Comparing Telescopic Boom Lift Brands: How To Pick The Right One
Providing both horizontal and vertical reach, telescopic boom lifts are valuable pieces of construction equipment on the job site. A type of aerial lift, they provide greater reach than scissor lifts but typically have a reduced work platform.
These aerial work platforms are also called straight boom lifts and are especially great for work in open spaces as well as buildings and structures. Comprised of a platform or bucket with a long arm attached to a grounded base, some models can reach heights of over 180 feet.
Great for jobs like erecting scaffolding, painting walls and ceilings, hanging signs, lighting work, and more, these types of man lifts can take you from 39-186 feet with a variety of features and attachments to maximize your productivity.
With several boom lift suppliers, it can often be difficult to make a decision on which manufacturer to go with for your toughest projects. This article should serve as a guide to help you decide which brand provides the best specs and features for your next job.
Telescoping Boom Lifts Brands
To skip ahead to the summary of any one of the following brands, click below:
JLG
JLG is one of the most popular boom lift brands in the industry. Consistently delivering high productivity while offering features such as self-leveling capability and faster lifting, there is a good reason why these lifts are a favorite of construction workers across North America.
Their smallest line of models are their two 400 series, the 400 crawler series and the 400 series, with the first being tracked models and the second being four-wheeled lifts. Offering mainly 40 ft boom lifts with large platforms, these boom lifts provide industry-leading capacities. Featuring the fastest lift and drive speeds in their class, they are guaranteed to help your team be more efficient and effective.
Moving up to their mid-sized telescoping boom lifts, the 600 series, JLG provides excellent 60 ft boom lift models. With increased platform space for workers and tools, it provides the space you need to get the job done comfortably. JLG provides three versions of the 600 series: the crawler (tracked), wheeled, and self-leveling lifts. Each provides height options for projects up to 6 stories high.
JLG's self-leveling capabilities allow the machine to automatically even itself on slopes up to 10 degrees, even while simultaneously driving at full height. This feature eliminates prep work, reduces time spent repositioning, and maximizes workplace effectiveness. Their crawler series is known for its ability to handle any terrain, be it grass, asphalt, or mud, and is a great choice for rougher environments.
The largest differentiator between JLG and the competition is the JLG Ultra Series. With the highest working ranges and platform capacities, these models can take you up to a mind-boggling 185 feet in the air. The tallest boom lifts in the industry, these straight booms allow you to work on buildings up to 18 stories tall; an ability you won't find with any other brand.
Tough, productive, and efficient, JLG's boom lifts are some of the best on the market. No matter the terrain of your job site or the scale of the project, you can't go wrong with a JLG.
Genie
The only competitor with JLG in terms of maximum reach, Genie provides the SX-180, a telescopic boom lift that can reach a platform height of up to 180 feet. Engineered to enhance working efficiency and increase horizontal reach, Genie's 25 models deliver some of the industry-best reach and capacity.
Built to safely and quickly lift operators, their 100+ ft boom lifts are tailored to job sites in the oil and gas industries and commercial or industrial construction. Some of their lifts, like the S-60 XC, have the capacity to lift up to three people, increasing your team's productivity and helping your projects get done quicker.
Genie's smaller models, such as the S-40 HF and S-45 HF, may only reach platform heights nearing 40 feet but can have massive benefits on the job site. Designed to perform heavy-duty jobs in sensitive environments, these small boom lifts can maneuver over sand and turf environments. "Floating" over soft surfaces during operation, these models are perfect for when your job site could be damaged by the more aggressive tread of regular rough terrain tires.
Perfect for work in areas with limited access, Genie's boom lifts offer incredible operational ability. A top aerial lift brand, they know how to make the equipment that contractors want, and these models are certainly no exception.
Skyjack
Although they only provide six models, Skyjack's straight boom lifts are excellent machines with some of the premiere features on the market. When extended horizontal and vertical outreach is key for the job site, a Skyjack model offers precise positioning paired with high-capacity platforms and some of the best platform heights for medium-sized projects.
With their EasyDrive system, Skyjack boom lift controls are always in the orientation of the operator, regardless of how the machine or platform is positioned. This reduces confusion and eliminates the need for color-coded errors to determine which way you're going to move when you direct the joystick.
Another excellent feature provided by Skyjack is SkyCoded, a proven and reliable control system that makes Skyjack's models easier to troubleshoot. This reduces maintenance and repair costs and allows you to minimize downtime when your lift isn't working.
Reaching up to 80 ft boom lifts with their SJ86 model, these telescopic lifts are great for medium-scale projects. With their product line ACCESSORYZERS, Skyjack provides a full range of attachments to make your machine as versatile as it can be. Whether it's getting materials to the elevated work site, protecting equipment from the weather, or enhancing your productivity, there is an accessory for every task.
Read our blog about the best boom lift attachments.
Reliable, efficient, and decked out with all the features you could want, Skyjack boom lifts are good for any occasion. Their high platform capacity allows you to load up with workers and tools to maximize your productivity, and they make for great rentals on any job site.
Haulotte
Offering seven models including the HT46 RTJ O, HT67 RTJ PRO, and HT132 RTJ PRO, Haulotte develops a wide range of lifts to meet contractor needs, whatever the working environment. Haulotte boom lifts provide optimal comfort and safety and perform tasks with ease, no matter the terrain.
Easy to use and reaching a max height of almost 132 feet, these lifts are some of the best available on the market. Equipped with continuous 360-degree rotation and oscillating axles, Haulotte's models provide optimum productivity to operators working on public construction sites, landscaping projects, or restoration jobs.
Even their largest boom lifts have outstanding rough terrain driving features, making them great options for muddy or uneven ground. The self-diagnosis tool integrated with the lower control box allows you to easily determine any issues with your machine, and minimize downtime before it's back up and running.
With smooth and precise controls, increased safety features, and a fully modular basket for quick and easy repairs, Haulotte telescoping boom lifts make your day-to-day projects easier. Strong, quick, and maneuverable, you can't have a conversation about the best boom lift brands without having Haulotte near the top of your list.
Snorkel
A well-known brand in the aerial lift industry, Snorkel offers 11 excellent models. Although most are smaller lifts, they also manufacture the largest lift in the industry. Even with most of their models not achieving the height of some of their top competitors, they still provide powerful boom lifts that should not be overlooked.
The Snorkel 400S is the smallest model in their product lineup. A mid-sized telescoping lift that reaches 46.5 feet in platform height, it's powered by four-wheel drive and delivers incredible rough terrain performance. Highly capable and versatile, the 400S provides great performance in a compact frame.
Up to the task of challenging job sites, many Snorkel boom lifts, such as the TB120, have superb ground clearance for tackling bumpy terrain. Their largest model, the 2100SJ, reaches an incredible working height of over 200 ft. With excellent all-terrain performance, it's hard to argue against this model as one of the best in the world.
Snorkel is consistently a top manufacturer of all aerial lifts, and that goes for their telescoping boom lifts too. With some of the best terrain-handling capabilities in the market, if you have a job site that includes a difficult work environment, keep Snorkel boom lifts at the top of your mind when making your brand decision.
MEC
MEC telescoping boom lifts won't blow you away with their height or vast selection - they only offer six models - but they do have one unique feature... 3,000 lbs in platform capacity. This incredible figure comes with their Titan models which have a scissor lift-like bucket on a telescoping boom lift that reaches up to 60 feet.
With easily the best platform capacity in the industry, you can work with more people and equipment at your disposal without needing to constantly descend. Offering three different steering modes, including two-wheel, four-wheel, and crab steer, you can get in closer to work areas and truly maximize the abilities of your machine.
Full-featured and robust lightweight, these boom lifts offer three proportional joysticks for better maneuverability and visibility. Increasing your productivity the second they show up on the job site, a MEC boom lift is a great choice for any contractor.
Rent A Telescoping Boom Lift
Although some of the brands above offer similar features in terms of height, platform size, and overall capability, there are still some key distinctions. Make sure to think about the maximum height you need your boom lift rental to achieve, which may narrow down your possibilities.
Manufacturers like Skyjack, JLG, or Genie are best if you're looking to equip your lift with attachments to maximize its job site versatility, while brands like MEC are best for platform capacity. But no matter what kind of boom lift you're looking for, we're confident you can find it among the many available models.
If you came looking for an overview of each boom lift brand, we hope this guide has been useful in helping you determine what size man lift you will need for your next construction site. Whether you're looking to do demolition, renovation, or construction, we want to help you find the boom lift rental that's right for you.
To make your telescoping boom lift rental, visit the DOZR marketplace and find the exact class of equipment you need for your next project.
