When fully collapsed, the pruners measure between 7' 6" and 8' 2" long and weigh under 16 pounds. They fit easily inside an 8-foot pickup truck bed with the tailgate closed, diagonally across a standard 6.5-foot bed with the tailgate up, atop vehicle roof racks, or extending through the cabin of larger SUVs and vans.

This is commonly used for: trimming tree branches overhanging roofs or driveways; removing storm-damaged limbs from the ground; clearing deadwood from mature shade trees; pruning fruit trees and tall ornamental hedges. It allows you to prune branches up to 16 feet high without dangerous ladder work, making it far safer than balancing with a standard chainsaw. For massive trunk cuts or branches over 20 feet high, a towable bucket lift or professional arborist is recommended.

Choose the gas HT131 for all-day continuous cutting across large properties where you need sustained power and unlimited run time with mixed fuel. Choose the battery HTA85 if you are working in noise-sensitive residential neighborhoods or prefer a lighter tool (14.6 lbs vs 16 lbs) with instant trigger starts, lower vibration, and zero exhaust fumes.

The telescoping shaft extends from 7' 6" up to 11' 6" on the gas model and 8' 2" to 12' 1" on the battery model, providing up to roughly 16 feet of standing reach depending on user height. Both models feature a 12-inch guide bar, which comfortably cuts limbs up to 6 to 8 inches in diameter.

Each rental includes a helmet with face and hearing protection, chainsaw chaps, bar and chain oil, a bar wrench, and a spare chain. Gas units include 1 gallon of 2-cycle mixed gas, while battery units come with a quick charger and two batteries.

The HTA85 includes two lithium-ion batteries that deliver roughly 40 minutes of active trigger run time each. The included charger brings a depleted battery to 80% charge in about 40 minutes and 100% in 70 minutes, allowing you to swap and charge continuously on standard 120V household power.

Always relieve limb weight before making a final cut by using a two-cut or three-cut method. Start with a small undercut on the bottom of the limb roughly one-third of the way through, then make your top cut slightly further out along the branch so it snaps cleanly without peeling bark or clamping down on the 12-inch bar.