When you need 46 ft of working height — big-box retail construction, distribution-center high-bay work, large warehouse retrofits — you’re looking at the 40 ft wide-deck class. Two machines own this category: the Genie GS-4047 and the Skyjack SJIII4740.
These are the biggest electric slab scissor lifts most buyers will ever own. Heavier than the 32 ft class. More expensive. And the difference between them is small — but worth understanding before you commit $15,800+ to one platform.
At a glance — head-to-head specs
| Genie GS-4047 | Skyjack SJIII4740 | |
|---|---|---|
| Working height | 46 ft | 46 ft |
| Platform height | 40 ft | 40 ft |
| Platform width | 46″ | 46″ |
| Platform length | ~96″ | ~91″ |
| Deck extension | 3 ft | 3 ft |
| Capacity (extended deck) | 770 lb | 700 lb |
| Capacity (stowed) | 1,000 lb | 1,000 lb |
| Drive | Electric, 24V DC | Electric, 24V DC |
| Stowed weight | ~6,871 lb | ~6,500 lb |
| Stowed height | ~8 ft 6 in | ~8 ft 4 in |
| Fully Serviced from | $13,000 | $13,000 |
| Fully Refurbished from | $16,800 | $15,800 |
The GS-4047 carries 70 extra lb on the extended deck and weighs ~370 lb more stowed. Otherwise these machines are very close.
Where the GS-4047 wins
- Higher extended-deck capacity (770 lb vs 700 lb). Doesn’t sound like much, but at 40 ft of platform height with two workers and tools, it’s a real margin.
- Refurb market availability. As with the smaller Genies, the GS-4047 is more common in the U.S. refurb market than the SJIII4740.
- Operator familiarity. If your team is already on Genie, no retraining.
Where the SJIII4740 wins
- Lower stowed weight (~370 lb less). At 6,500 lb vs 6,871 lb, this matters on upper-floor decks where every pound of floor load counts.
- Lower stowed height. The SJIII4740 stows about 2 inches lower than the GS-4047. Useful for navigating ceiling structure when moving the lift between work zones.
- SkyCoded wiring system. Same advantage as the smaller Skyjacks — color-coded, numbered wiring makes service-team troubleshooting faster. On a $15,800+ machine, lower lifetime service cost adds up.
- Slightly easier to position for operators moving the lift manually on smooth concrete.
Floor-load considerations at 40 ft
This is the conversation most buyers don’t have until they show up on site. A 40 ft scissor lift weighs 6,500–6,900 lb stowed. That’s a real load on:
- Mezzanine decks — most are rated 100–150 PSF. Calculate footprint × weight to confirm. The footprint of a 40 ft slab lift is roughly 36 sq ft, so ~190 PSF stowed. If the deck is rated 150 PSF, you’re not going up.
- Older warehouse floors — mid-century commercial concrete may have sub-grade settlement. Verify with the building owner.
- Upper floors of office buildings — almost never an option without engineering review.
The SJIII4740’s ~370 lb weight advantage matters in marginal floor-load situations. For ground-level work, neither matters much.
When 40 ft is overkill
We get a lot of “I need a 40 ft scissor lift” calls that, after 5 minutes of conversation, end with “actually a 32 ft would do it.” The 32 ft class (GS-3246 or SJIII4632) reaches 38 ft of working height and weighs ~1,300 lb less. If your ceiling is 36 ft or under, the 32 ft class is almost always the right call.
The 40 ft class is for 38–46 ft working height specifically:
- Big-box retail with 38–42 ft ceilings
- Distribution centers with high-bay racking and 40+ ft ceilings
- Industrial facilities with overhead crane rails at 38+ ft
- Anything where 32 ft genuinely cannot reach
If you’re not sure, call us. We’d rather sell you the smaller, lighter, cheaper lift that actually fits the job.
Real-world: common service items
GS-4047:
- Pivot pin / bushing wear (Genie pattern)
- Battery cable corrosion
- Function-switch wear on mid-2010s units
- Hydraulic cylinder seal weep on older units (the cylinder is bigger and seals see more pressure)
SJIII4740:
- Drive motor brushes on high-hour units
- Hydraulic seal weep on 2008–2012 units
- Tilt sensor recalibration on older units
- Charger output relay aging
Both are addressed in standard refurbishment.
Refurb pricing
Refurb pricing on the 40 ft class is meaningfully higher than the 32 ft class — bigger platform, bigger hydraulics, more battery capacity, more weight to move. But the gap to new is enormous:
- New (current production: GS-4046 E-Drive or SJ4740 E): $52,000–$62,000 plus a 3-month lead time
- Fully Serviced from Win Win: starts at $13,000 (either model); 1–2 weeks
- Fully Refurbished from Win Win: $15,800 (Skyjack SJIII4740) or $16,800 (Genie GS-4047, 2016–2019 vintage); 3 weeks from payment
The savings on the 40 ft class is the biggest dollar gap of any size we sell. If you’re buying refurbished anywhere, this is the size where it matters most.
Refurbished GS-4047 model hub → · Refurbished SJIII4740 model hub →
The verdict by use case
| If you’re… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Already running Genie fleet | GS-4047 |
| Already running Skyjack | SJIII4740 |
| Worried about floor load | SJIII4740 (370 lb lighter) |
| Need higher capacity at extended deck | GS-4047 (70 lb more extended capacity) |
| Servicing in-house | SJIII4740 (SkyCoded wiring) |
| Single contractor purchase | Whichever is in stock today |
| 5+ lift fleet purchase | SJIII4740 if total cost of ownership matters; GS-4047 if availability does |
Frequently asked questions
Is the GS-4047 still in production?
The current Genie production model in this class is the GS-4046 E-Drive. The legacy GS-4047s we refurbish are well-understood with widely available parts.
Is the SJIII4740 still in production?
Skyjack succeeded the SJIII4740 with the SJ4740 E. Same logic — refurb-era SJIII4740s are mature platforms.
Can either reach 50 ft?
No — both top out at 46 ft working height. For 50 ft you need a different class (Genie GS-5390 or Skyjack SJ5545 E), neither of which Win Win refurbishes. Rent for those jobs or look at boom lifts.
Can either work outdoors?
On smooth, level surfaces, yes. Both are slab machines — not for rough terrain or any meaningful slope. For outdoor construction sites with dirt or gravel, you want a rough-terrain scissor (we don’t sell those — we’ll point you to a partner).
Why is the GS-4047 heavier than the SJIII4740?
Different scissor-stack engineering. The GS-4047’s higher extended-deck capacity (770 vs 700 lb) requires more structure.
Can I rent either before buying?
Yes. 40 ft rentals are $275/day from our Chicagoland yard. 40 ft rental details.
What’s the warranty after refurbishment?
We back our refurbishment work with a service guarantee on rebuilt components.
How long until you can deliver?
1–2 weeks for ready-to-ship; 3 weeks from payment if we’re refurbishing.
Get a quote
Tell us what you’re working on. We’ll tell you which platform fits — and whether you actually need 40 ft or whether 32 ft would do the job for half the weight.
[Call 773-790-7299] [Email Win Win Equipment] Get a quote →
— Win Win Equipment