You’ve got a project on that requires working at height, such as repainting a building, installing signage, or tackling a roofing job. You know you’ll need to hire an elevated work platform (EWP), but you’re stuck on whether to hire a cherry picker or a boom lift. What’s the difference, and which one is better suited to your job?
It’s not an uncommon question amongst tradies and business owners, so we’ve put together this straightforward guide to clear things up. We want you to be able to easily identify the difference in the machines, while also knowing when each one should be used and the license you need to operate them.
Are Boom Lifts and Cherry Pickers the Same Thing?
They’re not the same thing, but people confuse them all the time because they share similarities. Cherry pickers and boom lifts are both kinds of elevated work platforms (EWP) – machinery designed to help workers reach jobs at heights that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible.
They may belong to the same family of machinery but there are key differences between them. Let’s take a look at what they are.
Height
The height that either machine can reach is a big difference between cherry pickers and boom lifts. Boom Lifts typically max out at around 42 – 55 metres. They’re generally enough if you’re carrying out light work like building maintenance, or sign maintenance. Or if your project is likely to go for more than a week in duration.
Cherry Pickers are the heavy-hitters when you need serious height and reach with proper basket capacity. Some models, including the ones we supply here at Performance Tower Hire, can extend up to 100 metres. That’s about as high as a 30-storey building!
If your project involves working at extreme heights and reach, a Cherry Picker is almost always the better choice.
Reach and Movement
There are differences in how each machine reaches the jobs up there.
Cherry Pickers come with an articulated or telescopic arm (the boom) that can reach over or around obstacles to get to hard-to-reach spots. This is handy for working around trees or power lines, or even reaching over buildings.
Boom Lifts have generally less reach. Depending on the type of job you’re doing, that may be a point to consider.
Typical Uses
To summarise their usual usage, if you need straightforward up-and-down access for light-to-medium jobs, a Boom Lift could suffice.
If you’re dealing with heights and tight spaces, or your job is spread across lots of ground, a cherry picker will be the answer.
Let’s look at scenarios where you’d normally choose each machine:
Cherry Pickers:
High-rise construction work
Lighting or electrical work at significant heights
Cleaning gutters or windows
Installing or maintaining signage
Tree pruning
Large sites with multiple access points
Boom Lifts:
Painting buildings or houses
Roof installation or major repairs
General maintenance on low- to mid-rise structures
Is a Licence Required to Operate a Boom Lift or Cherry Picker?
Safety and licensing is something you can’t ignore. In Queensland operating a boom lift or cherry picker over 11 metres requires a High Risk Work Licence for EWPs (class WP). Operators also need proper training to meet Work Health and Safety regulations.
But here’s the good news: when you hire from us at Performance Tower Hire, you don’t need to stress about getting licensed yourself. All our cherry pickers and boom lifts come with an experienced, fully licensed operator if required. This is called “wet hire”, where we supply both the machine and the person to run it safely and efficiently. We’ll get the job done for you safely and on time.
Quality Counts with EWP Hiring
A final word of advice: be serious about quality when it comes to hiring elevated work platforms. Poorly maintained equipment or unqualified operators can cost you more than money – they can put lives at risk.
At Performance Tower Hire, we take safety seriously. Our cherry pickers and boom lifts are meticulously serviced regularly. They’re operated with skill and precision, and won’t let you down on the job.
Got Questions About Boom Lifts and Cherry Pickers?
Not sure which one’s right for your job? No worries, we’ll help you work it out. Tell us what you’re planning, and we’ll match you with the best gear and lock in your booking fast and without any hassle.
Get in touch with Performance Tower Hire today and let’s get you up there, and back down again, safely.
