- Location
- Burlington
Looking for recommendations on some lifts and personal feedback. thanks!
Bil Jax 55xa vs nifty Lift SD50 vs others
- Thread starter Mes261
- Start date
flushcut
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Delavan, WI
Never ran a Bil Jax but out of the others ( Genie, JLG, and Nifty) Nifty is the better unit.
Lumberjack
Branched out member
Disclaimer, I’m a Nifty dealer.
I obviously prefer the Nifty over the Biljax, but I really prefer the SD64 over the SD50.
Nifties are simple, no centralized computer to get unhappy and lock up the machine.
The SD64 vs the SD50, the 64 has better grade-ability, better outreach at lower heights due to boom design (relative to the respective max outreach), faster boom speed, 4 wheel steer, suspension. Aside from being cheaper, the SD50 doesn’t have any meaningful benefits over the SD50 for my tree service. (CDL work truck).
I obviously prefer the Nifty over the Biljax, but I really prefer the SD64 over the SD50.
Nifties are simple, no centralized computer to get unhappy and lock up the machine.
The SD64 vs the SD50, the 64 has better grade-ability, better outreach at lower heights due to boom design (relative to the respective max outreach), faster boom speed, 4 wheel steer, suspension. Aside from being cheaper, the SD50 doesn’t have any meaningful benefits over the SD50 for my tree service. (CDL work truck).
TCtreeswinger
Branched out member
Our nifty is f'ing plagued with issues. Damn glad im not paying for the p.o.s.
- Location
- Burlington
I’m seeing some mixed reviews here! Lol
Tctreeswinger.. which model are you using?
Tctreeswinger.. which model are you using?
TCtreeswinger
Branched out member
Sd64
- Location
- Burlington
How many hours and what are the issues? Easy to work on or complicated?
MA Arborist
Branched out member
- Location
- Cape Cod
I own the sd50. Had it since new for over three years
Pros-
-very easy to work on
-no computer
-well built
cons-
-hydraulic fittings come loose at random causing leaks
-can not climb a hill worth a shit
-cribbing needed to level even on mild grades
-throttle solenoid is prone to failure (about $100.00 for replacement).
I know people with sd64s that have had issues with reliability.
Niftylift as a whole is a good company And are good about upgrading models to fix “glitches.”
Pros-
-very easy to work on
-no computer
-well built
cons-
-hydraulic fittings come loose at random causing leaks
-can not climb a hill worth a shit
-cribbing needed to level even on mild grades
-throttle solenoid is prone to failure (about $100.00 for replacement).
I know people with sd64s that have had issues with reliability.
Niftylift as a whole is a good company And are good about upgrading models to fix “glitches.”
- Location
- Burlington
Hmmm.. decisions
I know that anything mechanical will have small problems here and there but just wanting the machine with the best track record. I know it’s hard to say which one is best or worst.
I know that anything mechanical will have small problems here and there but just wanting the machine with the best track record. I know it’s hard to say which one is best or worst.
MA Arborist
Branched out member
- Location
- Cape Cod
Tech support at Niftylift is excellent. Make sure to get connected to Paul Coombs. He knows the ins and outs of those machines very well
VenasNursery
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Michigan
We have a 34tn it’s only 40’ but it will go through a 32” gate and is only 16’ long
It really gets in some really tight places but as some one else mentioned hard to set up on any type of grade
it’s a tinker toy but we don’t climb so it comes in really handy
no problems at all 4 years old
It really gets in some really tight places but as some one else mentioned hard to set up on any type of grade
it’s a tinker toy but we don’t climb so it comes in really handy
no problems at all 4 years old
Fivepoints
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- East of Huntsville, AL
The interlock switches have problems. They do have a main control circuit board in an sd64. I've had to change a bad one. The wiring kinda sucks. I've had to repair it going up the boom. They didn't use enough wire so they are to tight and get pulled in half. I've had to go get one out of a yard when the interlock malfunctioned and it wouldn't allow the outriggers to be raised. They also like to blow main battery fuses. The main battery cable isn't protected very well. It rubs the insulation off while the machine runs.
- Location
- Burlington
Maybe I’ll look harder at Bil-Jax
TCtreeswinger
Branched out member
Electrical issues like crazy. Boom creeps (known issue). Been stuck in it more than once. Can set up in odd places and light on turf for its weight. I firmly believe we have a lemon but another local company has had similar issues
- Location
- Burlington
Are the problems at least somewhat easy to fix?
Reach
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Atglen, PA
I have a lot of hours in Bil Jax (now Haulotte) lifts, and only ran a Nifty once. I like the simplicity of the Nifty, but it does not have a lot of range of motion on the outriggers.
The Bil Jax is a good machine, but has A LOT of electronic/electrical problems. It seems there’s almost always a sensor out of calibration or a wire in a harness somewhere going bad. When they run they’re wonderful, but when something goes glitchy they don’t function at all. I also like the way they run on batteries, but they don’t run all day, so I run the onboard generator all day to keep the batteries up enough to work all day. Also, the diesel version is terribly underpowered, stay away from that one and buy a gas engine model.
The Bil Jax is a good machine, but has A LOT of electronic/electrical problems. It seems there’s almost always a sensor out of calibration or a wire in a harness somewhere going bad. When they run they’re wonderful, but when something goes glitchy they don’t function at all. I also like the way they run on batteries, but they don’t run all day, so I run the onboard generator all day to keep the batteries up enough to work all day. Also, the diesel version is terribly underpowered, stay away from that one and buy a gas engine model.
TCtreeswinger
Branched out member
Before getting the nifty we would rent bil jax and have similar issues as reach.
Lots of money has been spent on having techs out or bringing the lift to their shop only to not have the symptom occur and they tell us they cant do anything. Very frustrating from a safety standpoint
Lots of money has been spent on having techs out or bringing the lift to their shop only to not have the symptom occur and they tell us they cant do anything. Very frustrating from a safety standpoint
Lumberjack
Branched out member
On my phone/road trip, pulled over for lunch, we’ll reply more when I get to a keyboard.
@TCtreeswinger which problem can’t they replicate? The drifting boom is a simple problem with only a couple causes. I’ve had two SD64s that had cylinder drift issues, one outrigger, one boom. Outrigger cylinder was replaced the boom cylinder was honed.
@TCtreeswinger which problem can’t they replicate? The drifting boom is a simple problem with only a couple causes. I’ve had two SD64s that had cylinder drift issues, one outrigger, one boom. Outrigger cylinder was replaced the boom cylinder was honed.
TCtreeswinger
Branched out member
Outriggers will reverse action. Loss of throttle in basket. Boom telescopes (told us all valves have to be replaced). Dies and wont start. Luffing switch intermittent. Several other issues i cant remember off the top of my head.
first post here,i rented lifts pretty extensively before i bought my sd64, including tz50 genie, 45xa biljax, 18.90pro platform basket (tracked spiderlift).
imo the tz50 genie was the worst of the bunch because it was a towbehind that had hydraulic friction drive to the main trailer tires and was really only good for flat paved surfaces.
the 45xa followed after that, its biggest drawbacks were; shortest working height of the bunch, and its gas over electric over hydraulic controls which were single function at a time and slow and complicated, but it was 4wd, light and had a jib which made it nice in the canopy.
the 18.90pro would rank next, it was my first experience with a lift that had live hydraulics which was a game changer, it allowed me to move multiple functions at the same time and it could shrink down to fit through a standard 36in door which was pretty cool,it had the smallest bucket and a jib which made it the easiest lift to maneuver in the canopy that i have used yet. it was also the tallest of my rentals at 60ft. being on tracks also made it zero turn but, even in the wider configuration the tracks werent far enough apart to generate alot of turning torque and it was also very unstable in both front to back and side to side directions. traveling cross grade was very sketchy and i had to put 400lb in weights in the basket to keep it from flipping backwards while climbing my trailer ramps, it had the ability to level on the steepest grades you just couldnt safely drive it there. the outreach limiting system was pretty lame, it started limiting outreach @185lbs, i weight 190-200lbs so plus saw, rigging, clothing etc the horizontal reach was not great and it was scary grabing 50lb chunks of limb to drop them knowing i would be over wieght. it also barely had enough engine hp to drive up grades and drive controls were very susceptible to damage.
the sd50 was my favorite of the rentals, it had live hydraulics, full outreach at max wieght, drive from bucket controls(which are poorly placed and easy to damage), it had the fastest drive and setup speed. it was also the first i used with a diesel engine it had plenty of power and got great fuel consumption. gradeability wasnt great and maneuvering wasnt great with single axle steering but in my market the ease/speed of use was more important than fitting through a gate and turning tight.
i love my sd64...4 wheel steering is awesome more maneuverable than much smaller machines much more powerful drive system than sd50, easily climbs steep trailer ramps, independent suspension makes curbs/bumps a breeze. way faster function speeds. wide tires give floatation comparable to 45xa. fits in 16ft dump trailer
some issues though, cylinder drift in outriggers($30 hydraulic lock), operator controls layout in bucket kinda sucks, levers spread too far apart, button type, and locations are super prone to getting ice and saw dust in them. outrigger down sensors get frozen in place when outriggers are up in icey conditions.
sorry for long post, some pics of old setups
imo the tz50 genie was the worst of the bunch because it was a towbehind that had hydraulic friction drive to the main trailer tires and was really only good for flat paved surfaces.
the 45xa followed after that, its biggest drawbacks were; shortest working height of the bunch, and its gas over electric over hydraulic controls which were single function at a time and slow and complicated, but it was 4wd, light and had a jib which made it nice in the canopy.
the 18.90pro would rank next, it was my first experience with a lift that had live hydraulics which was a game changer, it allowed me to move multiple functions at the same time and it could shrink down to fit through a standard 36in door which was pretty cool,it had the smallest bucket and a jib which made it the easiest lift to maneuver in the canopy that i have used yet. it was also the tallest of my rentals at 60ft. being on tracks also made it zero turn but, even in the wider configuration the tracks werent far enough apart to generate alot of turning torque and it was also very unstable in both front to back and side to side directions. traveling cross grade was very sketchy and i had to put 400lb in weights in the basket to keep it from flipping backwards while climbing my trailer ramps, it had the ability to level on the steepest grades you just couldnt safely drive it there. the outreach limiting system was pretty lame, it started limiting outreach @185lbs, i weight 190-200lbs so plus saw, rigging, clothing etc the horizontal reach was not great and it was scary grabing 50lb chunks of limb to drop them knowing i would be over wieght. it also barely had enough engine hp to drive up grades and drive controls were very susceptible to damage.
the sd50 was my favorite of the rentals, it had live hydraulics, full outreach at max wieght, drive from bucket controls(which are poorly placed and easy to damage), it had the fastest drive and setup speed. it was also the first i used with a diesel engine it had plenty of power and got great fuel consumption. gradeability wasnt great and maneuvering wasnt great with single axle steering but in my market the ease/speed of use was more important than fitting through a gate and turning tight.
i love my sd64...4 wheel steering is awesome more maneuverable than much smaller machines much more powerful drive system than sd50, easily climbs steep trailer ramps, independent suspension makes curbs/bumps a breeze. way faster function speeds. wide tires give floatation comparable to 45xa. fits in 16ft dump trailer
some issues though, cylinder drift in outriggers($30 hydraulic lock), operator controls layout in bucket kinda sucks, levers spread too far apart, button type, and locations are super prone to getting ice and saw dust in them. outrigger down sensors get frozen in place when outriggers are up in icey conditions.
sorry for long post, some pics of old setups
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