For any project that requires working on a slope or an uneven surface, a Rough Terrain Scissor Lift (RT Scissor) is a go-to option. This type of scissor lift has leveling options and four-wheel drive, along with better traction and heavier weight capacities than an indoor scissor lift. And if you’re looking for a Rough Terrain Scissor Lift for sale, you’ve come to the right place.
Common Uses for a Rough Terrain Scissor Lift

RT scissor lifts are used to safely raise a contractor into the air for outdoor construction, exterior finishing, building maintenance, welding and more. They’re ideal for locations where the scissor lift will have to maneuver on rough terrain, such as a construction site. In addition to four-wheel drive, an RT scissor lift has reinforced tires to help prevent a flat. If your work site has gravel, mud, sand, grass or dirt on it, an RT scissor lift is the right choice. It’s also important to note that RT scissor lifts run on gas or diesel, so they’re not suitable for indoor work. (Battery operated scissor lifts are more suitable for indoor work.)

Many work sites are going to have an uneven slope or rough outdoor terrain, which means an RT scissor lift with a leveling feature is ideal for raising multiple workers or materials up to a higher level. Gradeability is one of the measurements used for rough terrain scissor lifts. The lift’s leveling feature can allow it to safely work on slopes from zero to 40 percent.

Rough terrain scissor lifts are also used for inspecting or repairing utilities, installing signs or billboards, landscaping work, and in railyards for loading and moving materials.

How Much Does a Rough Terrain Scissor Lift Cost?

A used rough terrain scissor lift for sale can be purchased for around $15,000 as of 2022. The age and hours of use on a used machine will obviously affect the purchase price. A new RT scissor lift can run as high as $75,000. Depending on how much the scissor lift is needed, it might be a better option for a company to rent one for short-term jobs.

Here are some examples of average rental prices for rough terrain scissor lifts in the United States, as of 2022. Prices vary by city and market conditions.

26-Foot Lift, Four-Wheel Drive, RT Scissor Lift:

• $200 per day
• $450 per week
• $1,000 per month

32-Foot Lift, Four-Wheel Drive, RT Scissor Lift:

• $225 per day
• $550 per week
• $1,000 per month

40-Foot Lift, Four-Wheel Drive, RT Scissor Lift:

• $250 per day
• $700 per week
• $1,800 per month

50-Foot Lift, Four-Wheel Drive, RT Scissor Lift:

• $390 per day
• $700 per week
• $2,250 per month

Can Scissor Lifts Be Used Outside?

Rough terrain scissor lifts were specifically designed to be used outdoors on construction sites or other types of work sites. They’re suitable for running on mud, gravel, dirt, grass, or other uneven or rough surfaces. Even though most RT scissor lifts are four-wheel drive, it’s still fairly easy to get them stuck in mud that is too wet or deep.

Engineers have only managed to create a scissor lift battery that lasts for eight hours. This is why the vast majority of RT scissor lifts are gasoline or diesel powered. Once the eight-hour charge runs down in the battery, the scissor lift has to be recharged for eight hours. If the scissor lift needs to be driven to your job site, you won’t even get a full eight-hour work day out of it before it needs to be recharged. For construction jobs that are working 12- or 16-hour shifts, the best solution is going to be a gas or diesel powered rough terrain scissor lift.

Indoor scissor lifts do come with battery-run options. These are more suitable for indoor work spaces, obviously, because they don’t emit exhaust fumes.

How Many Hours Does a Scissor Lift Last?

A scissor lift that is properly cared for and stays on a regular maintenance schedule can actually last for decades of service. Some companies report using scissor lifts that have lasted for 30 years of use.

Hours are calculated differently for scissor lifts when compared to forklifts or other types of equipment. On a forklift, for example, the clock is still running when the machine is idling. On a scissor lift, the clock only records hours when the machine is in motion. If the scissor lift is stationary and has lifted the workers and materials in the air, the clock stops running and those hours are not counted. Due to the way the hours are calculated, a well-maintained scissor lift can be expected to last up to around 5,000 hours.

How Much Weight Can a Scissor Lift Hold?

Indoor scissor lifts are often built to hold 500 to 1,000 pounds, but rough terrain scissor lifts more than double that. RT scissor lifts can lift multiple workers and materials up to 60 feet high, with a workspace area of up to ten feet. Genie manufactures RT scissor lifts that have an extension deck to provide even more space for workers. Many rough terrain scissor lifts are rated to lift up to 2,500 pounds safely. More workers and more materials means that jobs can be carried out even faster.

Can You Drive a Scissor Lift on Grass?

Yes, a rough terrain scissor lift can absolutely be driven on grass. The question you’re probably really wondering, though, is will a scissor lift leave ruts if I drive it across a client’s lawn? With the weight of an RT scissor lift, it is likely to do some damage if driven across a manicured lawn, especially if the lawn is wet or has a lot of morning dew on it. Many contractors and landscapers work around this issue by laying sheets of plywood on the ground and driving across those, to avoid damaging the lawn.

Genie Rough Terrain Scissor Lift for Sale

If you’re looking for a rough terrain scissor lift for sale, Genie is an American company that builds and designs these machines. Genie is headquarted in Redmond, WA, and the company has been making lift equipment since 1966. Here are the RT scissor lifts that Genie currently manufactures:

Those are just the machines that Genie currently manufactures as of 2022. At FleetNow, we sell all of these models and we also have some used Genie rough terrain scissor lifts for sale that are discontinued models made by Genie. These machines are still in great working order and have many years of use left in them, such as the GS-3268 RT and the GS-2668 RT.

JLG Rough Terrain Scissor Lift for Sale

Pennsylvania-based JLG also manufactures high-quality RT scissor lifts. Here are the models JLG currently offers:

FleetNow has all of these JLG rough terrain scissor lifts for sale and some additional JLG models not listed here.

MEC Rough Terrain Scissor Lift for Sale

Wisconsin-based MEC has been designing and building scissor lifts since 1976. Here are the current models of rough terrain scissor lifts that the company manufactures:

We have these models of MEC rough terrain scissor lifts for sale on FleetNow.

Skyjack Rough Terrain Scissor Lift for Sale

Skyjack has manufactured hundreds of thousands of pieces of lift machinery since the company was formed in 1985. The company currently manufactures two Rough Terrain Scissor Lifts, listed here:

FleetNow has a number of these Skyjack RT scissor lifts for sale, as well as some older models not listed here.

Snorkel Rough Terrain Scissor Lift for Sale

Snorkel has been around since 1959 and actually built one of the first boom lifts used by fire departments to shoot water into taller buildings. Here are some of the Snorkel rough terrain scissor lifts for sale o FleetNow.