Folks, do any of you ave expierience wit a towable man lift? It seems they do decently on uneven/unpaved terrain. I need to fix the roll up shade louvers on my greenhouse and need to access the roof without leaning on it. Is it seems pretty straight forward I'm just wondering if there's any real gotchas.
Man Lift Rental
- Thread starter jhendric
- Start date
I operate and maintain a Genie TZ50/30 towable aerial lift at my work place. People die using aerial lifts, the same as with farm equipment, chainsaws, chippers, etc.. Never take for granted their potential to injure and kill.
Google "aerial lift machine safety" and learn the basics (i.e., power lines). Here's one: https://www.certifymeonline.net/blog/aerial-lift-safety-tips-aerial-work-platform-operators/
Educate yourself (Google) about aerial lift fall protection. You absolutely need an approved fall protection harness and lanyard. Often people are ejected out of the basket, crushed against trees/buildings, etc.. A belt only is not OSHA approved and will kill you if you are left dangling.
Again, weekend warriors as well as pros die in aerial lift accidents every week.
Google "aerial lift machine safety" and learn the basics (i.e., power lines). Here's one: https://www.certifymeonline.net/blog/aerial-lift-safety-tips-aerial-work-platform-operators/
Educate yourself (Google) about aerial lift fall protection. You absolutely need an approved fall protection harness and lanyard. Often people are ejected out of the basket, crushed against trees/buildings, etc.. A belt only is not OSHA approved and will kill you if you are left dangling.
Again, weekend warriors as well as pros die in aerial lift accidents every week.
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TurnipTruck
Well-known member
This forty-year-old towable boom manlift has been a lifesaver on three major personal projects. It’s not as agile as a Z-boom/articulating boom, and mine doesn’t auto-level, but it’s not $40k either.
We are trained and certified at work up to an 80’ squirtboom.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I use a JLG 50' towable a few times a year on parking lot lights. The only gotcha is that, at least the one I use, it has about 350 degrees of swing instead of going all the way around. If you're in the basket and have to go from back to front, it will only do it counterclockwise. Clockwise has a stop about half way there. Figure out which direction it will and won't go before you waste an hour getting it in the perfect position just to find out you're backwards.
redmondjp
Well-known member
I used to work for a major aerial lift manufacturer. Most of the accidents referenced above have to do with either driving while elevated and going off a curb (hard to judge the ground elevation changes from way up in the air), or having the heavy self-driving machines (not the lighter towable ones being discussed here) driving over an underground void (stormwater tank, septic tank, or other hidden void space underground) and dropping a tire in, which will definitely cause a fishing-pole-type whipping of the extended boom which of course can lead to a serious injury accident.
The self-driving boom lifts are extremely heavy due to the counterweight on the machine - my plant made 20' to 34' lifts, and we had counterweights in the 8K to 16K pound weight range - that was just the counterweight, not the total machine weight which was much higher. You can have a very high point load of 5-6K pounds of weight on less than a square foot of tire contact area under one corner of the machine, so this is what can cause failure of hidden underground structures that were not designed for that kind of point load (like a plastic drainage culvert buried a foot deep).
If you use common sense, 99.7% of lift accidents can easily be prevented. The trailered boom lifts have outriggers and self-leveling systems. Depending upon your soil conditions, you may want to install wooden blocks/pads underneath the outrigger feet to distribute the force over a wider area. Use your own judgement and common sense here - if you deploy the outriggers and a pad pushes into the soil a few inches or more, well durr, better widen the pad's footprint!
I would not hesitate to use such a machine at all myself; I did extensive field testing of our products as do all lift manufacturers. Based upon your described situation I believe that you have correctly chosen the right tool for the job. Trim up any trees on your property and clean out your gutters while you have the machine as well!
The self-driving boom lifts are extremely heavy due to the counterweight on the machine - my plant made 20' to 34' lifts, and we had counterweights in the 8K to 16K pound weight range - that was just the counterweight, not the total machine weight which was much higher. You can have a very high point load of 5-6K pounds of weight on less than a square foot of tire contact area under one corner of the machine, so this is what can cause failure of hidden underground structures that were not designed for that kind of point load (like a plastic drainage culvert buried a foot deep).
If you use common sense, 99.7% of lift accidents can easily be prevented. The trailered boom lifts have outriggers and self-leveling systems. Depending upon your soil conditions, you may want to install wooden blocks/pads underneath the outrigger feet to distribute the force over a wider area. Use your own judgement and common sense here - if you deploy the outriggers and a pad pushes into the soil a few inches or more, well durr, better widen the pad's footprint!
I would not hesitate to use such a machine at all myself; I did extensive field testing of our products as do all lift manufacturers. Based upon your described situation I believe that you have correctly chosen the right tool for the job. Trim up any trees on your property and clean out your gutters while you have the machine as well!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I recently used a 35' jlg at a buddy's house for a couple days and it did great. A little bouncy when all the way out, but it only felt uncomfortable when I was seeing how high it would go.
I'm renting the same model in the coming weeks for some work around the house.
I'm renting the same model in the coming weeks for some work around the house.
tstaude
Well-known member
I did two days of tree trimming on one in May, the 50' unit with the articulating basket is awesome.
My local Ace had the best price.
Definitely make sure you have firm ground below if you are going way up
My local Ace had the best price.
Definitely make sure you have firm ground below if you are going way up
IndyGarage
Well-known member
I've used several as a DIYer. I currently have a 35 foot Genie. It's electric and weighs about 10,000 lbs. It's not bad on level paved ground, and very useful. I stupidly tried to take it down a not too steep grade on a driveway and it very nearly got away from me. So I would say it's more dangerous than riding a motorcycle, for example.
I would say if you are very careful and reasonably handy go for it. If you aren't very mechanically inclined - like doing your own brakes on your car is too much for you, then I would recommend you don't do it.
I would say if you are very careful and reasonably handy go for it. If you aren't very mechanically inclined - like doing your own brakes on your car is too much for you, then I would recommend you don't do it.
dcg9381
Well-known member
I've used these a bunch (tow behind) - in the 35' and 50' variety. They can feel a bit unsettling (bounce) but you get used to it.
They have "some" ability to self level on uneven ground, but it has limits. And you may have to detach them to get them to level when the ground is substantially un-level.
They take a LOT of room - consider the length of the boom and tow vehicle.
The only odd thing that I'd caution, the 50' rig had limited rotation in one direction. The other direction, it'd do about 270 degrees, so you need some planning if you have to get it close to a structure and swing it more than 180 degrees.
I typically bring them in with the truck and then attach them to my Polaris SxS for maneuverability. A front hitch would be a big help if you've got a tight spot.
They have "some" ability to self level on uneven ground, but it has limits. And you may have to detach them to get them to level when the ground is substantially un-level.
They take a LOT of room - consider the length of the boom and tow vehicle.
The only odd thing that I'd caution, the 50' rig had limited rotation in one direction. The other direction, it'd do about 270 degrees, so you need some planning if you have to get it close to a structure and swing it more than 180 degrees.
I typically bring them in with the truck and then attach them to my Polaris SxS for maneuverability. A front hitch would be a big help if you've got a tight spot.