The 7 pitfalls to consider when buying a spider lift

Plus top tips on how to avoid them!

Whether you’re an arborist, painter, electrician or tradie, there’s no doubt that a spider lift offers the right combination of safety, efficiency, and adaptability to lift your business to the next level.

Yet you don’t want to invest in the wrong type of spider lift – and there are a few key issues that it’s important to be across. Let’s look at the 7 pitfalls when buying a spider lift – and how you can avoid them.

1) The machine isn’t certified to Australian Standards

Even though all spider lifts must have AU certification to allow you to work on site, you will still be able to find machines available that don’t meet Australian Standards. Buying one of these could be a big mistake.

Workplace Health & Safety do site checks without notice, and the penalties for non-compliance can be substantial. That means it’s just not worth trying to cut corners with a cheap import that doesn’t meet the Standards.

When you’re evaluating a machine, check whether it has data plates for:

• AS 1418.10 2011 and
• Compliance with State Approval EWP6-154 850/12

2) The spider lift doesn’t have the vertical and horizontal outreach you need

It’s no good investing in a spider lift that just doesn’t have what it takes for the jobs you commonly win. So make sure to check that the top boom telescopes out to a sufficient length to reach your working height.

Depending on the application, you may want to include a fly jib for added flexibility and finer movements at reach. This smaller boom won’t sway the main boom while you’re working, which means a much more stable and therefore safer working platform. You’ll find it just makes it easier to get the job done.

3) The machine just isn’t easy to move!

You don’t want to be stuck with a spider lift that’s too heavy to transport with your business’s current vehicles. So make sure you check the total weight before you buy.

When you’re doing your maths, make sure you take into account the “combined mass” of the vehicle with its tools, equipment and crew. Aggregated Tare Mass is the overall carrying mass of the vehicle, which will impact the overall GVM.

And while we’re on the subject of spider lift manoeuvrability, make sure you fully understand the key dimensions of the spider lift to ensure you can access the type of tight applications you need to.

If you’re often asked to work down in the side or back yards of homes, you’ll need a narrow machine that will fit through a standard doorway or manoeuvre through a garage.

4) The spider lift isn’t from a reputable brand

They say “buy on price and you’ll pay for it twice”, and with spider lifts that’s definitely true. Saving a few dollars at purchase time doesn’t stack up if you can’t get a reliable lifetime of service from your machine. You’re sure to regret spending money on a machine with no backup, which will leave you unable to work if something goes wrong.

Make sure the company you’re considering has a great backup support system. This should include things like 24-hour technical call support, training videos, a good stock of spare parts, and service agents near you who understand how the spider lift operates.

5) It doesn’t feature hybrid power options

When investing in a spider lift, clearly you’ll want it to be as flexible as possible. That means thinking about the spider lift’s power sources.

By choosing a hybrid model – featuring both a diesel engine and either 240v electric motor or lithium battery system – you’ll have more options with the type of work you can do, since battery power is emissions-free and quiet.

You’ll be set up to work wherever noise or emissions are an issue; for example around homes or in resorts and the like. When used in combination with an electric chainsaw, you may find your customers won’t even know you are there.

6) A spider lift that doesn’t have a substantial warranty

This might sound like a ‘no brainer’, but it’s so important it’s worth emphasising.

Check whether the spider lift has a substantial warranty – something along the lines of a five year structural, two year engine, and 12 months warranty on all other components.

It’ll give you the peace-of-mind of knowing it won’t give up before you do.

7) A lack of automatic levelling and stabilisation

While we’re on the subject of working more efficiently, it’s a good idea to choose a spider lift with an automatic stabilisation and levelling function. That way, your setup time will come down rapidly since you don’t have to fiddle about with four hydraulic levers and all the fine tuning that comes with it. This automation also increases safety when you’re setting the machine up, even on a sloping job site.

Talk to us to find the ideal spider lift for your business

To find out how a spider lift could offer you a more efficient access solution, call Monitor on 1800 025 024 or contact us online.