Here are some of the recent innovations to look for in boom lifts:

• Hydraulic outriggers have taken the place of the old pull-out or manual-swing outriggers. Before, operators had to manually pull out four large, heavy outrigger beams and crank them down until the machine was level. The swing-out variety of outrigger was an improvement, but still required manual cranking to level the machine. On tricky terrain, it could take an operator three to five minutes to properly level a machine. In contrast, today’s machines are equipped with hydraulic outriggers and can be set up in 30 seconds with less strain on the operator. Precise leveling is easily achieved on uneven ground with up to a 12-degree slope.

• Hydraulic jib attachments, once only found on larger, more expensive self-propelled booms, are now standard equipment on some trailer-mounted booms. Hydraulic jibs allow the operator additional vertical height through a 130-degree operating range, giving the operator a more usable operating range than on machines not equipped with jibs.

• Drive and set features now allow operators the ability to drive the machine around a job site, set the hydraulic outriggers and go up in the air to perform the required work without ever leaving the platform cage.

• Material lifting hooks can be added by using a quick disconnect to remove a light aluminum platform and replace it with a small lifting hook. This allows the operator to turn a trailer-mounted boom lift into a 500-lb. light crane that can be used to set roof trusses or roof-mounted HVAC units, or to lift signs. Optional accessory mounting trays are available to accommodate generators, air compressors and pressure washers.

• Horizontal jib rotators are available on some boom lifts. The jib rotators allow the operator to increase the horizontal reach of the boom, adding access to areas that are unreachable with standard machines. When jib rotators are used with a manual basket rotator, operators can almost maneuver a machine around corners.

• Air and water line options allow the operator to pressure wash at normal working heights without having to support the weight of water-filled lines dangling in mid-air. The same applies for air-filled lines, which can be attached to the platform to run a multitude of small air tools.

• Most trailer-mounted boom lifts are DC battery-powered, but many manufacturers offer several power options including gasoline, diesel, dual (both gas and electric), or a DC/gas hybrid, which is a gasoline engine coupled to an AC generator. A DC/gas hybrid power option works well when the operator needs to be away from an AC power source — required for charging batteries on a straight DC unit — for days at a time doing work.

• Other options, like adjustable hitches, electric brakes, tube caddies, tool trays, spare tires and mounting brackets and additional battery packs extend the versatility of trailer-mounted booms and allow operators to easily and quickly do work that was difficult to accomplish only a few years ago. The trailer-mounted boom segment is growing rapidly. In many cases, today’s advanced equipment is less expensive than the machines of 10 years ago, particularly when factoring in the additional work that can be done with the newer machines. The number of features and options available on current trailer-mounted boom lifts can make these machines a productive and profitable tool for rental operators and their customers.