The only question that every time the construction site faces is, buy a crane or rent a crane? It is a no-brainer for most contractors. Mobile crane rental solutions offer the heavy lifting power at a reasonable rental rate, but without the commitment of ownership. No storage headaches. No bills to pay each month. The correct crane at the right time, for the right job.
This guide takes you through the different types of cranes available, the factors that determine which crane to choose, the rules you simply can’t skip and the true costs that determine your final bill. Consider it the easy route to becoming a crane expert at your next site meeting.
Why Renting Beats Buying (Most of the Time)
Cranes are expensive. One unit could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and not mention having to hire a dedicated maintenance team, transport and licensing. Rental flips that changes the equation.
You pay for the hours/days you use the machine. You skip depreciation. You don’t have to hold all the parts in stock, specialize in heavy equipment repair, or deal with all of the insurance hassles associated with owning heavy equipment all year.
There’s also flexibility. Different cranes are required for the same reason as different equipment types are required for different types of projects—for a high-rise project in a tight city block versus a wind farm being built in an open field. Ownership is a commitment to one machine. Rental allows the flexibility to rent different types of equipment for different jobs, every time!
There Are Several Main Kinds of Mobile Cranes Which You Can Hire. There Are Many Different Types of Mobile Cranes You Can Hire
Cranes come in all shapes and sizes and selecting the wrong one is a quick way to over spend and overspend your timeline. Let’s take a look at the big ones you’ll encounter.
All-Terrain Cranes
All terrain cranes are basically the SUVs of the crane industry: comfortable on the highway, capable off of it. They incorporate the ability of a rough-ground machine, a road-speed machine, and a truck crane. Haulage, from the mid-sized commercial jobs to big infrastructure projects such as bridge repairs, depends on the model and varies from around 60 to 800 tons, says Sims Crane.
These cranes are normally multi-axle, all-wheel steering types that can be driven on highways at high speeds while still having the ability to turn at small job sites in urban areas with minimal site preparation.
Rough-Terrain Cranes
The four large rubber tires fit on a compact undercarriage, specifically designed for rough terrain pick and carry applications. Before lifting or moving, the crane is leveled and stabilized by the outriggers as per Texas Crane Services. This is typically the crane you’ll be directed to if your site has mud, gravel or uneven terrain.
Crawler Cranes
Once crawler cranes switch from wheels to tracks that is a significant difference. Under the hood, tracked undercarriages enable a crawler crane to dig in and move around in difficult conditions and environments, explains Maxim Crane. They also distribute weight over a larger area, which is important for areas of soft or swampy soil where tires would sink.
The tradeoff? Usually, crawler cranes require a separate truck for getting them to the job site, and setup is longer. If you’re looking for some impressive lifting power, you can’t beat them. Some models can climb to 260 ft and the lift capacity will vary depending on the boom length.
Truck-Mounted and Carry Deck Cranes
When lifting smaller loads, truck-mounted cranes move directly to the job site along public roads, making them quick and easy to deploy. The “specialists” of the group are the Carry Deck Cranes. They are compact enough to be easily placed in confined areas such as interior fit-outs or machinery installs, particularly in urban settings.
Telescopic Crawler and Lattice Cranes
When the task becomes the most difficult and heaviest, telescopic crawler cranes and lattice boom cranes come into play. Lattice cranes have a similar chassis to telescopic units but must be assembled on-site, depending on the number of booms that are needed for the job, Triad Machinery says. These are NOT the cranes that you will find at your average backyard remodeling, but rather at larger construction jobs such as those in the energy and infrastructure industries.
Basics of Selecting a Crane for a Project
Choosing a crane isn’t simply about selecting the largest crane on the lot and hoping for the best. Here are some helpful questions to consider.
- How much does the largest load weigh? Find this number, rather than an estimate. Earning some money by speculating is where budgets and schedules go astray.
- What is the distance and height of the load? The length of the boom and the class of crane required is determined by both lift radius and height.
- What is on the ground like? Truck cranes are typically not suitable for soft, wet, or uneven ground, and they are usually not the better choice, especially for rough terrain.Standard truck cranes are generally not suitable for soft, wet, or uneven terrain conditions, and invariably are not the better choice, particularly on rough terrain.
- Just how much space is available? When space is limited, it is necessary to use a compact carry deck or all-terrain crane. If you have a large crawler, you can bring it in on open rural land.
- How long will the crane be on-site? Fast set up cranes are suitable for short jobs. A crane that’s longer to put together, but more powerful per hour, may be a good option for long-term projects.
A reputable rental company will pose the same questions before they quote any cost. If they do, then be aware of it.
Safety and Certification: The Non-Negotiables
Tons of material are lifted up several stories high with cranes. Safety is not a matter of paperwork here; it’s a matter of life and death!
A crane is defined and regulated as to operation in the U.S. by OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1427. Under this standard, operators operating cranes over 2,000lb (900kg) on construction sites are required to be certified by an accredited crane operator testing organisation or be part of an audited employer program. According to guidance on compliance from J. J. Keller that is OSHA-focused, certification should include the crane’s capacity, its type, and the ground conditions under the crane should be verified as suitable before any lift operates.
You won’t have to worry about that since it’s taken care of by professional rental companies. Before the crane arrives, ask directly if operators are certified, if crane has current inspection records and if load charts are available. If a company says they don’t know, search further. Uncertified crane hire is a hard hat liability.
The Question Is: What Is ACTUALLY Behind Rental Prices?
Crane rental pricing isn’t random. A handful of factors combine to set your final number:
- The type and size of the crane. The larger the lifting capacity, the more expensive.
- Rental duration. Rates decrease the longer the rental lasts, up to a week.The longer the rental, the more the daily rate decreases, up to weeks.
- Transport and mobilization. A crawler crane is more expensive to get to a remote location than a truck crane down the highway.
- Assistant operators and riggers. Some rentals have a certified operator, others are bare rentals where you provide your own operator.
- Site conditions. If access is difficult or timing windows are short or additional permitting is required, the price may be influenced in a positive direction.
Get an itemized price quote each time. If the number doesn’t specify any mobilization fees, operator fees or fuel costs, then it is a number that will shock you – and often not in a good way.
Working with a Rental Provider: Good Service Is Defined by That
The quality of crane rental firms will be the best when they provide the service as project partners rather than simply equipment suppliers. Find a company that will consult with you to review load charts before offering quotes, keeps up the paperwork of inspections and certifications on their fleet of cranes, and is not solely focused on offering up one or two cranes that are available, but has the ability to offer a diverse array of options.
Inquire about their size and type of their fleet. If a project requires changing requirements during its lifecycle a company with a few machines has less options. The larger, diversified fleet allows for changing the crane type without having to change the vendor.
Final Thoughts on Mobile Crane Rental
The point is that construction and industrial projects do not always go the way of the script; hence, mobile crane rental solutions exist. One week a compact carry deck crane is required for a fit in the city. The next one is a wind turbine install out in the open country, equipped with a crawler crane. Renting means you don’t have to invest in a machine that sits in your yard for half the year and then is active for the other half.Renting allows you to match the machine to the moment when you need it and avoid capital investment in equipment that you’re not using 50% of the year!
Complete the homeworks first and then sign. Ensure that load weights are confirmed, terrain conditions are considered, operators are certified and a complete cost breakdown is provided in writing. Once you get these fundamentals down, you will find your crane rental to be just what you need – one less thing to worry about on an already hectic job site.