Crane Rental Tips

Cranes are a creative construction technology that allows contractors to hoist building materials and equipment to extensive heights. Crane hire suits contractors who cannot afford cranes and those who need the equipment for short-term use. Continue reading this article for some crane hire tips. 

Mobile Versus Tower Cranes

Typically, there are two types of cranes; tower and mobile cranes. Tower cranes comprise a rotating jib that is fixed to a steel mast. The jib has a trolley that hoists, lowers and moves loads from one end to the other. In most cases, tower cranes are used in heavy applications such as the construction of bridges, dams and skyscrapers. 

Mobile cranes sit on a truck and are preferred due to their versatility and straightforward installation mechanism. The truck carrying the crane has outriggers that improve its stability when the crane is in use. Once these outriggers are in place, the crane extends using a hydraulic system. After using the crane, the boom retracts, and the truck can move to another location. In most cases, mobile cranes are ideal for small to moderate applications. However, large crawler cranes have similar applications to tower cranes, although they sit on truck beds.          

Terms Of Use

The crane rental terms are a significant concern for any contractor. Typically, you should compare the terms of several rental companies to establish a company that offers high-quality services. Look out for the following.

• Disclosures: The crane provided must be in excellent condition. The company must disclose minor defects or any repairs that the crane could require before use.
• Available services: The crane rental company must provide support services such as operators, rigging, crane transport, installation and maintenance.
• The chain of responsibility: The crane rental company should explicitly state when the client should be liable for repairs and maintenance work. Reputable companies will ask you to repair the crane when it suffers damages due to irresponsible use at your site.
• Pricing policy: The rental company should have a clear pricing policy. Besides the standard charge, the company must outline the extra costs you could incur when using the crane. 

Crane Safety 

Crane accidents are fatal. As such, you must initiate safety measures to prevent accidents at the site. For example, preliminary inspections can keep riggers and operators aware of site conditions such as weak soils and low-lying electrical cables. Additionally, the crane should be inspected after every shift to ensure it does not have any defects. Finally, site personnel must comprehend the crane's operating angle and route to avoid coming in contact with the jib. 

For more information on cranes, contact a company near you.