?

It can, particularly on soft ground. Ask what they do to protect it — plywood or mats under wheels are standard practice — and get lawn repair addressed in the contract before, not after.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Fixr — Tree Removal Cost (crane and equipment) · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Stump Grinding Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26