About Aerial Platform Lift Trucks
An aerial platform lift truck raises workers up to where the job is: power or telecommunications lines, treetops, signage, traffic lights, bridges and tunnels, and even fire and rescue situations. They’re generally made to lift one or two workers and, in some cases, building materials.

Elliott H70F HiReach Aerial Platform Lift Truck
Common Features
One key attribute is an aerial lift’s platform height, or how high it can hold the bottom of the platform off the ground. Some manufacturers add some of the height of a typical worker to arrive at a working height figure.
Reach describes how far the lift can extend its bucket vertically, horizontally, or to the side. Extendable outriggers stabilise the truck and can add to its reach. The lower boom articulation, or how much it can bend, is expressed in degrees, as is the extent to which the platform can rotate. Some platforms can rotate continuously; others have limits.
Manufacturers also rate the weight capacity of a platform, both for workers and for material handling, if applicable. Some models are available with optional jibs or winches, and can pull double duty as light cranes on the jobsite.
Some special features you might find in new and used aerial lifts are remote controls, hydraulic overload protection, automatic boom stowage, and boom cable carriers for electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic lines; oxy-acetylene welding hoses; and even pressure washer or firefighting hoses.
Aerial Platform Lift Truck Varieties
One main type of aerial lift is called an “overcenter” model, meaning that its upper boom can bend beyond the straight (180 degrees) position for more manoeuvrability. Overcenter lifts’ upper and lower booms generally (but not in all cases) lie side by side when folded. The more common non-overcenter lifts typically stow their upper and lower booms on top of each other when not in use.
Some lifts are insulated with a non-conductive fiberglass coating on their boom surfaces to make them safer to use in working around power lines. Some can telescope their booms out for longer reach, and some are articulating, meaning they have additional bending joints, or knuckles.
Find The Right Aerial Platform Lift Truck
CraneTrader.ca is your leading source for new and used aerial platform lift trucks for sale from manufacturers including Altec, Comet, Elliott, Manitex, Versalift, and many others.