Genie GS-3246 vs Skyjack SJIII4632 — The 32 ft Wide-Deck Decision for Pros

The 32 ft, 46-inch wide-deck class is where serious work happens. Big-box retail construction. Distribution-center retrofits. Warehouse high-bay maintenance. Two machines run this category: the Genie GS-3246 and the Skyjack SJIII4632.

Both reach 38 ft of working height. Both ride a 46-inch wide platform. Both run on 24V DC electric drive. Both weigh in around 5,200 lb stowed. The differences are smaller than buyers expect — but they matter when you’re standardizing a fleet.

We refurbish dozens of these every year. Here’s the honest breakdown.

At a glance — head-to-head specs

Read this carefully: the specs are essentially identical. Same working height. Same deck. Same capacity. Same drive. Within 2 lb of each other on stowed weight. The decision lives in places the spec sheet doesn’t show.

Where the GS-3246 wins

Refurb market depth. Genies are the U.S. fleet standard for the wide-deck class. Acquisition is straightforward, parts are everywhere, and we have one in the shop more often than the Skyjack. If “we need it next month” is your constraint, the GS-3246 is more likely to be in stock when you call.

Operator transfer. If your team has run any other Genie scissor lift in the last decade, the GS-3246 controls and feel are completely familiar. Zero retraining.

Capacity profile. The GS-3246 carries 700 lb on the extended deck and 1,000 lb stowed. Same as the Skyjack on paper, but the load distribution feels slightly more forgiving on uneven concrete — a small but real ergonomic edge.

Where the SJIII4632 wins

Modular control box. This is the SJIII4632’s real long-term advantage. Skyjack’s “SkyCoded” wiring system uses color-coded, numbered wires to a published convention. When something fails — and on any 8-year-old refurbished unit, eventually something will — your service team can troubleshoot it in a fraction of the time it takes on the Genie. Lower lifetime service cost. Less downtime per repair.

Lower stowed height (8 ft 3 in vs 8 ft 4 in). One inch. Sometimes that’s the entire difference between fitting through a service door and not.

Lighter to push in stowed mode. Despite identical scale-weight, the SJIII4632’s mass distribution makes it easier to position by hand on smooth concrete. Operators who move lifts manually between work zones notice this.

Where they’re identical (most things)

• 38 ft working height
• 46″ wide platform
• 700 / 1,000 lb capacity
• Electric 24V DC drive
• Indoor/outdoor on smooth, level surfaces
• Same general fit for warehouse and big-box construction

For most buyers and most jobs, either machine works.

Real-world: what we replace, on average

Common GS-3246 service items at refurbishment:

• Pivot pin / bushing wear (Genie has a known wear pattern; bushing replacement is part of every refurb)
• Battery cable corrosion at terminals
• Function-switch wear on the upper control panel of mid-2010s units
• Occasional hydraulic cylinder seal weep on older 5-generation units

Common SJIII4632 service items at refurbishment:

• Drive motor brushes on high-hour units
• Hydraulic seal weep on 2008–2012 units
• Charger output relay aging on units that sat idle
• Tilt sensor calibration drift on older 4-series units

Both are routine refurb items. We replace them as part of the standard refurbishment package on every unit. Nothing here is a structural concern.

Fleet operators — which one to standardize on?

This is where the decision actually matters. If you’re buying 5+ lifts over 18 months for a fleet, the brand choice compounds:

Standardize on Genie (GS-3246) if:

• Your existing fleet is already 50%+ Genie
• Your service partner is a Genie-certified shop
• You buy parts through a regional Genie distributor
• Your operators are already trained on Genie controls

Standardize on Skyjack (SJIII4632) if:

• You want lower lifetime service cost (the SkyCoded wiring system pays back over the lift’s life)
• You don’t have an existing fleet bias
• You service in-house and want easier troubleshooting

Mixed fleet is fine for most operations under 10 units. Above that, the consistency of one platform beats the marginal cost difference.

Total cost of ownership: 5-year refurb math

For a single GS-3246 or SJIII4632 over 5 years, assuming 1,500 hours/year usage:

The SkyCoded wiring system gives the SJIII4632 a real lifetime-cost edge on service. For a fleet, that compounds. For a single unit, it’s modest.

When to buy refurbished (vs new or vs renting)

Refurbished from Win Win (this article’s path):

• $14,500 for either platform (Fully Refurbished); $12,000 for either at the Fully Serviced tier
• 1–2 weeks to ship if ready, 3 weeks from payment if refurbishing
• New batteries, new tires, new charger, rebuilt control box, full inspection, factory-fresh repaint
• Service guarantee on rebuilt components

New: roughly $45,000 plus 3-month lead time. Gap to refurb: ~$30,500.

Renting: $240/day × 90 days = $21,600 in year one alone. Owning a refurb at $14,500 crushes this past 60 days/year of usage.

For most buyers, refurbished wins. Only buy new if you have a specific configuration constraint, fleet warranty contract, or tax incentive that justifies the gap.

Refurbished GS-3246 model hub → · Refurbished SJIII4632 model hub →

The verdict by use case

Frequently asked questions

Is the GS-3246 still in production?
Yes — Genie still builds the GS-3246, currently in 7th generation (“Next Gen”) production. The refurbished units we sell are 5–6.5 generation, predominantly 2014–2018 model years. Parts are widely available.

Is the SJIII4632 still in production?
Skyjack has succeeded the SJIII series with the SJ4726/32 E platform in current production. The legacy SJIII4632s we refurbish are well-understood with widely available aftermarket parts.

Which one fits through a standard 8 ft service door?
The SJIII4632 at 8 ft 3 in stowed clears most commercial 8 ft roll-up doors. The GS-3246 at 8 ft 4 in is tighter — measure your specific door before buying.

Can either reach a 38 ft ceiling safely?
Yes — both are spec’d to 38 ft working height (32 ft platform + 6 ft ANSI working height calculation). For ceilings above 38 ft you want the 40 ft class (GS-4047 or SJIII4740).

What’s the typical refurbished price difference?
Within $500–$1,500 of each other for the same vintage. GS-3246s usually trend slightly higher due to higher demand.

Are parts interchangeable?
No — different platforms. But aftermarket parts for both are widely available.

Can I rent either before buying?
Yes. 32 ft rentals are $240/day from our Chicagoland yard. 32 ft rental details.

What’s the warranty after refurbishment?
We back our refurbishment work with a service guarantee on rebuilt components. Same standard on both.

Get a quote on either machine

Tell us what you’re working on, what your fleet looks like today, and what timeline you need. We’ll tell you what’s in stock, what we have in the shop, and which platform fits your operation.

[Call 773-790-7299] [Email Win Win Equipment] Get a quote →

— Win Win Equipment

Related pages

• Genie GS-3246 model hub — full specs, refurb details, FAQ
• Skyjack SJIII4632 model hub — same
• 32 ft scissor lifts for sale — all four 32 ft options
• 40 ft scissor lifts for sale — step up
• Genie vs Skyjack — brand-level comparison
• Refurbished scissor lift buyer’s guide
• Buy vs rent