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Typically spider lifts are narrow access machines on tracks with outriggers that are bent and fold out of the way. While Nifty does make narrow access tracked machines, but the SD64 is a 70' lift on turf tires with 4 wheel steering and 4 wheel drive. I've had a standing bet since 2016 that the SD64 is the most turf friendly 70' lift.
If you need narrow access, you need a spider. If you need dielectric, you need a bucket (or now an expensive spider)... if you don't need either of those, the SD64 is a great machine, IMO.
Before I was a dealer for Nifty, I was looking around, trying to find which lift I was going to buy. I had honed in on the Tracked Lift's 72' lift... I prefer Tracked Lifts to All Access. I'm not sure what got me looking at the TM64/SD64, but I started comparing the specs of the 70' spiders to the SD64.
Here are some points I regurgitate every time I have this conversation, in no particular order:
1: The SD64 has 12' of outreach at 70', the Tracked lift only has 6' of side reach at 70'.. that makes a huge difference not being over the machine to reach 70'. You can be 60' vertically and 30' to the side with the SD64
2: The boom speed on the SD64 is very respectable, some customers compare it to a bucket truck but I don't have first hand/practical knowledge of bucket trucks. With the engine warmed up, I can go from a fully stowed boom to fully erect in under 70 seconds (outriggers set up). One of the spiders I looked at was around 3 minutes to do the same function.
3: The SD64 has 42' of sidereach which Segways into number 4.
4: The SD64 has a 500lb capacity anywhere it can reach. The Tracked Lift unit has a 300lb or 441lb capacity depending if it fits through a 3' gate or not. Some other spiders have a restricted chart and can offer a similar outreach to the SD64, but only with 176lb in the basket. I'm a big boy and mainly do removals, the 500lb capacity is very nice.
5. The SD64 doesn't have a "computer." It does have a logic board that uses relays to control outrigger/boom function/alarms (IE can't drive while setting or on the outriggers, can't adjust the outriggers while the boom is in the air.). I've compared it to a complicated log splitter... it uses manual hydraulic valves on the ground and in the air to handle most of the boom functions.
6: It has excellent side hill and climbing gradability ratings/capability.
7: The SD64 does not auto level, and I wouldn't want it to. Getting the machine level is super simple and it only needs to be level within 3* for the rated capacities.
8: The elevator style lower boom is great, you have full outreach with the bottom boom stowed up to a 33' working height. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you're needing to reach something low and far out and the traditional style lower boom can't get you there, like my first lift, the TZ50/30.
9: SD64s hold their resale value exceptionally well. I know of machines with 5k hours on them that have sold for $50-55k.
10: The distributor for Nifty Lift is Nifty lift, not a third party importer/distributor. Nifty has been in the US for 20 something years and is located in Greer, SC. You can buy parts directly from Nifty, and they're usually in stock. The only time I've had to wait for a part was of all things the green paint, which is sourced in the US from Sherman Williams, apparently the store that makes it for Nifty was backed up or something. Weird issue, I have a little paint in stock now though (ordered more than needed for a project).
11: Travel speed on the SD64 is around 5mph vs 1-1.5mph with spiders. Again that doesn't sound like much but it adds up to making a huge difference over the life of the machine. In storm situations we can drop the lift off in a subdivision and drive it between jobs. In 2016 we dropped the lift off in a subdivision and it didn't get back on the trailer for around a month (granted it wasn't working every day, we don't have megasubdivions here).
I can see a path for me to have a spider in the future, however it will be a 90-105', like the Omme 2750, unless the Nifty SD85 comes to fruition (would/will be awesome).
The Nifty was my first major step away from narrow access kinda stuff. My logic was I mainly do removals and doing removals through narrow access means you have to bring the tree debris back through that narrow access which is more stressful, less enjoyable, and slower. Also, narrow access can be done by folks working out of pick ups working for essentially beer money... a tougher market to compete with here. So, I focus mainly on what I can get the lift to and make a great hourly rate in the poorest state in the country. I still use Treesmith to climb, but that's usually for trees that are taller than the lift can access (which isn't all that often) or bigger jobs like storm situations.
I know I'm leaving some stuff out, but that should get you started. If you have any questions or just want to chew the fat, feel free to give me a call/shoot me a text, PM me, or respond here.
