Crane Financing

Selecting the appropriate crane can challenging. Businesses, regardless of their experience, must carefully evaluate their specific needs, as there are many options from which to choose. As you begin evaluating crane equipment, there are several vital factors that should be considered in your decision-making process.

• The type of crane you will need
• Support equipment needed
• Safety features required
• Rental vs. purchase

What Type of Work Will You Perform?

Determine Your Lifting Requirements

The primary consideration when choosing crane equipment is to understand what you intend to lift. The lift capacity of cranes varies greatly, and it's crucial to align your equipment choice with your lifting needs. Assess both your current and future requirements and select equipment that can accommodate these demands.

Evaluate Your Work Sites

The various work sites and the terrain on which you will be working will help determine which type of crane you might need. Different types of land conditions (soil type, slope, etc.) create special challenges, and it can be important to have equipment that can adjust to various situations. In instances where your work spans differing terrains, prioritize cranes that provide both mobility and stability across various surfaces.

By conducting comprehensive research prior to examining the crane choices, you will be more equipped to identify the most suitable option. When exploring the selection of cranes, you will see these common types: all-terrain, rough terrain, crawler.

All-terrain cranes (ATs)

All-terrain cranes (ATs), as indicated by their name, can handle all types of ground, including highway, off-road, muddy, asphalt, and sandy terrain. If your jobs involve considerable distances of travel, these cranes are particularly favorable because of their easy mobility. The distinct advantages of All-terrain cranes include their versatility on job sites, strong lifting capacity, and all-wheel option.

It’s important to consider that an AT can be substantial in size and weight. Many of them have dual engines, contributing to their performance. A proper assessment of the ground support at the intended job site is necessary.

Rough Terrain Cranes (RTs or 'Pickers')

Rough Terrain cranes, often referred to as "pickers," are designed to excel in challenging, off-road settings. Key advantages include compact size, off-road mobility, and all-wheel drive.

Rough terrain cranes come with either hydraulic booms or lattice booms. There are benefits to each of these. Hydraulic booms are quicker to set up, while lattice booms offer exceptional lifting capacities for heavy loads.

These cranes do require support equipment for transportation since they are not built for being driven on roads.

Crawler Cranes

Crawler cranes are mounted and have an undercarriage that includes a set of tracks. These tracks provide stability without the assistance of outriggers and can easily move on most surfaces, including soft, sandy soil.

Crawler cranes can have telescopic or lattice booms. Telescopic booms can reach extensive heights while lattice booms can lift heavier loads.

Additional Features

Other features to consider might include advanced control systems, boom length, and remote operation capabilities. Carefully align these features with your business requirements to enhance productivity and simplify operations.

These are only a few of the various cranes on the market. In making your choice among these, it’s important to consult with your equipment dealer. They can help you evaluate the specific needs of your projects and assist you in selecting the crane that best aligns with your requirements.