Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before Renting a Crane
You’re considering utilizing a crane for your project but aren’t sure where to begin. The world of cranes provides a unique service in that they can perform heavy lifts and are capable of reaching extreme heights. Through these attributes, cranes are commonly utilized for residential construction projects, projects that require structural steel, and numerous other large scale construction applications.
Table of Contents:
2. How high am I lifting my load?
3. Can a crane even operate at my work site?
4. Can the crane fit on my site?
5. Are there any obstructions on site that the crane could hit during operation?
6. Can the radius of the crane reach all the pick-up and place locations?
But is a crane what you need for your specific project? And if so, how should you go about getting the right crane for your application? Use your site-specific data to answer these questions:
1. How heavy is my load?
This question answers the fundamental premise of if you really need a crane and what type of crane is best suited for your job, because not all models are created equal. Some cranes are equipped to handle loads as heavy as 50 tons whereas others have the capacity to move loads that exceed 1000 tons. Ask yourself: how heavy are my materials and what are the dimensions of my load? Being as precise as possible with your load specifications is absolutely essential in the world of cranes to create a safe and functional work environment. Chances are a crane is capable of handling your load.
Important details such as the weight of your load and the load’s center of gravity are often provided on manufacturers’ drawings; do not ever guess the weight or dimensions of your load when a crane is involved. If any calculations need to be made, ensure they are done by someone with sufficient knowledge of the load and the project. These specifications are extremely important and fall on the consumer to know and communicate them to the proper channels.
2. How high am I lifting my load?
Along with the weight of your load, the destination of your load is the next essential question surrounding cranes. How high and far does your load need to go? Cranes fill a niche in this regard as they are capable of raising massive loads to extreme heights and reaching far distances; different models have different reaches. Boom lengths can range anywhere from 100 feet to well over 300 feet, which gives great versatility, but can also prove to be a problem at certain sites if obstacles can interfere with crane operations. This leads into the next question:
3. Can a crane even operate at my work site?
After you’ve determined that a crane is the proper equipment to lift your load to your height, ensuring that a crane can operate on your work site is the next step. This question is more complicated than it may seem. Ask yourself:
4. Can the crane fit on my site?
Not every site has the space to drive and park a crane.
5. Are there any obstructions on site that the crane could hit during operation?
Ensure there are no outstanding structures that would interfere with the arm or body of the crane. All potential hazards should be reported to the crane operator.
6. Can the radius of the crane reach all the pick-up and place locations?
Cranes can be versatile in their radius, but they still have limitations on how far they can reach. Proper calculations on your site will ensure that you select the right crane.
7. Do I have enough flat, stable terrain for the crane to operate on? Am I having the crane operate on pavement or dirt?
Cranes can subject the ground to tremendous ground-bearing pressures that can prove to damage nearby structures like foundations or underground pipes. Furthermore, operating a crane near sloped terrain can cause a lot of instability in the slope and the crane creating tremendous on-site danger.
Contact the Texas Crane Experts
All these questions factor into not only the model of crane you should get but also whether or not you can safely utilize a crane on your job site in the first place. Consulting a geotechnical engineer may be able to provide the answers to these questions for your specific site. Again, due diligence by you, the consumer, is the essential first step to ensuring safe and successful crane usage for your project. Thorough research goes a long way towards the success of a build.
You’ve determined that a crane is the right tool for your job, that it can operate on your site, and you want to rent, but now what?
Now is the time for Wilko Industrial to provide their expert service. Wilko Industrial is the premier crane rental service for Central Texas and we want to serve you. Wilko prides ourselves on our decades of construction and lifting experience, our 24-hour service, and our competitive pricing. Between our three different crane models, we are equipped to handle the needs of your project.
These versatile options provide different ton capacities and boom lengths, one combination of which will be the solution for your site. Beyond just having the crane you need, Wilko Industrial also provides you with essential substances such as an experienced crane operator and expert consulting that can help you perform your job in a quick and safe manner. That means you can rest easy knowing that your project is in good hands; contact Wilko Industrial today to have your questions answered and all your lifting needs fulfilled.
