Lift Advice

I’m a Nifty user and a Nifty dealer with the SD64 being the only machine I usually stock... The SD64 is my bread and butter.

The only parts issue I recall was getting green paint after two machines were damaged in transit... the paint is sourced in the US, that supplier had some backlog or something. The rest of the parts including two fuel tanks were either in SC or I had them a week or so later.

I looked at adding Dino in early 2016 but couldn’t get a good feeling about them/the lifts.

Here’s the videos I’ve put out regarding the SD64. Planning on updating the walk around videos if I ever have a new unit actually in stock... the last one sold two weeks ago to a repeat customer in Texas 90 minutes after my rep told me it was going to be coming.


Feel free to reach out if you want to have a conversation about the lifts/my take on them. I’ve got 10 SD64s on order, their availability is anyone’s guess.
 
We have a nifty sd50. Very rugged machine. With it we can remove trees up to about 80 feet. The sd64 would be a big improvement as it is able to give you that extra 15 feet or so feet over the sd50 and make it so you can safely rig a tall limb over a house or something.

Problems- hydraulic hose plastic track is always in the way it seems. Even when moving through a canopy you have to constantly watch it or you can practically rip it off.

Hoses on the sd 50, not sure about the 64, chafe and wear out. They rub the boom joints and everything else you can imagine. Nifty should have wrapped all the hoses and secured them better. Big bucks to replace worn out hoses which should last much longer.

Gradability- these machines are meant to set up on flat surfaces. We carry cribbing to beef up under two out riggers. Also when you add boards or such underneath the pads pull inwards and slide around. Takes getting used to to get them in the middle.

Auto idle sucks, low idle is just too high of an rpm to start up at. If you were able to adjust the throttle yourself the machine would be able to start easier. That little kubota has been a very cold blooded engine because of this.

Electric switches do go out. But are simple fixes.

Overall they are a good machine but could be better.

Dino makes a tracked unit which would be so much better setting up on slopes.

Availability matters too. A cmc was going to take 5 months to arrive when I asked.
 
Great info Al_trees, I was originally looking at a sd50, the side reach of the bigger machines is what really sold me. I was looking at all the external components on the nifty boom , the Dino seems to have packed all the hoses in inside the boom, probably good until they need be replaced. The boom itself on the Dino looks and feels like a bucket truck boom basically. I was impressed how stable I was extended out 40' to the side, I was bouncing around the machine wasn't moving an inch. Im sure the SD64 also feels stable, I have not Demod one. Setup gradability isnt a major game changer for me.
 
EasternArborist said:
Great info Al_trees, I was originally looking at a sd50, the side reach of the bigger machines is what really sold me. I was looking at all the external components on the nifty boom , the Dino seems to have packed all the hoses in inside the boom, probably good until they need be replaced. The boom itself on the Dino looks and feels like a bucket truck boom basically. I was impressed how stable I was extended out 40' to the side, I was bouncing around the machine wasn't moving an inch. Im sure the SD64 also feels stable, I have not Demod one. Setup gradability isnt a major game changer for me.
Click to expand...
Might be a good idea to rent a nifty for a week so you know what you’re buying
Nifty is probably the most available lift to be able to rent that your interested in
No better way to find out about a machine than running one
 
I can't say what's the best lift for you OP is but I can say that the lift I have, CMC 72hd ArbPro, has been money well spent. Iv'e had it in place no bucket or tire machine is getting out of without a winch. Hills, snow, mud, it doesn't matter it just crawls up and out. Having the ability to level out on hills is a major plus.
 
setup numbers
SD64- 12 degrees
72RXT- 10 degrees (8 with auto level feature)
72' platform- 17 degrees
The tracks better with gradability setup. Side reach and basket capacity wheel machines win.
 
flushcut said:
I can't say what's the best lift for you OP is but I can say that the lift I have, CMC 72hd ArbPro, has been money well spent. Iv'e had it in place no bucket or tire machine is getting out of without a winch. Hills, snow, mud, it doesn't matter it just crawls up and out. Having the ability to level out on hills is a major plus.
Click to expand...
Nothing worse than spending a day retrieving stuck equipment, IF you can even do it yourself :) ,
 
EasternArborist said:
setup numbers
SD64- 12 degrees
72RXT- 10 degrees (8 with auto level feature)
72' platform- 17 degrees
The tracks better with gradability setup. Side reach and basket capacity wheel machines win.
Click to expand...


The SD64 also only has to be level within 3* to achieve the unrestricted/normal chart.

The gradability specs (driving power) of the SD64 are quite impressive, topping the tracked lifts that I've compared it to.
 
Oh I forgot to mention the most fun of all. The factory didn't use long enough wires. The wiring in several places pulls itself apart. We had to splice in some extra wire in several places. One of these is the main power going to,the basket controls. Another place was the mircoswitches to tell the contol that the boom is stowed and the outriggers can be pulled up.
 
It should be noted that the track machines have a very slow ground speed (1.5 mph or less I think ). The wheeled machines go upwards of 5 mph so set up time can be a lot faster, especially if the trailer is unloaded at a distance.

IMHO I think the best machine design would be a spider style lift with wheels (rather than tracks) that can retract to get through narrow openings. Less turf damage and faster ground speed can make the job much more efficient and profitable.
 
Last edited:
MA Arborist said:
It should be noted that the track machines have a very slow ground speed (1.5 mph or less I think ). The wheeled machines go upwards of 5 mph so set up
Time is can be a lot faster, especially if the trailer is unloaded at a distance.

IMHO I think the best machine design would be a spider style lift with wheels (rather than tracks) that can retract to get through narrow openings. Less turf damage and faster ground speed can make the job much more efficient and profitable.
Click to expand...
Yes track lifts are slower than a sd64 but it’s a lot narrower
I don’t think a narrow tire machine would work because of center of gravity I believe it would have have to be wide like the nifty
Maybe like a Argo 6 wheeler but have each side adjustable in and out with up and down

but how much are you driving your lift around ?

I get upset over any unnecessary movement ( because of how slow and wear and tear)

it doesn’t matter lift -stumper-mini any significant movement they get loaded up and moved with trailer and truck even an 1/8 mile

so track speed not that important our lift will do doughnuts around our stumper and even with our tx650 but sk1550 will toast them all

but I believe the sd64 is the king of ground speed
 
EasternArborist said:
In general how has the computer system been? The machine is reliable?
Click to expand...
It's been great. Only two issues, One was a parts label the was blocking a hydro hose the day of delivery. They flew out a tech to trouble shoot the next day. And a frozen leg sensor, thaw it out and some silicone spray back in business. No computer issues 340 some hours. Flown in all types of temps 10*f up to 98*f. Flew it in the rain once no issues.
 
MA Arborist said:
It should be noted that the track machines have a very slow ground speed (1.5 mph or less I think ). The wheeled machines go upwards of 5 mph so set up
Time is can be a lot faster, especially if the trailer is unloaded at a distance.

IMHO I think the best machine design would be a spider style lift with wheels (rather than tracks) that can retract to get through narrow openings. Less turf damage and faster ground speed can make the job much more efficient and profitable.
Click to expand...
Have you seen the Leguan 190? Interesting concept, I would like to demo one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom