An aerial lift is a must-have machine for any task involving elevated, difficult-to-reach areas. It helps workforces complete jobs safely and efficiently. Many industries rely on this type of equipment, including:
Aerial lifts come in numerous configurations, suiting them to different tasks and functions. Therefore, you have a few options to choose from if you’re in the market for an aerial lift. This guide will dive into spider aerial lifts and traditional boom lifts. We’ll explore the benefits, disadvantages and standard uses of each type, helping you make the most informed decision between the two.
Also called “compact tracked lifts,” spider lifts are lightweight, track-operated aerial lifts. They are designed for maneuvering high elevations and hard-to-reach spots, like narrow alleyways and uneven ground.
You can also work on steep inclines within the manufacturer’s gradeability limit. Remember — you should never attempt to raise or extend the boom while on sloped terrain. Only do so on firm, level ground.
A spider lift resembles a traditional boom lift but has a smaller base with four legs or outriggers that hold it firmly to the ground, giving it additional stability. Conversely, regular boom lifts typically have wheels.
Spider lifts can serve both indoor and outdoor applications, seamlessly reaching areas with overhead obstructions and accessibility challenges. Their outreach can exceed their height, letting them work around buildings, trees and other obstacles. Because they help work crews reach areas unobtainable by other machinery, spider lifts are ideal for the following tasks:
There are three types of spider lifts:
These lifts also vary depending on their uses and capabilities, like what heights they can reach. Whether construction projects, landscaping tasks or aerial advertising, spider lifts are a staple for nearly any job that requires aerial work.
A boom lift — also called a “man lift,” “telehandler,” “cherry picker,” or “basket crane,” among other things — is an aerial lift that can reach elevated heights. It has an attached work platform and hydraulic arm that moves the platform up and down.
There are two main types of boom lifts:
An articulating boom lift has an arm with pivot joints or knuckles, letting it bend in multiple directions. That’s why they’re often called “knuckle lifts.” The arm’s base is mounted to a turntable, enabling it to make a full circular rotation.
These features give the articulating boom lift more flexibility than its telescopic counterpart. It can reach tighter and more challenging areas, bending around beams and corners with ease. It can also accommodate both indoor and outdoor workspaces.
Due to its narrow and lightweight nature, articulating boom lifts can assist workers with the following tasks:
Articulating boom lifts and spider lifts are quite similar in their construction. You can see that they have many of the same uses. The main difference is that standard articulating boom lifts use wheels, while spider lifts have tracks and outriggers. Articulating boom lifts can also reach greater heights.
A telescopic boom lift has an extendable arm, allowing it to reach various heights. Unlike its articulated cousin, however, it has a straight, nonarticulated mast attached to a rotating turntable. This mast can only extend in a straight line and swing into position rather than bending in different directions. For this reason, telescopic boom lifts are also referred to as “straight-mast lifts.”
This type of lift has an exceptionally long reach. It usually has a small bucket that holds one or two people at once, suiting it to specialized tasks by a single worker, such as:
You can find diesel-powered models with inflated tires for rough outdoor terrains and electric models with solid tires for indoor applications. Telescopic boom lifts are great for reaching multi-story buildings in large open spaces.
However, they’re often less ideal for worksites with limited space. Still, most telescopic boom lifts can reach greater heights than articulating boom lifts.
Spider lifts have many advantages that make them a go-to for work crews. Below are the different benefits spider lifts can bring to your job site.
Spider lifts are compact and light, allowing them to fit through standard doorways, navigate tight spaces, climb steep slopes and maintain stability on irregular surfaces. You can work in various terrains and job sites, maneuvering to stable, comfortable and convenient positions to perform aerial tasks.
You can tow most spider lifts behind pickup trucks due to their lightweight nature, simplifying transportation immensely. Their compact design also makes them easy to store when not in use.
Spider lifts have numerous qualities that can help increase productivity and efficiency on your worksite:
You can experience more uptime and greater customer satisfaction due to the ability to complete jobs faster.
Spider lifts have a range of features to improve safety on your job site, such as:
Remember that safety features on their own aren’t enough — your team should undergo extensive safety training to ensure they operate the lift properly.
Spider lifts can tackle a variety of tasks, allowing you to complete a wide array of jobs. They also have a low ground pressure, letting them work on soft or uneven surfaces without inflicting damage. For these reasons, spider lifts are used across multiple industries, including landscaping, facility maintenance, stadium upkeep and construction.
Next, let’s look at some worthy advantages of traditional boom lifts.
Telescopic and articulating boom lifts tend to excel at greater heights than other types of lifts. Many traditional boom lifts can reach heights up to 185 feet or more. In comparison, a typical scissor lift can only reach heights of just under 60 feet. This type of lift only moves up and down and doesn’t have any horizontal reach.
All boom lifts have a horizontal reach to some degree, so you’ll need a boom lift for any task you cannot access vertically. However, scissor lifts tend to have larger platforms than both spider lifts and traditional boom lifts, allowing them to accommodate more workers and materials at a time.
Like spider lifts, traditional boom lifts can suit multiple tasks, jobs and worksites. Boom lifts let you work at impressive heights and perform several functions, such as cleaning buildings, installing windows, fixing power lines and putting up stages for outdoor performances.
Many traditional boom lifts can comfortably handle material loads of up to 500 pounds. This makes them suitable for heavy-duty tasks, like bringing large bundles of shingles up to a roof. They can also retain optimal stability while carrying these hefty loads.
Due to their impressive height-reaching capabilities, traditional boom lifts — especially telescopic models — are ideal for tasks that require extended horizontal and vertical outreach. You can also move over different obstacles with ease. For instance, articulating boom lifts are often used to perform inspections since they can easily move over parking structures and other stationary obstacles.
Here are some other examples:
While spider lifts have many perks and features, it’s also important to note some of their drawbacks.
As mentioned above, most boom lifts can reach heights of 185 feet or more. Meanwhile, many spider lift models can only reach heights of just over 75 feet when fully extended. This makes traditional boom lifts better for higher-reach applications than spider lifts.
Spider lifts tend to have more weight limitations than traditional boom lifts due to their compact, lightweight design. Of course, payload capacity — the maximum weight an aerial lift can safely carry — will vary depending on the model you choose.
Traditional boom lifts have various features that make them a worthy addition to your job site. Like spider lifts, however, they also have a few limitations.
Most traditional boom lifts are considerably heavier than spider lifts. To put it in perspective, spider lifts typically fall in the range of 6,000 to 9,000 pounds. Meanwhile, a traditional boom lift might weigh anywhere from 10,000 to over 30,000 pounds.
Naturally, traditional boom lifts’ bulky, heavyweight design makes them far more difficult to store and transport. Fortunately, you can always consult a professional for these services if you don’t have the means to store or transport your boom lift.
Between their weight and extensive reach capabilities, traditional boom lifts can pose some challenges when working in tight, confined spaces. Spider lifts are better for maneuvering smaller spaces and moving between obstacles.
For instance, if the job requires you to navigate around trees, through doorways or into slender alleys, a traditional boom lift may not be practical. If you’re thinking of renting or purchasing a traditional boom lift, it’s important to invest in a model that accommodates your workspace.
Your boom lift should comfortably move, turn and fit around other pieces of equipment. If you’re working with uneven or rough terrain, make sure you choose a boom lift with larger, more durable tires for better maneuverability.
To recap, we’ll look at the best use cases for spider lifts and traditional boom lifts to help you make the most feasible decision. You could benefit from a spider lift if you frequently work in the following environments:
On the other hand, you may prefer a traditional boom lift in these situations:
Now that you know the best uses of spider lifts versus boom lifts, you can select the right type for your unique requirements. At Wellbuilt Equipment Inc., we have both spider lifts and traditional boom lifts available for rent and purchase.
Since 1987, our mission has been to provide the public with safe, efficient machinery. We’re your one-stop-shop for all things aerial lifts, including sales, rentals, repairs, inspections and maintenance. We also offer free on-site estimates and flexible financing options, making it even simpler to get the solutions you need.
For more information Articulated Boom Lifts, Electric Articulated Boom Lift, Diesel Articulated Boom Lift, please get in touch with us!