Cherry picker

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This article is about a vehicle. For the historical British regiment, see 11th Hussars.

A cherry picker, which is also known as a boom lift or Hydraladder, is a device that consists of a bucket at the end of a hydraulic lifting system, usually mounted on the back of a large vehicle such as a truck (in which case it is also called a bucket truck), or sometimes a stand-alone trailer. The bucket is designed for a person to stand in, and work from. Often a duplicate set of controls that are used to manipulate the position of the bucket will be available to the person in the bucket, allowing the operator to position himself. The lifting arms of some cherry pickers are capable of telescoping to adjust the reach of the device.

Cherry pickers were originally designed for use in orchards (not just cherry orchards). It lets the picker pick fruit high in a tree with relative ease. Similar devices, also known as 'cherry pickers' are also used to service telephone, cable television and electrical equipment on utility poles. Some fire trucks have a cherry picker instead of a fire ladder (known as a Snorkel), and some window cleaners also use them. Cherry pickers are also used in mining, construction, and sometimes by arborists to work safely in otherwise unclimbable trees.