What Is a Towable Boom Lift – An Ultimate Guide

What Is a Towable Boom Lift – An Ultimate Guide

Meta Description: Discover the ultimate guide to a towable boom lift and versatile hydraulic equipment for temporary elevated access. Learn about benefits, uses, and more.

This article explores the uses and benefits of a towable boom lift, a mobile elevated work platform easily transported between job sites. Towable booms provide safe, elevated access for industries like tree care, construction, and facility maintenance.

Their portable design makes them a versatile option for contractors and workers performing jobs requiring occasional lift access.

Key Takeaways

• Towable boom lifts, also known as towable aerial lifts, are versatile hydraulic equipment for temporary elevated access.
• These trailer-mounted boom lifts can be towed behind vehicles for quick setup at various job sites.
• Towable lifts offer a flat platform or a bucket lift for tasks such as cleaning windows or using a man lift.

What Is a Towable Boom Lift?

A towable boom lift, also called a towable aerial lift or towable articulating boom lift, is a type of hydraulic lifting equipment designed to provide temporary elevated access for various job sites and industries. Towable boom lifts can be easily transported from location to location by hitching to a truck or vehicle for towing.

Key Components and Design of a Towable Boom Lift

The main components of a towable boom lift include an articulating or jointed hydraulic arm, an operator basket or platform at the end of the arm for holding workers, and a trailer assembly mounted on rubber tires that can be towed behind a truck.

Towable boom lifts typically have electric shock, hydraulic, or diesel power sources to operate an insulated, non-conductive basket and controls. The basket or platform may be an open bucket or have fall protection rails and gates for safety.

How Does a Towable Lift Differ From Other Types of Lifts

• Mobility – Towable boom lifts can be easily transported from site to site by hitching to a truck or vehicle for towing, offering much greater mobility than stationary lifts.
• Setup – Towable lifts are simple and quick to set up, often taking just minutes compared to traditional boom lifts or cherry pickers that require a truck crane for placement.
• Access – The ability to tow behind lifts allows easy access to job sites with limited space or areas inaccessible by larger lift trucks, like fire stations or construction sites.
• Versatility – Towable boom lifts can position the basket in just the right location by driving the trailer and offer sufficient height and reach for various jobs, such as cleaning windows, electrical work, or lifting equipment.
• Cost – Renting a towable lift may prove more affordable than leasing or purchasing bucket trucks or scissor lifts when planned multiple projects require only occasional elevated access. Towable lifts provide good value through their easy transportation between temporary job sites.

Benefits of a Towable Boom Lift

Towable boom lifts provide many advantages over other types of equipment for jobs requiring temporary elevated work. Their mobile design allows for efficient transportation and setup.

1. Versatility and Mobility

One of the main benefits of towable boom lifts is their versatility and mobility. By towing the lift behind a truck, users can access multiple job sites and positions around each location.

This mobility makes towable lifts ideal for various temporary projects requiring elevated access, like cleaning windows, electrical work, or lifting equipment to the right location.

2. Ease Of Transportation And Setup

Towable boom lifts can be easily moved from one site to another for rental customers using a delivery service. Their compact trailer-mounted design takes up less space during transportation than bucket trucks.

Setup is also fast and simple, often taking just minutes to unhitch and deploy compared to other lifts that may require a crane for placement. This ease of towing and setup saves contractors both time and money.

Common Uses of Towable Boom Lifts

Towable boom lifts find versatile applications in industries and job sites requiring temporary elevated work. Their mobility makes them well-suited for several everyday tasks.

1. Tree Trimming and Fruit Picking

Tree care professionals and orchard workers often rely on towable booms to prune high branches and harvest fruits. Operators can safely reach the tree canopy with an insulated basket or bucket.

The lift’s mobility allows moving efficiently between trees without needing a more significant, stationary lift.

2. Extensive Holiday Decorating

Businesses and homeowners putting extensive decorations on rooftops or high treetops use towable booms to hang lights and ornaments safely. Easily driven into position, the right towable boom lift provides stable access to hard-to-reach areas for trimming and decorating.

3. Elevated Restoration Projects

Historic restoration contractors restoring intricate facades, murals, or statues use towable booms to access great details for precise repair and cleaning. The mobile lift enables working on-site without needing to remove fragile elements.