Aerial Lift Rental Guide

Renting aerial lifts is an excellent way to use the latest technology, boost productivity and complete outstanding work while saving money. Various types of aerial lifts are available for construction, maintenance, painting, installation and filming. Find the ideal option for your next project — from vertical personnel lifts perfect for indoor applications to large articulating boom lifts.

Optimize your rental strategy and maximize your experience with these tips for renting aerial equipment. You can increase your cost savings by choosing quality machinery, determining the ideal rental duration and scheduling tasks accordingly. 

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Types of Aerial Lifts

Different types of aerial lifts feature unique functional designs and serve various purposes. Consider how the following can meet your upcoming project needs.

Articulating Boom Lift

An articulating boom lift features a jointed arm reaching up to 80 feet. People also refer to this type of lift as a knuckle boom because its knuckles or joints enable the arm to maneuver over barriers and obstacles. 

An articulating boom lift is an excellent option for challenging sites because it’s highly versatile in smaller, narrow spaces. You can precisely adjust your platform positions in nearly any direction with advanced user controls and multiple pivot points. Whether you need to move the platform vertically or horizontally, you can easily maneuver over barriers such as branches, structures and power lines to reach the precise space you need to work.

Telescopic Boom Lift

A telescopic boom lift uses one or multiple telescoping sections to reach heights up to 135 feet. Also known as a straight or stick boom, this lift provides excellent vertical and horizontal reach due to its length. A telescopic boom lift’s platform extends straight out from its frame and provides superior stability, making it an excellent option for working on job sites with challenging terrain over extended periods.

Scissor Lift

A scissor lift is a mobile platform featuring a stack of crossed cylinders that raise and lower it. The accordion-like design enables a scissor lift to extend vertically and lift workers up to 43 feet. Some scissor lift models can remain mobile while extended, making it easy to work on systems such as lighting fixtures and HVAC equipment without interruption. A scissor lift is ideal for any situation that typically requires scaffolding or a ladder.

Vertical Personnel Lift

Vertical personnel lifts are compact and narrow enough to fit through most doorways and passenger elevators, making them perfect for warehouse use. A vertical personnel lift, also called a one-man lift, can elevate a single worker up to 31 feet. Its lightweight build makes it an excellent choice for indoor repair work, and it leaves room for materials, equipment and tools near the machine’s base.

Aerial Lift Applications

Aerial lifts are versatile, enabling multiple uses. You can rent a lift for any of the following industry applications.

Construction

Aerial lifts are essential in construction, especially on complex jobs. This equipment provides the stability your team needs to confidently work on heightened structures such as skyscrapers or bridge decks.

Articulating boom lifts are ideal for construction work on challenging sites with various obstacles. Choose a telescopic boom lift if your job site features rough terrain.

Landscaping and Forestry

A lift can be highly versatile when performing forestry or large-scale landscaping work. An articulating or telescopic boom lift can move your workers high enough to trim trees safely.

Mining

While work crews typically use aerial lifts to move upward, they also work well for below-ground applications. Miners must often maintain mine infrastructure and access difficult-to-reach spaces such as tunnels. Articulating and telescopic aerial lifts enable miners to maneuver around obstacles and work on elevated structures such as headframes and mineral processing plants.

Outdoor and Indoor Maintenance

Aerial lifts are excellent for maintenance work. You can use a lift for the following:

  • Piping or electrical repairs
  • HVAC inspection or maintenance
  • Lighting fixture work

The maintenance you perform determines the aerial lift you need. Articulating and telescopic boom lifts are ideal for outdoor applications, while scissor and vertical personnel lifts are best for indoor work.

Power Industry Work

Scissor and vertical personnel lifts enable workers to safely reach power lines, electrical poles and transmission towers. Lifts also make it easier to install, inspect, maintain and repair power lines when necessary. Articulating boom lifts can help you maneuver around obstacles to access utility infrastructure and power lines.

Oil and Gas

The oil and gas industry uses aerial lifts to reach various equipment and structures. You can use an aerial lift to perform the following tasks:

  • Pipeline inspection and maintenance
  • Oil rig operation, inspection and maintenance
  • New safety equipment installation on oil rigs
  • Smokestack repainting

Oil and gas industry professionals typically use articulating and telescopic boom lifts to work on structures and equipment.

Painting and Cleaning

You can also use an aerial lift to clean or paint the sides of tall structures. Aerial lifts offer much more stability than ladders and scaffolding, making them the best option for upholding safety standards. Scissor or vertical personnel lifts are typically ideal for indoor painting, but you may need an articulating or telescopic boom lift for high outdoor surfaces.

Media 

The entertainment industry often relies on aerial lifts for filming. For example, a llft can help a camera crew get the perfect angle for a shot, and a sports stadium could mount cameras on lifts to capture various perspectives of a game’s action. During an award show, camera operators may climb on an articulating boom lift to smoothly follow a performer’s movements around a venue or stage.

Advantages of Renting Aerial Lifts

Renting aerial lifts for your upcoming projects offers the following benefits.

Cost Savings

Renting equipment can significantly lower your company’s overhead costs. Rather than investing in expensive machines with depreciating value, you can pay smaller rental fees to complete your jobs. Renting equipment also saves you time and money on maintenance and repairs. You don’t have to pay for upkeep unless you cause damage.

Efficiency

Aerial lift rentals can boost project efficiency. You can quickly handle your project tasks and unexpected challenges with high-quality equipment. 

The Ability to Try the Latest Models

Renting an aerial lift is a fantastic opportunity to try the latest model without putting a dent in your budget. You can discover what it’s like to operate the best equipment on the market, and you may even discover one you want to purchase.

Higher-Quality Work and a Better Reputation

When you use the best equipment featuring the latest technology, you can perform higher-quality work and complete projects on time. Renting is an effective way to increase client satisfaction, exceed expectations, boost your brand recognition and increase revenue as happy clients recommend your services to others.

Does Your Project Need an Aerial Lift?

An aerial lift is beneficial in any situation requiring your workers to access heights. Consider renting aerial lifts for projects that would usually require scaffolding or ladders. Replacing these tools with more sophisticated machinery can significantly increase job site safety, efficiency and productivity due to their flexibility and mobility.

Aerial Lift Safety Standards

Precautions are essential when operating or using heavy equipment. Comply with regulations and keep yourself and your workers safe with the following tips.

  • Inspect each lift before use: Inspecting an aerial lift ensures it is in excellent working condition. Test every control and check for visible damage. Rental companies thoroughly inspect lifts before and after rental, but performing a safety inspection when a lift arrives on your work site is still beneficial.
  • Limit operation to authorized personnel: Only a trained, authorized operator should control and use a lift. Educate your employees and ensure they can use the equipment correctly before operating a lift.
  • Ensure each operator maintains proper positioning: Workers should stand firmly on the lift basket’s floor at all times. Operators must avoid sitting on, leaning over or climbing on the basket’s edge.
  • Require employees to wear body belts: Each employee using a lift must wear a body belt and lanyard that securely attaches to the lift’s basket or boom. This safety equipment prevents falls. Workers should never wear climbers while working from an aerial lift.
  • Keep a lift stationary with the boom elevated: Unless an aerial lift’s design lets it move with an elevated boom, you should keep it still while the boom is in a working position with people in the basket.
  • Follow manufacturer load limits: Manufacturers determine safe load limits to prevent lifts from tipping. Ensure the loads you lift or move on a job site are below the lift’s load limit to avoid accidents and injuries.
  • Use the proper stabilization components when necessary: A lift’s brakes must always be on unless the machine is in motion. Additionally, you should position the brakes on a solid surface or pads if you use outriggers. Use wheel chocks for extra stability when working on an incline.
  • Ensure employees communicate while operating lifts: Lifts typically have upper- and lower-level controls. The employee in the lift’s basket must give permission for the operator to override the upper controls with the lower controls, unless an emergency occurs. Ensure employees understand these rules and talk to each other while operating a lift together.

Aerial Lift Rental Tips

Mastering your rental strategy can help you fully enjoy its benefits. Consider the following aerial lift rental advice to maximize your equipment.

Select the Ideal Lift for Each Job

When you have the correct lift for your work, you and your team can boost productivity and complete tasks on time. If you are unsure which type meets your needs, talk to a rental equipment professional for expert assistance.

Determine the Necessary Rental Duration

Determine how long you will need an aerial lift before renting it. Renting a lift only for the time you need it can reduce costs to net more return on investment from your rental.

Optimize Your Rental and Task Scheduling

Once you determine how long you will need a lift, schedule tasks in alignment with your rental dates. Communicate with team members so they know when they will have access and can prepare to perform specific tasks when the equipment arrives on the job site.

Selecting an Aerial Lift for Rent

The best lift type for your next job depends on the following factors.

Job Site Environment and Conditions

A job site’s available space determines how big your lift can be. A scissor or personnel lift is ideal if you need to work in a more limited space such as inside a warehouse. However, choose a larger lift for outdoor projects. 

An articulating boom lift lets you maneuver effectively if your job site features several obstacles, and a telescopic boom lift can help you reach the top floors of a high-rise building or the highest points of a bridge.

Movement Requirements

What points do you need to reach, and how high are they? Do you need to move vertically or horizontally? These questions can help you determine the best lift for your next job. 

Rent Aerial Lifts From Blanchard Machinery

Renting aerial lifts will effectively reduce your costs, boost productivity and allow you to complete high-quality work without making significant upfront investments. You can rent the latest lifts to perform installations, maintenance, repairs, painting or filming safely and efficiently.

Blanchard Machinery offers a wide selection of articulating boom lifts, telescopic boom lifts, scissor lifts and vertical personnel lifts to meet your needs. As a family-owned company, our team cares about helping you choose the perfect lift for each application. We provide access to the latest models from the industry’s top brands and arrange financing plans that work for our clients’ budgets. 

You can rent lifts monthly, weekly or daily, and we will handle each lift’s maintenance needs. Request a quote or contact us to learn more about our available rental lifts.

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