Simple Fit and Finish

Enlarge Image Image 1. Haulotte HA80JRT Rough-Terrain Boom Lift

September 20, 2006 • When you are the world's third largest producer of aerial work platforms, you need to have a product to compete in each popular market segment. One of the most popular • and for many years, fastest growing • segment has been the 80-foot platform height rough-terrain boom lift. This applies to both the conventional/straight and articulating configurations. To compete in this market segment, The Haulotte Group, L'Horme, France, introduced the HA80JRT boom lift to the global market in 2005 and started importing machines into North America in early 2006.

 

Haulotte's HA80JRT boom lift has what I call a hybrid boom design • part conventional, part articulating. The upper section is a long, single telescoping boom that is about 50 feet long when it is extended. The lower section is a dual parallelogram riser that elevates the upper boom. While this is a very simple and reliable design option, it does produce a 3'6” tail swing. While it's not a major deal, the operator must keep the riser elevated to eliminate or limit that dimension. Of course, this design allows for increased up-and-over capabilities.

 

Although intended to compete in the 80-foot market segment, the platform height of the HA80JRT is actually a tad shy at 77 feet. The maximum horizontal reach of slightly more than 53 feet is achieved at a clearance of about 20 feet. Topping it all off is a hydraulically actuated jib that allows a 140° vertical range of motion.

 

Enlarge Image Image 2. Four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer, and a fixed 7'8” width are standard features.

Productive standard features

Haulotte makes up for the minor height shortfall by offering up several highly productive features as standard equipment. Most noteworthy is the fact that this unit rides on a fixed 7'8” wide chassis. With no axles to extend, this unit can access a lot of areas not available to most competitors. Adding to its compact width, the HA80JRT comes standard with four-wheel drive and, even more impressive, four-wheel steer. The narrow width and no tailswing capabilities combined with four-wheel and crab steering options make this one maneuverable machine. Additionally, all four tires come foam-filled as standard.

Enlarge Image Image 3. Spartan yet effective is the best way to describe the controls.

Adhering to the company's simple-design philosophy, the control box (shown in Image 3) is laid out in a simple, straight-forward manner. You can see what I mean by looking at the upper control console in Image 3 and the lower control box shown in Image 4. A substantial joystick drives the machine with an integral steering selector mounted on top. I found drive response and braking to be

Enlarge Image Image 4. Hydraulic oil contamination is prevented by the use of a simple steel flange.

excellent even when operating at full height. All boom functions, with the exception of the telescoping function, are controlled by the pair of joysticks shown on the left of the box. Operation of any function relating to the two substantial and well-positioned multi-function joysticks was smooth and precise.

 

Enlarge Image Image 5. Unique use of geometry is intended to add structural strength.

There are two basket size options: a standard 72”x36” and an optional 96”x31”. As you can see in Image 5 and the close up in Image 6, the platform incorporates a unique guard-rail design, which is intended to increase structural robustness. But I have to wonder how hard this is to repair when it gets bent?

 

Although the literature makes reference to a platform load limiter, this is strictly a European requirement. Units delivered to North America are not fitted with this device.

 

Enlarge Image Image 6. Operation of any function with the joysticks was smooth and precise.

 The Haulotte Group describes its products as simple in design and construction. By following this philosophy, the company produces a line of IC boom lifts that have a lot in common. Virtually all valves and components that make up the control system in this unit are interchangeable with all other Haulotte IC boom lifts. In addition, the proprietary microprocessor-based control system is common throughout the entire boom product range, and an external pendent allows for both control optimization and self-diagnostics. 

 

In my next installment, I will explore in greater detail the design of the Haulotte HA80JRT, and provide my operational observations of the machine.