How to Decide Between an Articulated or Straight Boom Lift for Your Next Project
Boom lifts (also known as Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, MEWPs or “cherry pickers”) utilize boom sections to position workers and tools to an elevated position for temporary, flexible access work, such as maintenance and construction tasks. This type of equipment comes in different configurations that vary depending on how these machines reach overhead work areas.
The two most common configurations of boom lifts are: Articulated (articulating, knuckle) and Straight (telescopic, telescoping).
Both articulated and straight boom lifts can tackle tough jobs and come in a range of options:
Indoor and outdoor
Engine- (diesel, gas, LP), electric- or hybrid-powered
Tracks versus tires
High-capacity versions
Each have their own unique attributes that make them better suited for different types of work. For example, a JLG® telescopic boom lets you reach farther, with more capacity, which puts you right where you need to be as simply and efficiently as possible. While JLG articulating boom lifts are ideal for jobs that require you to get “up and over” objects.
So, how do you know which type of boom lift is right for your job site? Here is more information to help you make the choice between articulated and straight…
Articulating booms
The most easily recognizable type boom lift is articulated due to the boom’s distinctive shape. This type of lift uses multiple pivot points (referred to as joints or knuckles) on the boom sections to give you length and reach, allowing you up-and-over access, as well as vertical reach. The main advantage of this design is that it lets you achieve difficult positioning around obstacles at height.
Articulating boom lifts have less horizontal outreach than telescopic booms, but because they can reach high and far, these machines provide greater versatility to:
Work in space-restricted, tight or narrow access and/or confined work areas
Reach up, over and/or out to access work areas
Telescoping booms
The mast on a telescopic boom lift extends out in a straight line, by utilizing one or more telescoping boom sections, to give you enough vertical reach to directly access overhead job sites. This design allows you to take full advantage of the boom’s entire range of horizontal reach.
Because of their design, telescoping models do not offer up-and-over ability to access work at height. And, this type of boom lift requires more space to operate within than articulating booms, including plenty of room around the machine’s chassis to make turns and other movements.
But straight boom lifts can typically reach higher than articulating boom lifts, which means these models provide both maximum height and maximum outreach to:
Access work from a distance, especially where the terrain or obstacles prevent close access
Get into working position quickly
Tips for choosing one versus the other
It’s important to understand the specific work-at-height requirements on a particular project before you specify the machines to do the work.
Here are three things to consider when choosing the right boom lift to match your application:
1. Agility versus versatility
a. An articulating boom would be the preferred choice for applications that require agility to reach over or around objects, such as chimneys, ceiling joists or roof trusses, HVAC or electrical fixtures, the floors of a building under construction or warehouse shelves
b. A telescopic boom lift would be the best choice for applications that require the versatility to reach high, like multi-story buildings, or to reach far out at a lower level, like under bridges.
2. Job site conditions
a. An articulating boom lift generally offers you a more compact footprint and narrow operating profile, especially zero tail swing models, ideal for space-restricted job sites.
b. A telescopic model is more productive on job sites with plenty of room to turn and space to reach.
3. Outreach
a. An articulated model can offer you multiple angles and reach to access overhead work.
b. A telescoping boom lift often can reach higher than an articulating boom lift (depending on specific model and design differences).
The best way to distinguish between these two types is this: Telescopic models are better for getting people and materials into place and holding them there, and articulating versions are better suited for moving people and materials around obstacles and into different positions with agility.
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Articulating vs. Straight Boom Lifts: How To Pick the Right Boom Lift
Between the different categories of aerial lifts, it can be difficult to identify which one will best meet your performance expectations. That's why it's important to understand the similarities and differences between straight and articulating boom lifts, along with their respective applications.
How are straight (telescopic) and articulating boom lifts different?
Straight and articulating boom lifts both transport people and materials to elevated workspaces. Although they share the same general purpose, their distinct features provide different functionalities that are better suited to different tasks. It's also important to note that straight boom lifts are also known as telescopic boom lifts.
Below you'll find a breakdown of the main differences between articulating and straight booms and the implications of those differences.
Vertical and Horizontal Reach
Structurally, articulating and telescopic boom lift arms have their own unique movement pattern. An articulating boom lift has an arm with bendable joints or knuckles. This enables the machine to reach up, around, and over objects in its path by being able to change its angle of approach. The telescopic boom lift arm is straight, non-bending, and can only extend straight out or upwards.
The structure of each boom's arm really affects its reach capabilities. Generally, straight boom lifts have higher vertical reach than articulating models, which is measured by how high upward the arm can extend. Telescopic booms can reach up to 210', while their articulating counterparts can only reach up to 150'.
Straight booms can also extend further out horizontally. The extra horizontal reach achieved with an extendable boom allows the operator to approach objects from afar.
You may be wondering why anyone would opt for an articulating boom lift after hearing they have less horizontal and vertical reach. Although this is the case, articulated booms specialize in maneuverability. Articulated lifts can't reach as far out, but their bendable joints allow you to approach the work site from multiple angles and navigate tight spaces with ease.
Operating Conditions
As previously stated, articulated lifts can bend around beams and corners, while straight boom lifts can access higher elevations. So, the type of movement required on site is the main determinant as to which machine you choose.
Indoor and outdoor operation is another factor to consider. Both types of boom lifts can perform work on indoor and outdoor job sites but articulating boom lifts are more popular for indoor use since these environments have limited maneuvering space and contain more obstacles. Light fixtures, tight corners, and rafters are mostly encountered indoors, making articulating lifts a better option.
Because of this, it's more common to find electric articulating lifts as opposed to telescopic ones. However, more manufacturers are offering electric telescopic models fit for indoor use.
The final operating condition to consider is navigational space. Since a straight boom lift's arm is always extended, you need more space on-site to turn the machine. Articulating lifts are much more mobile, as the cabin can swivel and the arm can bend inwards to accommodate job sites with space restrictions.
Straight and Articulating Boom Lift Similarities
From a structural standpoint, straight and articulating boom lifts are relatively similar. They both contain a platform and machine base, which moves on wheels and includes the cabin. How the arm operates and the existence of a jib, a mini arm providing additional reach commonly found on articulating boom lifts, is the main structural difference.
In terms of operation, manufacturers produce rough terrain articulating and straight boom lifts. Both types are rugged machines that are suitable for tough work on uneven outdoor surfaces. Offering both boom lift types as rough terrain models ensures that you get the kind of mobility you need in the equipment you choose.
When to Use an Articulating Boom Lift
If your job site requires any of the articulating boom lift features listed above, then it's best to choose that model. The following job site circumstances are best suited to an articulated lift.
Crowded job sites
Confined spaces with a restricted movement capacity
Buildings with complex fixtures that require navigation and flexible movement
When close proximity to the work surface is required
When the work surface needs to be approached from different angles
When you need to move up and over obstacles to reach the work surface
The required vertical height is less than or equal to 150'
Due to their extensive range of motion and flexibility, articulating boom lifts work well when painting high ceilings and intricate spaces, maneuvering around power lines and trees to fix street lights, picking fruit, installing light fixtures in tough spots, and cleaning out eavestroughs.
When to Use a Straight Boom Lift
For jobs that require extensive reach, straight boom lifts are the way to go. The following job site circumstances are best suited to a telescopic boom.
Open-space job sites
Simplistic, accessible work surfaces with no obstacles in the boom's path
Requires significant horizontal and vertical reach (high-rise buildings)
Requires stability at high elevations
Requires greater lift capacity
Requires greater distance from the work surface
Only need to access the work surface from one primary angle
The required vertical height is between 150 and 210 feet
Because of their dependable stability, telescoping booms keep people safe while working at elevated workstations. They're typically used for scaffolding, repairs, painting, and electric work, among other jobs.
Need to Rent a Boom Lift?
The easiest way to summarize the main difference between both boom lifts is as follows: straight boom lifts are the best man lifts for jobs that require high-reach access or long reach whereas articulated lifts are best when a job site has many spatial limitations and requires hard-to-reach access.
Articulated vs. Straight Boom Lift: Which is best for your project?
Also referred to as a mobile elevated work platform (MEWPs), a boom lift helps workers access elevated areas for different types of temporary work, such as maintenance or construction tasks. Unlike scaffolding or stationary platforms, MEWPs provide workers and their materials maneuverability, space, and agility on a job site.
Each type of boom lift serves a specific purpose. Some of the most common configurations include articulated and straight (or telescopic) boom lifts.
Both configurations can tackle tough jobs and come in a range of options:
Indoor and outdoor
Engine (diesel, gas, LP), electric, or hybrid-powered
Tracks versus tires
High-capacity versions
Articulating Boom Lift vs. Straight Boom Lift
When selecting a rental boom lift, there are three considerations to keep in mind: agility, job site conditions, and outreach. Here are a few tips to help you choose between articulated and straight.
Articulating Boom Lift
Articulating booms have the best versatility in tight spaces and confined work areas. This configuration would be the preferred choice for maneuvering around job sites with obstacles and structures, such as chimneys, ceiling joists or roof trusses, HVAC or electrical fixtures, the floors of a building under construction, or warehouse shelves.
With the multiple “joints” and “knuckles,” this lift provides a more narrow operating profile and allows for multiple angles and access to overhead work. However, articulating booms offer less horizontal reach than straight booms.
Straight Boom Lift
Straight or telescopic boom lifts are best for applications that require a higher reach and overhead work.
This model positions people and materials into place quickly and allows access to work from a distance; however, the straight boom requires plenty of room to turn and does not navigate obstacles as well as the articulating boom lift.
This configuration best suits multi-story buildings or under or around bridges as it covers more vertical space than an articulating boom lift.
To distinguish between the two lifts, keep in mind that telescopic models are best suited for projects that require high reach and overhead work, as this particular configuration is best for keeping workers in place. Articulating versions are more agile and best for moving workers and materials into position on a job site. These models are more versatile and agile in confined spaces.
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