Looking at purchasing one to trim the neighbor's tree limbs that keep falling on my garage.
I found a Poulan that extends to 12 feet for $174 at Costco.
Is this a decent one, or is there something better out there?
I'm not afraid to spend more to get something that will last.
I HATE cheap tools that wear out or break.

I bought a Homelite Backpack blower once for $130.
It lasted 2 years.
I then bought an Echo commercial quality blower for ~$375....it's still going strong 5 years later.

 

I would stick with stihl, or redmax, the difference in price might be a lot but they are true commercial grade and buitl well, depends a little on how much you want to use it as well, and how well you store it ( stabil ) the cheapies also tend to skimp on safety devices, making them cheaper but potentially dangerous.

 

I've got a Stihl, had it for 4+ years and it's always ready. It costs more but it's worth it.

 

I trim a few trees now and then. I would think that no more than you are going to use it buying a more expesive one might just be a waste of money. At 174.00 that is probably cheaper than someone would come and trim it and you still have the tool to loan out to your good DTR friends.

 

For my occasional use, I bought an electric one at Home Depot for $99. Works great for my needs.

 

I'd hafta vote Stihl. I have a chainsaw that has tons of hours on it (original) and a concrete saw that has seen even more hours on it. Both are 1990 models and have never been apart (other than abuse repairs)

 

I have a Stihl HT75 that I prune about 375 peach trees with, and shooting lanes at the farm (deer camp). I run it 30-50 hrs a yr. Paid $650 7 yrs ago. Put in in the shop 1 time for tune-up. I just aint too good at sharpening it. I think it telescopes to 11'. Can't go wrong with a Stihl. (just put a p
ic of it in gallery, but don't know how to put it here) just my .02

Edit> Should have been $550

 

I hate to be "that guy", but my step father bought what I considered to be a "cheapo" gas model at Lowes and we used and abused several times this summer and it is showing no signs of stopping (or breaking). His is a Poulan, cost him about $135.00. I've personally dopped it twice, who knows what else it's been put through .

For the real limited use it's going to see, getting a commercial quality unit is a overkill IMO.

Why not get the neighbor to buck up and take care of his tree?

 

I'm leaning with the "Poulan might be enough for my two or three times a year use" school of thought.

The house next door is this schmuck's rental property.
The ONLY time he does maintenance on this house is when it becomes totally uninhabitable.
The rain gutters haven't been cleaned out in 10 years, the shrubs haven't been trimmed in 12 years, the basement gets wet when it rains, and all he's done is rented the house out with "Basement for storage only, as is" in the lease.
The only time he's trimmed any of his trees is when a LARGE branch fell and missed my bedroom roof by a matter of inches.
Oh, and he's rented it again to four 20-somethings who continue to park in front of my house.
so I continue to "soot" the side of their cars when I come and go.

I GOTTA move somewhere out of this area.............

 

Wonder if HOSS is paying there rent

 

Shovelhead
I cut trees alot i would say get a commercial one but. I have a troybuilt 4cycle one i bought at Lowes or Homedepot and it works great starts easy and has many attachments that can be added. I think it was 200. there is a pole saw attachment you can buy extra for 69.00. Im impressed with it . My other saws are all Styhl bang for the buck i think its worth it.

 

Hey Ed,
If that's all you're gonna use it,,, Dad has one like THIS that he has had for at least 20 years and it works great. You can snip branches up to 1" inch with the pull rope and I have sawed through branches 5" in dia. with the saw. Believe it or not, that pruning saw cuts very quickly with not much effort.
Just a thought,,,,, No messing with engines or dragging an extension cord.

 

I have one of those already Dennis.
I have some that I'll need to reach from lower branches or a ladder, so I am trying to avoid the push-pull on the pole thing while up in the air.
Plus, some gas powered is ALWAYS preferable.

 

Rent one, don't buy it. For as little use as you are going to use it that will work. If you don't like to rent, get a Stihl.

Any branches that extend over your property line are yours. You can trim anything in the plane.

 

So if the "plane" extends up and out at a 45* angle............