Lift Rental in Northern Indiana: Choosing the Right Lift for Your Job
Getting people and materials up in the air is part of almost every job, whether you are hanging siding in Goshen, changing warehouse lighting in Elkhart, or setting trusses on a new build outside South Bend. The trouble is that "a lift" can mean three very different machines, and picking the wrong one costs you time, money, or a trip back to the yard. This guide breaks down the lift types we rent at Wakarusa Heavy Equipment so you can match the machine to the work before you call.
The Three Families of Lifts We Rent
Nearly every lift on the market falls into one of three families. Scissor lifts take you straight up and give you a big, stable platform. Boom lifts reach up and out, and some of them bend around obstacles. Telehandlers are not work platforms at all, they are rough-terrain material movers with a telescoping boom, built to carry loads to heights and distances a standard forklift cannot manage. We stock all three, in electric and fuel-powered versions, so you can usually find a fit for the site conditions you are dealing with.
Scissor Lifts: Stable, Roomy Platforms for Straight-Up Work
A scissor lift raises a large platform vertically on crisscrossing supports. You get room for two workers and their tools, plus a smooth, stable surface to work from. That makes scissor lifts the go-to choice for ceiling work, lighting, sprinklers, drywall, and any job where you need to stay in one spot and work overhead.
We rent electric scissor lifts in several platform heights, from compact 12 to 20 foot units up through 26, 32 and 40 foot models. Electric machines run quiet, produce no exhaust, and are the right pick for indoor work such as warehouses, barns, churches and retail buildings around Elkhart and Goshen. For outdoor job sites with dirt, gravel, or uneven ground, we also rent rough terrain scissor lifts in both diesel and electric versions, with heights from 26 feet up to 43 feet. Their bigger tires and heavier build handle the kind of ground a standard electric scissor lift cannot.
Browse the full lineup on our Mobile Elevated Work Platform category page.
Boom Lifts: Reach Up and Over
A boom lift puts the platform at the end of an arm, so you can work not just above you but out and over obstacles. There are two main styles.
Articulating Boom Lifts
Articulating (or "knuckle") booms bend in the middle, which lets you reach up and over a roof edge, a piece of equipment, or landscaping. They are the best option when something is in the way between the machine and the work. We carry electric articulating boom lifts, such as our 30 foot and 40 foot models with rotating jibs, as well as fuel-powered articulating booms in the 34 and 45 foot range. The jib on the end of the arm gives you extra fine-tuned reach at the platform, which is handy for getting into tight spots on exteriors, steel work and signage.
Telescopic (Straight) Boom Lifts
Straight booms extend in a line, which gives them the most outward reach and the most height per machine. If you need to get to the top of a tall building, a large barn or a long gable end, a telescopic boom is usually the right tool. Our straight boom lifts are fuel-powered for outdoor use, and range from a 40 foot unit up to a 135 foot model for the biggest jobs in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
Telehandlers: Lifting Materials, Not People
A telehandler looks like a forklift with a long arm, and that arm is the point. Instead of lifting straight up a mast, it extends outward and upward, which lets you place pallets of block, bundles of shingles, trusses or lumber right where they are needed, even on a rough site. We rent telehandlers with 6,000, 10,000 and 12,000 pound lift ratings and reach of 34 to 55 feet, so you can match the machine to the weight and height of what you are placing. Ask us which attachments are available for the machine you choose.
One important note: a telehandler is not a work platform unless it is specifically equipped and rated for personnel. If your crew needs to work at height, choose a scissor lift or boom lift.
How to Choose the Right Lift
Start with the job
Ask what you are lifting, people or materials. People go on scissor lifts or boom lifts. Pallets and bundles go on a telehandler. Then ask whether you are working straight up (scissor), up and over something (articulating boom), or far out and high (straight boom).
Check height and reach, and add a margin
Platform height is not the same as working height. A worker can usually reach a few feet above the platform, but plan around the platform height, and leave yourself some margin. Check how far out you need to reach as well, because a boom lift's height and outward reach are not the same number.
Match the power to the site
Electric lifts are quiet, clean and ideal for indoor floors. Diesel and gas lifts and rough terrain scissors are better for muddy, gravelly or uneven outdoor sites. If your Indiana job site turns soft after a few days of rain, choose a rough terrain machine from the start.
Think about getting it there
Bigger lifts weigh more, and some need a heavier trailer or a delivery truck. Tell us about your site and ask about delivery options for jobs near Goshen, Elkhart, South Bend, Warsaw, Nappanee or Mishawaka.
Safety Basics for Renting a Lift
Anyone operating a lift should be trained on that type of machine, and the operator should do a walk-around inspection each day before using it. Know the machine's rated capacity, keep the platform within its limits, check the ground and overhead obstacles like power lines before you raise anything, and follow the fall protection rules that apply to your lift. If you are not sure what applies to your job, ask us and check the manufacturer's operating manual and the rules that cover your site.
Lift Rental Near You
We serve contractors, landscapers, property managers and homeowners from our locations in Wakarusa and Waterloo, Indiana. Whether you are working in Goshen, Elkhart, South Bend, or somewhere between, ask us how to get a lift to your site. If you are weighing your options, our article on renting versus buying equipment can help you decide whether a rental makes sense for your project, and our seasonal maintenance tips are worth a read before you take on cold-weather jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a scissor lift and a boom lift?
A scissor lift raises a platform straight up and offers more floor space and stability. A boom lift extends an arm that can reach up and out, and an articulating boom can bend around obstacles. Choose a scissor for overhead work in one spot, and a boom when you need to reach over or around something.
Do I need an indoor or outdoor lift?
Electric lifts are the best choice indoors because they are quiet and have no exhaust. For outdoor sites with soft or uneven ground, choose a rough terrain scissor lift or a fuel-powered boom lift.
Can a telehandler lift workers?
Not unless it is equipped and rated for it. A standard telehandler is meant for moving materials. Use a scissor lift or boom lift whenever people need to work at height.
Which areas do you deliver to?
We serve northern Indiana, southern Michigan and western Ohio, including Goshen, Elkhart, South Bend, Mishawaka, Warsaw, Nappanee and Fort Wayne. Call us to confirm delivery options for your site.
How do I reserve a lift?
Browse our lift and equipment categories, pick the machine you want, and rent online, or call us at +1 (574) 862-7914 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM. You can also contact us with questions about your job.
Ready to Rent a Lift?
Tell us what you are working on and we will point you to the right lift. Browse our Mobile Elevated Work Platform category or contact Wakarusa Heavy Equipment today.