Towable booms (JLG T350 and T500 class) hitch behind a properly rated truck, set outriggers, and go to work. They are not drive-around construction booms. If you will move the machine 40 times a day across a dirt pad, you wanted self-propelled. If you need occasional height at a church, farm, or light commercial site and you can tow, the T350/T500 class is cheaper and easier to get home.
In This Guide
Quick comparison
Towable boom (T350/T500)
Hitch, outriggers, work. Best for maintenance and light commercial.
Strengths
- You can move it between sites
- Electric and quiet
- Lower cost than a 45 ft self-propelled
Watch-outs
- Outriggers every setup
- Not a dirt-pad production machine
- Tow vehicle must be rated
Best for
- • Churches and schools
- • Light service work
- • Owners who already have a truck
Self-propelled boom
Drive, boom up, move, repeat — construction default.
Strengths
- Fast repositioning
- Rough-terrain options
- 40–80 ft classes
Watch-outs
- Delivery truck required
- Higher rate
- Overkill for one light fixture
Best for
- • Active job sites
- • Steel and envelope
- • All-day aerial production
| Spec | Towable boom (T350/T500) | Self-propelled boom |
|---|---|---|
| Move between setups | Tow or roll with outriggers down rules | Drive (lowered) around the site |
| Typical classes | T350 ~35 ft, T500 ~50 ft | 40–80 ft self-propelled |
| Power | Often electric | Diesel, dual-fuel, or electric |
| Delivery | Customer tow or our truck | Our truck / trailer |
| Production steel work | Poor fit | Correct fit |
Figures below are typical ranges for this equipment class — not a spec sheet for one serial-numbered unit. Used rental inventory rotates; we confirm height, capacity, width, and weight on your quote.
What towable booms do well
Facility maintenance, light exterior work, and jobs where the machine sits in one or two setups all day. Electric models are quiet enough for occupied sites. You avoid a semi delivery if your truck and hitch check out. Working heights land in the mid-30s to ~50 ft depending on T350 vs T500.
What they do not do
They do not drive at height. They do not crawl a muddy pad between columns. Outriggers need firm, level ground — a hillside orchard in Santaquin is a maybe, not a yes. Cycle time is slower than a self-propelled 45 ft on a busy steel job.
Hitch, brakes, and towing
Confirm GVWR, hitch class, and whether the unit needs a brake controller. “My half-ton towed a mower” is not a spec. We will not send a T500 home behind an under-rated SUV. If you cannot tow, we deliver a self-propelled boom instead — that is still the right machine for many people.
Who should rent which
Towable for light, occasional, or multi-site maintenance when you can hitch legally. Self-propelled for construction production. Call (801) 880-8800 with your tow vehicle and the work height.
FAQ
Can I tow a T350 with a half-ton pickup?
Sometimes, if the truck’s towing package, hitch, and payload actually match the boom. We check the numbers; we do not go by vibes.
Are towable booms indoor-safe?
Electric models can be, if the floor takes the outrigger loads. Pads and a floor-load check still apply.
Is a T500 a replacement for a 60 ft boom?
No. Different height, different mobility. If you need 60 ft of self-propelled reach, rent that class.
Machines on the lot
Live inventory rotates. These are current machines in the related rental collections — not a promise that a specific used unit is still here.
Need a quote on the right class?
Call or text — we'll match height, width, and capacity to the job instead of renting you a bigger machine than you need.