Refurbished Aerial Lift Financing

Refurbished aerial lifts occupy a specific and useful tier in the market: units that went through a real reconditioning process (mechanical inspection, component replacement, paint, and often a structural recertification) rather than just a clean-up and a price tag change. The difference between a refurbished machine and a used machine described as 'good condition' is documentation of the work performed. On a refurbished unit, a shop has gone through it systematically, replaced what needed replacing, and backed the result with a condition statement or limited warranty. That documentation matters both for the buyer's confidence and for the financing.

We fund refurbished aerial lifts the same way we fund any other transaction in this yard: $50k minimum, statement-led review below the $400k line, one to two weeks to funding. The asset evaluation on a refurbished unit looks at the same factors as any used machine, with the additional consideration of who did the refurbishment and what the scope of work included. A unit refurbished by the original manufacturer's certified service network is a cleaner deal than one where the scope of work is undocumented. Tell us who did the work and what it covered, and we'll work through the asset review from there.

The term 'refurbished' is used loosely in the aerial lift market, which is why the documentation matters. At the high end of the category, manufacturer-remanufactured units go through a defined process: full disassembly of key systems, replacement of wear components, hydraulic system service, electrical system inspection, and structural integrity verification. These units often come with a limited warranty from the manufacturer or an authorized dealer and a certification document that supports both the buyer's confidence and the lender's asset valuation.

Below that, dealer-refurbished units vary in scope. A reputable dealer reconditioning shop will replace batteries, service the hydraulic system, replace worn cylinders, check all safety systems, repaint, and issue a condition report. A less rigorous 'refurbishment' might be a fresh paint job and a cleaned platform with minimal mechanical work underneath. The tell is the paperwork: what was inspected, what was replaced, who did the work, and what documentation comes with the machine.

For buyers, the most reliable refurbished sources are: OEM remanufacturing programs (JLG and Genie both have them), authorized dealer reconditioning programs with documented scope, and specialist aerial lift refurbishment shops with established reputations in the market. Units from these sources carry documentation that supports both the asking price and the financing. Used scissor lifts and used boom lifts without refurbishment documentation are a different category and valued accordingly.

Three buyer groups drive refurbished aerial lift demand. First, operations that need a specific model or height class that isn't available as a new unit from current production. Certain Genie and JLG models go in and out of production, and a refurbished example of a discontinued model can be exactly what a buyer needs for fleet standardization without the disruption of switching to a different spec.

Second, buyers who want the reliability assurance of a reconditioned machine but can't stretch to new list pricing. A refurbished 60-foot articulating boom from an OEM remanufacturing program at 65 to 70 percent of new cost, with a limited warranty, is a compelling buy for a rental company or contractor who needs the unit to earn immediately without a reliability question mark over it. The warranty on a refurbished unit removes most of the risk differential from new.

Facility maintenance operations are a strong buyer group for refurbished aerial lifts. A hospital system or university that maintains a permanent fleet of lifts doesn't need the latest model year; it needs units that are mechanically sound and will earn out over the next five to seven years without major unplanned repairs. A well-documented refurbished unit fits that profile exactly. Warehouse and distribution operators keeping slab scissor lifts on their permanent fleet think the same way.

Does the fact that a lift is 'refurbished' rather than new affect the interest rate?

Rate is driven by your credit profile and deal structure, not by whether the machine is new, used, or refurbished. A well-documented refurbished unit with strong residual value from a reputable source will be underwritten similarly to a comparable used unit in good condition.

We found a refurbished Genie S-60 at a dealer. The reconditioning was done by a third party, not Genie directly. Does that matter?

It matters in that we want to see the scope-of-work documentation from whoever did the refurbishment. A reputable third-party reconditioning shop with a documented process and a condition report is fine. A unit described as 'refurbished' with no paper trail is harder to underwrite.

Can we do a sale-leaseback on refurbished lifts we already own?

Yes. The same rules apply as with any other owned equipment: if the machines have remaining value, a sale-leaseback can pull capital out while keeping them in service. The refurbishment documentation actually helps here because it supports the asset valuation.

We're buying a package of three refurbished scissor lifts and two refurbished boom lifts. Can that all be one deal?

Yes. A mixed-unit refurbished aerial lift package is structured as one transaction if the total exceeds $50k. One application, one term sheet, one closing. We underwrite the package, not each unit separately.

What if the refurbished lift comes with a limited warranty from the dealer? Does that help the financing?

It helps on the asset side. A remaining dealer warranty reduces the buyer's risk of a major unplanned repair shortly after purchase, which is exactly the kind of risk factor that affects how a used or refurbished asset is underwritten. Good warranty documentation is a positive input.