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Discussion Forum

trailer manlift: which one?

BobChapman | Posted in General Discussion on March 20, 2007 05:10am
I’m strongly considering buying a trailer-based manlift (like the Genie TZ50 or Bil-Jax units).  In my work (roofing, painting) I can most easily transport a trailer unit rather than a much heavier self-powered rig.  Does anyone have experience with these things, and want to make a recommendation as to which one to get, and why?
 
Thanks
Bob Chapman
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  1. frenchy | Mar 20, 2007 05:18am | #1

    Bob,

     We sell them (not my division) The Genie is prefered but I'm not sure why. I'll do a little reasearch tomorrow to find out why the Genie. 

     Frankly I can't understand why they aren't much more popular.   I'm not sure it's heavy enough for roofing work. I think the limit is 350 pounds and that doesn't leave much capacity for shingles.

     Painting, It sure would beat a ladder or scaffolding..

      

  2. Abm | Mar 20, 2007 06:32am | #2

    I use an Eagle 42 from a local guy who rents it out on a regular basis. It's great for painting work and other stuff like soffits and fascia. The only drawback over a self propelled unit is that you have to have room to extent the outrigger legs, sometimes we have to extend them and then back it into position. The same guy that rents this unit has an electric unit as well but the boom is straight and it's handy for some things but the other one seems to work in more situations.

  3. User avater
    CapnMac | Mar 20, 2007 06:49am | #3

    For towable, I always wound up with a Genie TMZ.  That could be availability more than anything else.  I've used a lot of Genie lifts, too--but, my rental man always had them available.

    When I drive by h.despot, I keep seeing that they have the JLG towed rig, which seems to have an additional "kncuckle" in the boom.  I've not had the best experiences with the wheeled JLG lifts; but that my be the stock that's available, too.

    Now, given that rental units get "rid hard and put away wet," it can still be helpful to rent one of each you are thinking to buy.  Renting one to take to a job or two will be illumunating, too.  A TMZ-50 is longer than many boat trailers, which can be a fascinating experience to back up a long driveway.

    Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
    1. frenchy | Mar 21, 2007 05:20pm | #4

      CapnMac

       Actually a long trailer is easier to back than a short trailer! It reacts slower to inputs and gives you more time to correct.

       A little hint when backing instead of putting your hand on top of the steering wheel which is the normal method most use to back up, put your hand at the bottom of the wheel. Try it. It really helps!

      1. User avater
        CapnMac | Mar 21, 2007 06:42pm | #5

        Actually a long trailer is easier to back than a short trailer!

        Well, yeah, once a body has some experience (can be handy to have a family of boat-owners to grow up in <g>).

        However, it can be tougher if the driveway was not laid out for longer vehicles.

        And, if a person is "used to" the shorter trailer they bring their roofing materials to the job with, that very-light-for-length lift can seem to have a life of its own.

        You want real control over a trailer?  When you go to the hitch place, fork over a bit more cash and have them mount a reciever hitch under your front bumper, too (this is so slick for boats, it ought to be required--mostly).  Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

        1. frenchy | Mar 21, 2007 07:07pm | #6

          CapnMac. 

           I drove truck for a while and one of my tasks was to back a tandem trailer (or double trailer, another words a trailer pulling a trailer) into an alley and then around a 90 degree corner.  First time took me over an hour and the crew unloading it complained all the time that it wasn't square.. by the time I left to join the ship going to the Tonkin Gulf I could do it almost in one pass..

            This was between  Clark AFB in Manila and the Navy staion at Subic bay. The drop off point was the post office at the airport in Manila.  Due to theft issues I didn't want to just drop one trailer and back in the other one.

             Driving Semi's between The SuperValue wharehouse in Hopkins the cheese wharehouse in SanFrancisco and the lettuce farms in Holtville Califonia  taught me how to drive Semi's. They were always easier to back up than this little tiny trailer that I used to tow behind my MGTD.

          1. User avater
            CapnMac | Mar 21, 2007 07:56pm | #7

            They were always easier to back up than this little tiny trailer

            Well, yeah, probably not helped by the height of the hitch on the MG, either <g>.

            I was more thinking of advice to give OP, who would have the experience of trailers used around/with the roofing trade.  Which are a different sort of animal than a TMZ-50.  I probably should have remembered to mention to go score a trailer dolly, as being able to wheel the trailer to where you want to set it is much nicer than warss'lin' the tongue around on a bumpy job site (or a smooth lawn, some days).

            Ah, memories of schizophrenic "auto levelers" . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

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