Bi-Levelling Scissor Lifts Explained — Working at Height on Slopes

A normal scissor lift must be level to elevate — park it on a slope and it alarms and refuses to lift. A bi-levelling scissor like the Athena self-levels its chassis on inclines up to 20°, so the platform stays flat while the tracks sit on the hill. It’s $300/day ex-GST plus $180 delivery each way — or tow it yourself.

Why can’t a normal scissor work on a slope?

A scissor stack is only stable when it goes straight up from a level base. Tilt the base and the whole elevated weight leans past the wheels — so manufacturers fit tilt sensors that alarm and cut out the lift function beyond a small chassis tilt allowance. That’s not a setting you can override; it’s the machine protecting you from a tip-over. Full detail in our slope and gradient guide.

How does bi-levelling actually work?

The Athena’s chassis and its tracked undercarriage are two separate structures. Hydraulics tilt the chassis relative to the tracks, so on a slope the tracks follow the ground while the chassis — and everything above it — stays dead level. The scissor stack then elevates from a level base exactly as it would on a flat slab. It self-levels on inclines up to 20°, which covers embankments, driveways, landscaped batters and sloping yards that stop a standard machine cold.

Athena at a glance

Feature	Standard 19ft electric	Athena bi-levelling
Elevates on slopes	No — level ground only	Yes — self-levels up to 20°
Drive	Wheels — hard level surfaces	Tracks — grass, gravel, soft ground
Access	Fits a single 820mm door	Fits through a double door
Getting it to site	Truck delivery ($165 each way)	Towable behind a ute, or $180 delivery each way
Daily rate (ex-GST)	$100	$300

When does the Athena beat a boom or scaffold?

Versus a boom: a boom can set up on level ground nearby and reach across to sloped work — but you get a small basket. When you need a full platform of people, tools and materials directly over the sloped ground (soffits, gutters, cladding on a split-level build), the Athena wins
Versus scaffold: scaffold on a slope means engineered footings, days of erection and dismantle, and rework every time the job moves. The Athena repositions in minutes and leaves when the job’s done
Versus “just level a pad”: earthworks for a one-day task rarely stack up on cost — $300 for the day usually beats a bobcat and crushed rock

What does it cost all-in?

$300/day ex-GST plus $180 delivery each way within 50km — call about towing it yourself instead. For longer jobs, weekly rates aren’t published: call and we’ll beat the rate you’re paying. Full fleet pricing is on the rates page, and the machine’s own page is Athena bi-levelling scissor hire.

Common questions

Do I need a licence to operate the Athena?

No high-risk work licence — it’s a scissor lift, and Victoria doesn’t require one for scissors. We recommend the EWPA Yellow Card; see the licence guide.

Will the tracks tear up my lawn?

Tracks spread the load much better than wheels, so they’re gentler on grass than you’d expect. On soft or wet ground there’ll still be some marking — tell us about the surface and we’ll advise.

Can I tow it with a normal ute?

It’s towable — that’s one of its party tricks. Check your vehicle’s towing capacity against the machine when you book and we’ll confirm the combination works, or take $180-each-way delivery.

What if my slope is steeper than 20°?

Then it’s outside the Athena’s rating and we look at a boom set up on level ground nearby, or building a level pad. Call 1300 806 577 with a photo of the slope — we’ll tell you straight.

Sloped site slowing the job down?

Send a photo of the ground and we’ll confirm whether the Athena handles it — answer within the hour.

Call 1300 806 577

Bi-levelling scissor lifts explained — working at height on slopes