Cranes have been used in one form or another to help construction sites for centuries. You understand that, but what do you need to consider when buying a crane or upgrading to a different crane?
Here is some crane buying advice to help you with your decision.
Buying a Crane for Your Specific Needs
Crane buying advice doesn’t start with thinking about the crane but your job sites. For example, what are the typical weather conditions? What type of terrain will you be working on?
When choosing a crane, you want to match the crane you upgrade to with your job’s load weights and dimensions. For example, multi-level jobs require longer booms, so your weight limit won’t decrease with higher lifts.
Make sure to check the National Load Charts when looking at cranes. They will help you find the perfect fit based on the height and weight of your average job.
Remember that your rigging accessories weight will need to be deducted from the gross weight of the charts. This will help you find the actual load-bearing capacity of the crane for your jobs.
Crane Buying Guide
The type of work you do and the location will help you decide the type of crane you need. Here is a quick guide to some of the most common types of cranes.
Mobile Cranes
Mobile cranes can offer greater maneuverability and carry a lot of weight for their size. You want a rough terrain crane or a crawler crane for off-road construction.
Crawlers work great off-road because of their tracks and great counterweight control. In addition, they can handle loads in the 80-825 ton range. The carry deck crane is one of the most popular upgrades because of its ability to carry loads on site.
Carry deck cranes are hydraulic and can be operated by one person. Their load capacity is in the range of 7.5-15 tons. Most decks on the carry deck can transport between one to nine tons.
Fixed Cranes
Fixed cranes are assembled on-site and used for long-term jobs and can handle more significant amounts of weight than mobile cranes.
Tower cranes have a jib extending from the mast, which rests on a concrete base. They can grow with a building while helping to build it. Hammerhead tower cranes have a swinging lever attached to a fixed tower.
They give you the ability to move loads horizontally. They are also modular, and their ability to adapt to your site makes them a versatile option for your construction needs.
Crane Buying Tips
When buying a crane, think through the type of work, the weight loads, and whether you need a mobile or fixed type of crane. This will guide you on the type and size of crane you get.
Kor-Pak partners with companies worldwide and helps them find the perfect cranes to meet their needs. Contact us and let us help with your equipment needs.