Ladders have their place, but once you’re chasing steel at 50 feet, you need something sturdier. A solid boom lift gets the crew where they have to be—fast—and lets them stay there without white-knuckling every gust of wind. That’s why the Genie S-65 is a familiar sight on construction and plant sites from Houston to Williston. It goes high, it reaches far, and it keeps operators feeling secure in the basket.
Buying one new will set you back six figures. Picking up a used unit that’s been serviced and tested? That’s money you can redirect toward payroll, raw material, or—let’s be honest—keeping the lights on when a project drags an extra week.
Quick Specs (The Stuff That Actually Matters)
Spec
Genie S-65
Platform height
65 ft
Horizontal reach
56 ft
Lift capacity
500 lb (unrestricted)
Power
4-WD diesel, oscillating axle
Up-and-over clearance
26 ft
Operating weight
~22,000 lb
Straight boom, no fancy hinges—just point the stick where you need it and run. It’s the lift electricians, welders, and siding crews ask for by name.
Why Crews Stick With the S-65
1. Real Off-Road Ability
Construction sites aren’t paved. Four-wheel drive and an oscillating axle mean the S-65 claws over ruts and soft spots instead of burying itself to the axles.
2. Simple, Intuitive Controls
Throttle up, swing out, up you go. New hires can learn the basics before first break, and seasoned hands like how smoothly the joystick feeds power to the boom.
3. Parts Are Everywhere
Need a joystick potentiometer or a wheel hub? Genie support and aftermarket suppliers stock them coast to coast. No week-long waits for proprietary widgets.
4. Built for Long Days
The diesel engine sips fuel at idle and lugs hard without complaint. Grease the main pins, keep hydraulic oil clean, and it’ll run every shift until the job signs off.
New vs. Used: Follow the Dollar Signs
Rent an S-65 five times and you’re out roughly $15,000—and you still own nothing. Buy new and watch depreciation shave 15 percent the minute it rolls off the trailer.
Grab a clean used unit for $45–50 K and load it onto site next week. If you put it to work two days a week, it’ll pay itself off in a year, sometimes faster. After that, every hour on the meter is profit.
Where the S-65 Earns Its Keep
- Steel erection – Bolt columns and rafters without staging scaffolding.
- Tank farms & refineries – Touch up welds, swap valves, replace pipe heat trace.
- Sign and lighting installs – Reach the top of a six-story façade and still have side reach to spare.
- Roofing & siding – Send two installers up with tools, panels, and sealant in one trip.
- Utility maintenance – Substation repairs, pole hardware swaps, high-bay relamping.
If your crew is spending half the morning dragging ladders around—or worse, waiting on an outside rental—owning your own lift changes everything.
How We Vet a Boom Lift Before It Hits the Yard
- Full boom cycle under load – We extend it, retract it, and feel for bounce or lag.
- Hydraulic system check – Lines, rams, and rotary joints get warmed up and pressure-tested.
- Drive & brake test – 4-WD engages, parking brake holds on a slope, steering tracks straight.
- Engine health – Cold start, hot restart, no mystery smoke, stable idle.
- Safety gear – Emergency lowering, tilt sensors, horn, gate latches, and platform controls must pass.
We photograph every angle, log hours, and note any cosmetic dings. You see exactly what you’re buying before you wire a dime.
What Makes Buying From Power Drive Supply Different
We’re gear people, not auction flippers. Our inventory lives on-site—if it’s listed, it’s parked right here. That means:
- Straight answers – If a tire shows cord or a boom pin needs shims, you’ll hear it first.
- Paper trail – Copies of our inspection sheets, service work, and any OEM documentation on hand.
- Help with freight – Need it in Dallas by Friday? We’ll book the lowboy and send you the tracking link.
- No pressure – Call, ask questions, sleep on it. The lift sells itself.
The Payoff: Safety, Productivity, and Real Savings
The Genie S-65 isn’t a luxury purchase; it’s a practical tool that makes height work safer and faster. Crews spend more time on task and less on setup. Supervisors stop sweating rental return clocks. Owners see a clear payback in avoided rental fees and tighter schedules.
One roofing outfit we work with put an S-65 on three mid-rise reroofs last spring. Between saved rental costs and faster panel installs, they cleared an extra $28,000 versus the previous season—and the lift is still on the books, ready for the next bid.
Ready to Get Your Hands on One?
Give us a call or drop a note through the contact page. We’ll send the walk-around video, inspection report, and a rock-solid quote that includes freight. No surprises—just a stout Genie S-65 that’s eager for another season in the air.
Reach farther, finish faster, and keep the crew off the ladders. It really is that simple.