Forklifts and scissor lifts are heavy, short-wheelbase, and unforgiving on ramps. Between the Fox Valley manufacturing corridor, warehouses along Highway 41, small shops in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, and the constant flow of construction jobsites across eastern Wisconsin, forklift and scissor lift moves happen every day. Getting it wrong — wrong trailer, wrong ramp angle, wrong tie-downs — means damaged pavement, damaged equipment, or a scary loading incident. Getting it right takes about 20 minutes with the right rental.
This guide walks through exactly which Fondy trailer handles which lift, how to load one without the ramp fight, and how to strap it so nothing shifts on the road.
Why Forklifts and Scissor Lifts Hate Standard Ramps
Every forklift and most scissor lifts share three characteristics that make ramps miserable: hard rubber or solid tires (little to no grip), a short wheelbase (as little as 42 inches on a small warehouse forklift), and a heavy front counterweight that shifts the balance point severely. On a standard utility trailer ramp, the short wheelbase means the front wheels can crest the top before the back wheels have even started climbing. The lift gets stuck balanced on the ramp seam, and getting it moving again requires either a winch or a spotter guiding a careful throttle application.
Scissor lifts add another problem: they are top-heavy when stowed and even worse when partially extended. Any sideways motion on a ramp can start a tip that is hard to arrest. This is not theoretical — every rental company has stories.
Fondy's Trailer Options for Lifts
The Air Tow — Best for Compact Warehouse Forklifts and Scissor Lifts
The Air Tow lowers its entire deck to pavement level. For a compact 3,000-lb warehouse forklift or a 19-foot slab scissor lift, ground-load is transformative. You drive the lift onto flat pavement (or roll it in neutral, or push it on with a pallet jack under the outriggers), and the deck raises back to travel height. No ramp angle, no wheelbase problem, no tip risk. Pricing: $250 for 4 hours, $300 for 24 hours, $720 for 3 days, $1,260 for a full week. 13,535 lb GVWR with 9,885 lb of payload, which covers most warehouse-class forklifts and every scissor lift up to a 26-foot boom class.
The 8.5' x 24' Tilt Deckover — Best for Larger Forklifts
For a heavier rough-terrain forklift or a construction-grade scissor lift that exceeds the Air Tow's payload, the tilt deckover trailer is the right rental. The deck pivots hydraulically so the rear drops to a shallow angle. It is not ground level, but the angle is a fraction of what a standard ramp trailer offers. 14,000 lb GVWR. Pricing: $120 for 4 hours, $140 for 24 hours, $355 for 3 days, $735 for a week.
Why Not the Standard Utility Trailer
Fondy's 6' x 12' utility trailer works well for many jobs, but forklift and scissor lift loading is not one of them. The ramp is too steep, the load rating is too low for most machines, and the short deck length makes it hard to position a lift with proper tongue weight balance.
Rule of thumb: if the lift is under 5,000 lbs and fits, book the Air Tow. If it exceeds 9,885 lb payload or is over 24 feet long, book the tilt deckover.
What to Confirm Before You Book
- Empty weight of the lift: not the lift capacity. A "5,000 lb forklift" typically means it can lift 5,000 lbs, and the truck itself weighs 7,000-9,000 lbs. Check the data plate on the mast or in the operator's manual.
- Wheelbase and overall length: especially for larger scissor lifts and rough-terrain forklifts. Confirm the deck length fits with room for tie-downs at both ends.
- Turn radius at destination: you need to unload where the trailer can be positioned safely and the lift can drive off.
- Tire type: solid or pneumatic. Pneumatic tires grip better on ramps, solid tires do not grip at all.
- Tow vehicle GVWR: a loaded Air Tow with a warehouse forklift may push 10,000-12,000 lbs total. A three-quarter-ton or one-ton pickup is the right tow vehicle for anything approaching Air Tow payload.
Loading a Forklift on the Air Tow
- Position the tow vehicle and trailer on flat pavement. Chock wheels. Set the parking brake on the trailer.
- Drop the air suspension. Confirm the rear of the deck is fully seated on the pavement.
- Drive the forklift onto the deck slowly. Keep the forks or platform in the fully lowered position throughout loading.
- Center the machine left to right. Position it slightly forward of center so tongue weight lands at 10-15% of loaded trailer weight.
- Set the parking brake on the forklift. Remove the key.
- Raise the air suspension. Deck lifts to travel height.
- Strap all four corners — frame or dedicated tie-down points, not accessories or wiring.
- Double check that the mast is fully lowered and the forks are set to a safe travel angle (typically tilted back slightly).
Loading a Scissor Lift on the Air Tow
Scissor lifts follow the same procedure but with two additional rules. First, always lower the platform completely before loading. Second, engage the outriggers or leveling jacks (if the machine has them) only after the lift is on the trailer and the air suspension is raised. Loading with outriggers deployed can cause them to catch on the deck or the pavement lip.
Never transport a scissor lift with the platform elevated. Not even partially. The center of gravity moves dangerously and can tip the trailer on the first sharp turn.
Tie-Down Points on Forklifts and Scissor Lifts
Both types of equipment have factory tie-down points. On forklifts, look for holes in the counterweight and holes near the mast base. On scissor lifts, look for lift eyes on the frame near the wheels. Do not strap through the mast channels, the hydraulic hoses, the platform railings, or the electrical panel. Use rated chain and binders for anything over 5,000 lbs empty weight; ratchet straps are fine for lighter machines.
Where Fondy Fits in the Wisconsin Lift Rental Market
Most equipment rental companies in eastern Wisconsin will rent you a forklift with delivery included. What they will not do is rent you the trailer to move your own forklift or scissor lift. That is where Fondy fits. If you already own a lift and need to move it — between jobsites, from purchase to shop, from storage to seasonal use, or to a repair facility — renting the Air Tow or tilt deckover is dramatically cheaper than paying an equipment mover. The Air Tow is $250 for 4 hours versus $400-800 for a professional equipment hauler on the same trip.
Pickup and Booking
All Fondy rentals are by appointment at W4637 Lakepark Drive, Fond du Lac, WI. Text Nick at (920) 381-9770 with your lift make, model, empty weight, and pickup window. He will confirm the right trailer and reserve it for your dates. No mileage limits, so if the job is in Milwaukee or Green Bay, the trailer is the same rate as a local move.