About Hi-Ranger
Terex’s Hi-Ranger brand covers a family of articulated and telescopic bucket trucks. They’re a familiar sight under powerline poles, business signage, and lamp posts. Hi-Ranger aerial devices are used by electric utility providers, tree care businesses, construction firms, telecommunications companies, and others as trouble trucks for a variety of applications including line clearing, transmission, and distribution tasks.

Terex Hi-Ranger XT Pro Bucket Truck
The Hi-Ranger Story
The Hi-Ranger aerial work platform’s story begins in 1950 with the founding of Mobile Aerial Towers, Inc. of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Among other innovations, Hi-Rangers boasted a boom compensation feature which allowed for straight-line bucket travel and independent movement of the upper and lower boom. The manufacturer also devised fiberglass booms and boom sections to insulate workers from dangerous powerline contact.
In 1982, Mobile Aerial Towers sold the Hi-Ranger line to liquidating corporation Hi-Ranger, Inc. In 1992, HRI sold its Hi-Ranger assets to Simon-Telelect, which was acquired by Terex in 1997. Terex Utilities and Hi-Ranger are currently based in Watertown, South Dakota.
Hi-Ranger Products
The Hi-Ranger line comprises overcenter and non-overcenter bucket trucks and telescopic boom trucks. Terex also builds certain models with eco-friendly battery-electric and hybrid power sources.
Overcenter. Overcenter Hi-Ranger bucket trucks can articulate their uncompensated upper booms beyond center to work on both sides of a utility pole. Terex can produce them on chassis with ANSI A92.2 Category A, B, or C ratings. Working heights for overcenter Hi-Rangers top out at 42.8 to 75 feet (13 to 22.9 meters), with side reach capabilities from 34.3 to 53.2 ft (10.5 to 16.2 m). Side-mounted jib options provide these machines with material-handling capacities of 1,000 to 2,000 pounds (454 to 907 kilograms), depending on model, while their worker platforms can lift 350 to 700 lbs (159 to 318 kg). Overcenter Hi-Ranger models include the OPTIMA, HR, SCM, SC, and XT PRO Series.
Non-Overcenter. The non-overcenter bucket trucks in the Hi-Ranger lineup are available with optional boom compensation. These Category A, B, or C units are often used as distribution and transmission aerials. Their working heights range from 55 to 125 ft (16.8 to 38.1 m), and their side reach ratings range from 39.3 to 58.8 ft (12 to 17.9 m). Non-overcenter Hi-Rangers have 700- to 800-lb (318- to 363-kg) worker platform capacities. Side-mounted jib options provide material handling capabilities of up to 2,000 lbs (907 kg), while a top-mounted jib configuration can raise up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg) of materials. There are non-overcenter models with the OPTIMA name, as well as with TC, TCX, TM, and RMX model designations.
Telescoping. Hi-Rangers with telescoping booms come on Category B or C chassis. All come standard with boom compensation features. Some telescopic aerials in this group are compatible with both end-mount and side-mount platforms. Depending on the model, these trucks have one- or two-person platforms with 400 to 700 lbs (181 to 318 kg) of capacity. They can also hoist 800 to 1,500 lbs of materials for a variety of construction and repair tasks. Telescoping Hi-Rangers’ working heights range from 41.5 to 112 ft (12.6 to 34 m), while their side reach abilities max out at 20 to 63.3 ft (6.1 to 19.3 m). Hi-Ranger telescoping models include LT, LTM, TL Series, and L units.
Power Options
Terex also offers HyPower systems that can power the boom and other functions of a bucket truck without the need to run the engine. The company’s HyPower IM (idle mitigation) is an E-PTO (electric power take-off) plug-in system, while its HyPower Hybrid System turns a truck into a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The latter system is available on a bucket truck from the factory or as a retrofit kit.
Find The Right Hi-Ranger Crane
CraneTrader.com features a good selection of new and used Terex Hi-Ranger service trucks for sale.