[TowerTalk] how much boom lifts rent for

[Grant Saviers]

I've rented several in sizes 40 to 90'.  Above 40' some renters get 
sticky about insurance and require a credit application and insurance 
binder.  Neither which were much hassle or cost as a general home 
insurance liability binder with the rental outfit as payee sufficed.  
Their concerns are understandable about damage to a $250k machine and 
what it can do liability wise if tipped or run into a power line.

Tow behinds need a lot of space for the outriggers and a very level 
site, a suitable truck for towing, and are also a challenge to maneuver 
into position.  If your site is not perfectly level then heavy duty 
blocking might be needed under an outrigger, which I had to do at one 
telephone pole antenna support.  (the tilt sensors require leveling to a 
few degrees).

4WD is a must for any rental unless you are totally on hard hard surface 
all the time.  I managed to go 3' off and got a 85' 2WD stuck. It took a 
very large tow truck with multi part winch tackle, and the cost of two 
days rental to get out.  He said "at least you didn't bury it to the 
axles".  That would be interesting!

Re the costs, shop around, as I have found significant differences in 
pricing.  My last rental was a 40'  JLG for 7 days (5 days + weekend), 
about $750 plus $80 round trip on the delivery.  I put up 3 beams by 
myself (incl a 40m Moxon) on two crank ups.  The ability to work on an 
element at the end of the boom and up a mast above existing antennas is 
fantastic.   I lost count of the number of "climbs" I avoided.

Every rental delivery guy I've experienced was very helpful and will 
give you a short "how to" on the machine upon delivery.  Go slow (rabbit 
mode is for the experts on these machines) and THINK/plan every 
movement.   Generally, the tilt sensors and interlocks help keep you 
safe, but stupidity can be fatal as with any tower work.

Grant KZ1W

On 11/12/2011 6:35 PM, Al Kozakiewicz wrote:
> I rented a lift when I painted the exterior of my house.  In my neck of the woods, near Albany NY, you need a certificate of insurance for $1M to rent one of the self propelled jobs.  However, the Genie 45 foot that is towed can be rented without an insurance certificate, and I've seen them for rent at Home Depot.
>
> It's pretty idiot proof.  It has sensors that prevent it from operating if it is not leveled properly.  It strikes me that it would be ideal for a crank up where tilting the tower over might not be all that useful for installing and tuning a long boom antenna.  The cost as I recollect was under $700 for the week I had it.
>
> Al
> AB2ZY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Charlie Gallo
> Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 1:03 PM
> To: Jim Lux
> Cc: towertalk
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] how much boom lifts rent for
>
>
> On 11/12/2011 Jim Lux wrote:
>
>> Since I looked it up for W4EFs benefit.. You might be interested to
>> know what typical manlift rental prices are in SoCal..
>> Day rates.  A week is usually 3.5 days.
>> 40ft    $280-300
>> 60ft    $425
>> 80ft    $800-900
>> 120ft   $1300-1600
> ....snip...
>
> Back in May, I rented a 45 ft jib articulated boom lift here in NYC - it's about $250/day PLUS delivery - which was $600, but boy it made the job easy - with the articulation and the jib, we were able to go up, turn, and extend out over my roof to get to the tower - ask John,  W2GD what he thought, he spent way way longer up there than I did
>
> --
> 73 de KG2V - Charles Gallo
> Quality Custom Machine-shop work for the radio amateur (sm)
>
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