A used truck-mounted EWP is really two assets in one: an access machine and the vehicle that carries it. A cherry picker truck can be an excellent buy, but only if you assess both halves properly and understand where the machine sits in its compliance lifecycle. This guide sets out what to weigh before committing, so the purchase price reflects the true condition of what you are buying.
Start with the inspection history
Before anything else, read the records. A truck-mounted EWP that has been maintained to AS 2550.10 will have a logbook and a documented inspection history, and that paper trail tells you more about the machine's future cost and reliability than a walk-around ever will.
- A complete logbook with recorded pre-start, routine and periodic inspections by a competent person.
- The date of manufacture, which sets the 10-year major inspection clock regardless of when you buy.
- Major inspection certification if the machine has already reached the major that applies to its class — due at 5 or 10 years depending on equipment type.
- Operator and service manuals for the specific model of EWP.
- Records for the base vehicle, including servicing and any registration history.
How much time is left before the next major
The most commonly overlooked cost in a used EWP purchase is the looming major inspection. Because the 10-year clock runs from manufacture, a machine that is eight or nine years old is close to a significant, planned expense and a period of downtime — while one freshly through its major has that behind it.
Neither is inherently a bad buy, but the position in the cycle should be reflected in the price and in your plan for the asset. Knowing the manufacture date and the next-due date lets you buy with your eyes open rather than inherit a surprise.
Structural condition of the EWP
Assess the access machine on its own merits:
- The boom, chassis, platform and guardrails for cracks, prior weld repairs or deformation.
- Pins, bushes, slew ring and pivot points for wear and play.
- Corrosion, especially on machines that have worked in coastal or marine environments.
- The hydraulic system for leaks, tired hoses, cylinder drift and fluid condition.
- Emergency and safety devices — interlocks, emergency lowering, overload and tilt systems — through a functional check.
Hour meter versus age
Age and workload tell different stories, and you need both. A low-hour machine that is nonetheless old may have sat idle, developing seized components and perished seals, while a high-hour machine of the same age has simply worked hard. Read the hour meter against the calendar age and the visible condition to judge how the machine has actually lived.
Remember too that the major inspection is triggered by years, not hours — so a low-hour older machine still faces its major on schedule. Hours inform wear; age drives compliance.
Don't forget the truck itself
The base vehicle is the other half of the asset, and a sound EWP mounted on a tired truck is still a compromised purchase. Assess the vehicle as you would any used truck — engine, driveline, brakes, tyres, chassis corrosion and general mechanical condition — because its faults will cost you the same as the EWP's.
You should also satisfy yourself about registration and roadworthy status before you buy. Requirements for registration and roadworthiness vary by jurisdiction and change over time, so confirm the current obligations that apply where the truck will be registered and operated rather than assuming. A vehicle and machine can each be sound, yet the combination still needs to be legally able to travel and work.
When in doubt, inspect independently
Where the records or condition of either the EWP or the truck leave any doubt, an independent pre-purchase inspection by a competent person is a modest cost against the price of a mistake. An assessor can verify the structural condition of the machine, flag an approaching major inspection, and give you an evidence-based view before you commit. To arrange a pre-purchase inspection through a qualified inspection provider, call 0416 689 689.
This guide is general information prepared by EWP Australia and is grounded in publicly available Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia material. It is not a substitute for the current published edition of the relevant standard or for site-specific engineering advice. Always work from the current standard and consult a competent person for your specific equipment and application.