Whether you’re part of a construction team installing windows or roofing on tall buildings, a utility worker performing electrical work on power lines, or part of a maintenance crew installing new signage, you’ll likely need a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) like a boom lift to safely do your job. Understanding how to tow a boom lift safely is just as important as the work your crew performs at your project site.
While there are many types of aerial work platforms, boom lifts are a popular option. They come in multiple reach, height and load capacities to meet the needs of any elevated work situation.
But what exactly is a boom lift? Boom lifts are a type of personnel lift with a work platform (or bucket) attached to a moveable arm, known as the boom. Boom lifts enable teams to work safely and productively at heights. Renting a towable boom lift can be a flexible, budget-friendly option for any project.
In this article, you’ll learn about the types of boom lifts available and how to tow a boom lift safely.
Types of Boom Lifts and How to Transport Them
There are multiple types of boom lifts available, and selecting the best boom lift for your project depends on the work you need to perform and other factors, such as budget and the space available for setting up the boom lift. That’s why it’s important to know how to transport a boom lift to and from the worksite.
Some boom lifts, such as towable boom lifts, are lightweight and more compact, allowing them to connect easily to a tow vehicle. The item you are towing must be within the tow vehicle’s rated capacity for safe towing. Towable boom lifts are suitable for project sites that don’t have room for a tractor trailer to deliver the boom lift. Other boom lifts are larger, and you must transport them on a tractor trailer.
- Articulating Boom Lifts: These lifts have an articulating arm which is suitable for avoiding obstacles. Transported via tractor trailer.
- Telescopic Boom Lifts: These lifts have a telescoping arm that consists of multiple sections that can move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Transported via tractor trailer.
- Hybrid Boom Lifts: These energy-efficient boom lifts can be articulated or telescopic and use either an electric-only mode or a diesel mode for an eco-friendly operation. Transported via tractor trailer.
- Towable Boom Lifts: These lifts are smaller and lighter than traditional boom lifts. Trasnported via pickup truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Best Practices for Safely Towing a Boom Lift
Let’s say that you’ve examined the jobsite and available resources and determined that a towable boom lift, with its compact size and flexible towing options, is the right boom lift for your project. Below are best practices for towing the boom lift safely to your project site.
1. Read the Operator’s Manual
Each boom lift is different, and you should always start by reviewing the operator’s manual for the specific make and model. This will tell you everything you need to know about towing capacity requirements, how to move and secure the boom lift, and how to troubleshoot issues that may arise.
Before continuing, confirm that your towing vehicle meets the towing capacity requirements for the boom lift. If not, you will need a different vehicle.
2. Keep the Towing Vehicle Parked on a Firm Surface
Keep the towing vehicle in park and secured on a flat surface (using the parking brake and wheel chocks). Using a flat, firm surface while connecting the towable boom lift to your vehicle will reduce the risk of it tipping over or rolling and causing injuries or property damage.
3. Lower or Retract Components into a Transport Position
Ensure that the boom lift is in its designated “transport position” according to the specifications in the operator’s manual. This includes making sure the arm is fully lowered and all components are properly stowed. Failure to use the transport position can lead to damages, injuries or even death.
Additional Resources:
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires a trained and authorized aerial lift operator to operate the boom lift.
- Only trained and authorized aerial lift operators can operate a boom lift. View OSHA’s Aerial Lifts eTool for more information.
4. Be Aware of Potential Hazards During Loading
Make sure the area around the towing vehicle is clear of objects, debris, people or animals. Set up additional safety measures, such as cones, to keep the area clear.
5. Remove Unsecured or Loose Items from the Towing Vehicle
If a trailer is used, make sure it is free of debris and there is nothing that could cause the boom lift to slip off track or roll over. Removing loose items will also help prevent damage to the boom lift while being transported.
6. Secure the Platform
Check the operator’s manual and OSHA guidelines for securing the boom lift and its work platform for transport.
Ensure that the appropriate load securement devices are used, based on the size and weight of the towable boom lift and local regulations. This includes ensuring that the devices have ample load capacity and that they’re placed correctly to avoid loosening during transit.
7. Avoid Exceeding Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity
Although towable boom lifts are lighter than traditional boom lifts and designed to be towed, they vary in size and weight. Some towable boom lifts may be too heavy for vehicles with smaller towing capacities, and using the wrong vehicle could severely damage your vehicle or present unsafe driving conditions.
Before you commit to a specific boom lift, make sure you’ve checked your vehicle owner’s manual for its towing capacity. Then, add up the weight of the boom lift with the weight of the other supplies you need to tow it, such as the trailer and load securement devices.
If your vehicle’s towing capacity is less than the total weight of the towable boom lift, trailer, and supplies, use a different vehicle or select a smaller boom lift.
8. Implement Extra-Safe Driving Practices
Transporting heavy equipment such as a towable boom lift changes how your vehicle maneuvers on the road. The extra weight and attached trailer can make it harder to stop quickly and harder to control your vehicle on hills and turns. Operating in an unsafe manner could lead to unsafe conditions (e.g., jackknife).
Be sure to use safe driving practices. When towing a boom lift, increase your following distance to at least 4 seconds, and operate at a speed commensurate with road conditions. Be sure to check all necessary regulations prior to conducting towing operations.
Benefits of Renting a Boom Lift
There are many benefits to renting a boom lift rather than buying. When you rent a boom lift, you don’t have the hassle and costs associated with the large down payments and regular maintenance requirements that come with equipment ownership. You’ll also have access to the latest make and models and the newest technology.
When you rent from Herc Rentals, you’ll work with our highly capable service team that can coordinate delivery of equipment directly to your project site, allowing your team to focus on what they do best—the job at hand.
Rent Quality Boom Lifts from Herc Rentals
When your project calls for crews to work in a tough-to-reach, elevated area, Herc Rentals has all the gear you need. We offer towable boom lift rentals and other aerial solutions from leading manufacturers, ensuring superior quality and reliable performance. All equipment receives comprehensive maintenance so it’s in peak condition and ready to work at your site.
Our team of experts will help you find the right boom lift for your project, and we’ll either deliver it to your worksite or help you determine how to tow a boom lift safely.
Explore our broad selection of aerial solutions, including towable boom lifts, or give us a call at (888) 777-2700 to discuss options with an expert today.
