An Overview of the Towable Lift

The towable lift is referred to by several names, such as cherry picker, man lift, basket crane, hydraladder, towable aerial lift, and towable boom lift. It is essentially a common type of aerial work platform that features either a flat platform or an open bucket at the end of a hydraulic supporting arm. What makes the towable lift different from other types of aerial work platforms is the fact that it is simply towed behind a truck unlike other units that are self standing and mounted onto trailers.  This article will provide you with everything you need to know about these helpful pieces of equipment.

The towable boom lift features an open bucket in most cases that can be easily worked from. This removes the need for the worker to get out of the machine, which is safer in most cases. There is less risk of falling out of the bucket and because the machine is insulated from electricity due to the rubber tires there is little to no risk of the operator getting an electric shock when working on power lines. The operator in these machines also typically has his own set of controls so getting into precisely the right location to work comfortably and efficiently is easy.

Even though the towable aerial lift was originally used for picking fruits in orchards, thus the name cherry picker, it is now used for a wide variety of applications. Most commonly, they can be found on the side of the street where they are used to work on telephone and power lines. When towns and cities put up Christmas decorations they will often use a towable lift as well. Even many fire engines these days are outfitted with a cherry picker instead of a simple ladder, and they can even be used to clean windows. In popular culture, they can be used during stage shows. For example Michael Jackson used one in some of his shows such as during his 1987 Bad tour.

If you are interested in purchasing towable lifts, you may want to first search for a used towable lift in order to save some money. If you can find a trustworthy seller you can often get a good deal. Use the Internet to your advantage and search for dealers or individual sellers near you who are offering this type of equipment. Although it can be tempting to purchase a machine that is located in another state, it is often not a good idea because if something goes wrong it will be difficult to get in touch with the seller. Buying from a dealer is the best route to take when possible because you have a better chance of getting a good piece of equipment. However, the price will be somewhat higher.