Renting a Crane - What You Need to Know
With construction season in full swing, your crane is probably busy bouncing from jobsite to jobsite. So busy, that you might wish you had an additional crane! Renting a crane is a great way to supplement your fleet while trying out new crane models, capacities, and whether or not it is financially viable to permanently add to your fleet. Here are a few considerations to make when planning for your next crane rental:
How Much Are You Lifting?
Not all crane ratings are equal, so the advertised tonnage of a crane should only be a starting point when selecting a crane. Consider what type and dimension of loads you will be picking up and how much these loads typically weigh. Also, factor in any equipment that is necessary to make this lift, such as straps, slings, chains, spreader bars, or pallet forks, which will contribute to the total weight being lifted.
How Far Should the Boom Reach?
Calculate the distance, both vertically and horizontally, that your crane will need to reach in order to accomplish the job. These two data points are necessary to find the crane capacity on the load chart, specific to the crane. It is important to also consider any obstacles or jobsite factors that might alter your calculations. Obstacles such as powerlines, traffic patterns, and building design as well as jobsite factors such as topography, ground stability, and wind speed can impact where you are able to set-up the crane to achieve your necessary boom angle.
For example, if your job is to lift onto a 50’ building, you’ll need a crane that can lift your total load weight (this includes any slings, chains, etc., suspended from the hook) at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal distances on the load chart. The vertical distance includes the minimum distance between the crane and the hook, plus the height of the load, plus the height of the building. The horizontal distance is how close you are able to get to the building, plus the length of the bed/truck/outriggers (whichever portion of the unit you are lifting over) to the center of rotation on the crane, plus how far from the edge of the building you can set the load.
Still using this example, if it will be necessary to back into the site, setting up 10’ from the building with an estimated 25’ for the truck bed plus any distance between the bed’s bulkhead and centerline of rotation of the crane, and placing your pick 10’ from the edge of the roof, then your total horizontal distance adds up to 45’. If the minimum distance between the hook and boom is 10’ and your load with straps is 15’ high, then you would add these two measurements to the height of the building (50’) to arrive at 75’. Then, use the load chart to find the horizontal distance of 45’ and the vertical distance of 75’ to confirm if the crane you are considering can handle the load weight.
Depending on the job, you may require extended reach which would likely necessitate the use of a crane with a jib or a larger crane all together.
Does Your Operator Have All the Necessary Certifications?
OSHA requires that crane operators in certain industries obtain a crane certification to in order to operate the type of crane that will be used. If, for example, an operator is certified on a stand-up boom truck, they would not be certified to operate a boom truck with a swing cab. Operators may also be required to hold additional, local certifications required by the city in which they are working or even by the management of the jobsite or the owners of the property they are working on. All of the mobile cranes in the Runnion Equipment fleet are mounted on trucks that require a CDL license to drive. Truck drivers with license restrictions (such as an automatic transmission restriction or lack an air brake endorsement) will be limited to cranes mounted on trucks that match their restrictions.
Are You Carrying Anything on the Bed?
Legal payload includes materials, tools, and passengers. In many cases, operators use their crane to carry materials and other crew members to and from the jobsite. To select the best unit, you will need to know your expected payload weight and the dimensions of your load to assure that the truck has enough capacity and bed space to move your materials.
Selecting a crane that satisfies both your required lifting capacity and your carrying capacity may take some planning but there are a variety of solutions available to find the right equipment for you.
Where Will It Be Operated?
If you will be taking your rental crane between states (interstate), you will need a crane with apportioned license plates. Let your rental coordinator know and they will select a unit with the necessary plates to keep you legal. Keep in mind, drivers of vehicles with apportioned plates will be required to record their miles driven in each state.
How Long Will You Need Your Rental Crane?
Depending on the rental company, pricing may be tiered by length of time. At Runnion Equipment we offer daily, weekly, and monthly pricing plans, with greater discounts for longer time commitments. Selecting the right pricing tier may mean reviewing your project schedule and planning accordingly.
Do You Need Any Special Features on Your Crane?
Some jobs require special features like hose reels, pintle hitches, pallet forks, or grapples to name a few. Let your rental coordinator know if you will need any of these tools so they can find a machine that has all the necessary equipment.
Does the Rental Company Offer a Rental Purchase Option?
Renting can be a great way to try new equipment before you commit to buying it. If you are considering buying, ask your rental company if they offer a rental purchase option, wherein a portion of your rent payments will be applied to the purchase of that crane. In some cases, these agreements might stipulate that only a certain number of rental payments will apply to a purchase. Knowing this ahead of time can give you a framework for planning when would be the most financially beneficial time to decide if converting your rental to a purchase is right for you.
Clearly, having a plan when you select a rental crane is a great way to set yourself up for success. Knowing the lift expectations and jobsite conditions of your project will allow you to select the best possible crane for the job. If you have any questions, your rental company should be willing to lead you in the right direction. Being prepared as noted here, can save time. When you’re ready to rent a crane, be sure to give Runnion Equipment a call, we’re always happy to help.