30.05.2006

HWS adds 30 year old Ruthmann

HWS Verhuur BV of Leiden, Holland has renovated a 30 year old Ruthman truck mounted lift on a classic VW chassis and added it to its fleet.

The company purchased the classic machine from a painting company last year, it was still being used on a daily basis. The lift and the chassis had both been built in 1976 as a dedicated aerial lift.
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The 30 year old lift arrives at HWS

HWS dissembled the lift and the chassis down to the last nut and bolt documenting and photographing it at each stage of the process. You can see some example of those photographs below. A speciality coachbuilder restored the chassis While HWS staff worked on rebuilding the aerial lift.
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The finished product

As part of the restoration the lift was also upgraded to current safety standards including an overload system. .

Once the lift and chassis were bought back together it has been used for a number of promotional purposes. While the unit is not intended for regular rental operations, the standard of the restoration would allow it to out as a special request.
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A speciality coachbuilder restored the chassis

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The dissasembly begins

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The dashboard

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The lift was also stripped down to the last nut and bolt with all new seals

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The lifts subframe

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The booms and platform

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Once chassis is primed ready for respray

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Once stripped the chassis is prepared for respraying

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The frame is repaired and resprayed

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The chassis is almost complete in HWS colours

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Like new after 30 years

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The 1976 VW/Ruthmann T2

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Note the size of the platform