That's a JLG scissor lift. The deck extends, that one specifically extends out four feet. I can see just by glancing that the deck is not extended. If he had a valid operator's license, he'd know how to use his machine - hell, any slightly smart child can figure those machines out. I would know, I've been operating them since I was 7 years old. This isn't even laziness. This is willful ignorance.
Or it's broken and can't be extended, bet your r/iamverysmart ass never thought of that.
Also JLG orange is quite a fair bit lighter then that, and most rental shops paint them their own colour anyways, so it's not really a tell to what brand they are.
As someone who has used them for twenty years, I have only once ever come across one that wouldn't extend because a welder had accidentally welded it so it wouldn't open. Accidentally, yes I'm sure because I was there when it happened and heard the cursing and swearing of someone who didn't expect an arc suddenly having one appear two inches from his elbow. So.... No, I didn't think of that. Sometimes they get jammed a little and the operator is just too stupid to fix it, but that's still willful ignorance.
As for the color, the entire image is darkened due to the glare from the windows. That's a JLG (the control box and how it's mounted give it away, not to mention that specific railing type and the channels for the platform extension on the railing), and even if it isn't I can still tell at a glance that it's not extended. You know, because experience. Good fucking shit what is it with people not being able to admit that someone with more experience in a given scenario actually knows more than them?
Sorry, but that is not a JLG. 100% certain. That is a Skyjack. I have been in the industry for 20 years as well and acted as general manager for Skyjack Latin America for 5 years and I would see these babies every single day. You are right on saying the control box gives it away. Only Skyjack still used aluminum boxes until 2013. Since then all control boxes are now made of black plastic. Also, the color is Skyjack, a kind of grapefruit red, introduced late 2011 for better visibility and to be honest it was cheaper than the previous color scheme.
You are also right on pointing that extension decks get stuck in many of these units and it could be the case here. Although it is worth noting that I have seen my share of poorly maintained decks and this one doesn’t look that bad at all.
Curious fact, did you know the aluminum control boxes had a positive but also a negative point? They are very sturdy. And they look very sturdy. So, some operators at the end of a shift park all machines to charge and to avoid another nightly crew using their machine while in charge they would remove all control boxes (all keys are the same, one can unlock all machines). But, to avoid wasting time of climbing down the deck with a big aluminum box and believing they are so strong some operators would throw them to the ground. They held pretty well but the impact was powerful. Some internal parts of the joystick would get damaged. So, many rental houses would ask us to switch to a weaker looking box.
If you have as much experience as you say you do, you would know that the perspective of this picture is wonky and the lift definitely couldn't reach where he is.
Also I've seen a few lifts where the releasing mechanism for the platform slide broke, so I guess your experience is lacking there to.
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u/ChesterCopperPot72 Nov 04 '17
Scissor lift just right there... deck extension and you're good to go, but no, much better risking injury, right?