Privately owned for 45 years, telehandler manufacturer CareLift Equipment and its Zoom Boom product line were purchased by Skyjack in fall 2007. The Zoom Boom product line ranges from the 6,000-pound ZB6042 to the 32,000-pound ZB32032. The ZB6042 has been on the market for eight years and still maintains its heritage of robust design and build.
Dave Bristow, Skyjack’s vice president of telehandler sales, says the concept for the unit is all heavy-duty metal construction, a philosophy that applies to the entire Zoom Boom line. The deep heavy-duty frame offers a steel underbelly that provides 18 inches of clearance and allows components to be carried high in the frame to protect them from damage.
The machine is currently powered by a Tier-2 99-hp Cummins 4BT4.5 diesel engine, which Skyjack plans to transition to a Tier 3 engine this year. Its mid-mount engine design provides excellent visibility for the operator; the lower engine cowling allows the operator to see the right rear tire when backing. Additionally, the ZB6042 runs a Dana 212 axle at the front and rear, combined with a Dana three-speed transmission.
Doors on both sides of the frame allow access to the oil check, filters, and radiator for easy service. The hydraulic and fuel tanks both have 41-gallon capacities. They are mounted side-by-side to the frame opposite the cab. Although adjacent to each other, great effort has been taken to prevent fuel oil cross contamination. Frame sway on the machine is 11° left and right of center.
The ZB6042 has an externally mounted extension cylinder on the bottom of the boom. At the back of the machine, a boom inspection door plate allows for easy visual inspection of the wear pads. The air cleaner is also protected here between the boom supports.
Skyjack offers both open and closed cab configurations on the ZB6042. On the standard open cab, a mesh cover on the right side protects the operator, and the rear window is covered with glass to prevent mud from being slung into the cab by the rear tire. The cab is isolated, rubber mounted so it doesn’t transmit vibrations to the operator. A suspension seat is standard on the machine. The cab design allows for field installation to convert it to the enclosed cab. These are popular products in Canada, so an engine block heater comes standard. In the cab, the front joystick is fully proportional hydraulic for the boom lift and tilt functions. The rear joystick controls frame leveling and auxiliary hydraulics. The entire joystick console adjusts forward and back to enhance operator comfort.
A simple mechanism on the carriage allows the operator to lift up a latch and slide out the pin to switch over to one of several attachments. A full array of attachments is available, including side-tilt carriages, jib winches, mechanical jib boom, and buckets.
Options include air conditioning, auxiliary hydraulics, side tilt and swing carriages, and a 4,000-pound hydraulic winch. Pneumatic tires are standard on the machine with optional rock lug tires available, as well as foam-filled options.
--Lift & Access
ID 160390686 © Viorel Margineanu | Dreamstime.com
