Aerial lifts are a versatile and valuable piece of material handling equipment. Click through this presentation for quick tips on what to consider before you purchase. For more purchasing tips and points, visit our full-length purchasing guide: http://www.purchasing.com/construction-equipment/aerial-lifts/purchasing-guide/

1. Aerial Lift
Purchasing
Guide

2. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
From construction sites, to warehouses, to retail environments,
aerial lifts have proven to be a valuable piece of material handling
equipment. This guide will help you find the right lift for your
needs.
This guide will review the following:
Types
Specifications
Accessories & Attachments
Questions to Ask a Dealer
For a more in-depth review of the these topics, please see our full length
Purchasing Guide: http://www.purchasing.com/construction-equipment/aerial-lifts/
purchasing-guide/

3. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
Types
Which aerial lift you decide to buy, greatly depends on what you need to reach.
Below are a selection of common aerial lifts to be familiar with.
 Scissor Lifts – Averaging around a 30 foot reach, scissor lift’s big
advantage is their increased lifting capacity. But keep in mind,
scissor lifts have no horizontal reach. New lifts average $12,000-
$70,000.
Spider Lift
Scissor Lift
 Spider Lifts – featuring stabilizing booms
(legs), these lifts can collapse into a compact
form for easy maneuvering indoors and out.
New lifts average $15,000-$115,000.
 Vehicle Mounted – Commonly known as a “bucket truck”,
vehicle mounted cherry pickers are highly transportable and are
common in numerous industries. New lifts average $22,500-
$94,000.
Bucket Truck

4. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
Types
 Boom Lifts – the most versatile of all aerial lifts,
boom lifts can reach up, down, backwards,
sideways, and even up and over. Boom lifts come in
two common types:
 Telescopic booms have incredible horizontal
reach (up to 80 feet) and are extremely
common in construction.
 Articulating booms save a lot of time as the
operator can move side to side without having
to move the base. These boom lifts also have a
lot of “up-and-over” reach ability.
 New boom lifts average between $22,000-$210,000.
Telescopic Boom
Articulating Boom

5. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
Specifications
Because they are so versatile, aerial lifts come in a number of shapes and sizes. It’s
important to have an understanding of what main specifications you’ll be selecting
from:
Power
Size
 Electric: great for working indoors; no fumes
 LP or Propane: enhanced mobility as canisters and tanks can easily be
moved and stored. Offers more power than electric
 Diesel: provides the most power and are common where rough terrain
travel is necessary
 Hybrid or Bi-energy: dual power options allow more flexibility and the
power you need, when you need it
Size will be one of the first consideration you make.
 All aisles and doorways will need to be measured
 Base weight should be considered if you’ll be using the lift on fragile floors
(like gymnasiums)

6. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
Specifications
Drive
Systems
 Tracks: able to go over any grade and landscape, tracked lifts
are extremely capable and often the largest lifts on the jobsite
 Towable: folding legs make this lift very compact and easily
transported. While smaller in size, they often reach very
impressive heights
 2 Wheel Drive: larger than their towable counterparts, 2 wheel
self drive lifts can maneuver up most small grades and usually
reach higher than a towable model
 4 Wheel Drive : this heavy duty model will reach higher and
maneuver up steeper slopes than most other models (besides
a track driven lift)
Towable Lift
Track Driven Lift

7. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
Accessories & Attachments
Certain packages and accessories can greatly increase safety and work efficiency
once your aerial work platform is in place.
Cutting and Welding Packages
•Attached hoses supply power and clean up capability, allowing workers to operate more efficiently and safely.
Glazier Package
•Allows your window crew to more easily install glass while significantly reducing worker fatigue.
Panel Carrier
•A simple trough mounted to the side of the lift to carry panels and drywall.
Pipe Rack
•Stores pipes, conduit, and other material off the deck, freeing up more work space.
Deck Extension
•Extends the deck horizontally, adding “up and over” reach as well as adding more deck work space.

8. Aerial Lift Purchasing Guide
Questions to Ask a Dealer
Will dealer conduct operator training? Online or in-person?
What safety accessories and features are available for
installation prior to deliver?
If repairs are needed, will they be done onsite, or will the
lift need to be transported back to the manufacturer?
What financing options are available?

9. Thank You
Remember, for a more in-depth review of the topics mentioned here,
please see our full-length Purchasing Guide:
http://www.purchasing.com/construction-equipment/aerial-lifts/purchasing-guide/
© 2014, Purchasing.com, All Rights Reserved.

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