How to Choose the Right Skylift Height
The most expensive mistake in renting a skylift is not the rate — it is choosing the wrong height. Too short and the lorry goes home with the job unfinished, and you are still charged.
Measure working height, not building height
Measure from ground level to the actual work point, not to the roof. Then add margin for basket position and the worker's reach.
As a rough guide, add two metres to your work point. That gives room to manoeuvre without pushing the boom to its maximum.
Site access usually decides it
A 40-metre unit is useless if the lorry cannot get in. Entrance width, ground surface and outrigger clearance decide which unit is actually practical.
Send site photos before booking. It is a minute of work that saves a day of delay.
- Entrance width and height
- Ground surface — tarmac, concrete or soft ground
- Clearance for outriggers at full spread
- Overhead obstructions such as cables
When to pick a mini or mobile unit
For interior work, high ceilings or narrow corridors, mini and mobile units suit better than a lorry-mounted one.
They are self-propelled and need far less outrigger clearance, so they reach areas a lorry simply cannot.