Fred Bunjes spent several years looking for a RUTHMANN V80 cherry picker before he finally found it in 2018: The STEIGER® V80 was originally in service with the Bundesbahn in Regensburg, then with a painting company, before he discovered it at an agricultural machinery dealer near Nuremberg.
Inspired by our last report in Experience about Carsten Schiedrum’s V80, which was on display at the VW Nutzfahrzeuge-Center in Hanover, Fred Bunjes shared with us his “Great Inspection” of the V80 on a 1966 VW T1.
After buying it, he dismantled the complete cherry picker and disassembled it into all its individual parts. Hydraulic cylinders, valves, lines and pump were overhauled and repaired. Other parts such as bushings, bolts, switches and cables were replaced. Fred Bunjes even went one step further and milled the gearbox, which was also to be replaced, from a solid block. The VW T1 flatbed truck was also completely overhauled.
In the spring of 2022, after about 1500 hours of work, the time had finally come and Fred Bunjes was able to drive the first mission with the VW 80 in almost mint condition.
“You can hardly add up parts and expenses, you might as well buy a new one,” Fred Bunjes states reflectively. “But it was a great project and I would do it again just the same!”
