There are many different types of cranes and they are used in many different situations, the one common denominator is that they all pick up and manoeuvre heavy, oversized loads. Overhead travelling cranes are fixed to a set of rails that run the length of a building, when there is need to manoeuvre off a fixed path then a mobile crane is required. In the majority of cases a mobile crane is only needed on site for a short period of time therefore crane rentals for construction and renovations are commonly available.
Mobile cranes can be quite simple or extremely complex. In most cases the complexity of the crane is related to the lifting capacity.
There are four basic types of mobile cranes:
- Side lift
- Truck mounted
- All terrain and
- Crawler
Regardless of the type or design of the crane they must be operated by trained individuals who are intimate with the complex controls and aware of the potential dangers. Depending on the specifics of the job more than an operator will be needed, in many cases a spotter is needed to assist the operator in placing the load in exactly the right spot.
Truck mounted and crawler cranes:
The majority of crane rentals that are used for construction and renovations are vehicle mounted or self propelled. As these cranes are not needed full time it is important that they can get to the job site and return to base using the roads and highways. When Tooley’s Crane Hire arrives at the site the machine is positioned and outriggers are extended from both sides, front and back, which stabilise it and the load.
Another common type of crane used on construction sites is a “crawler crane.” This is similar to a vehicle mounted crane but it runs on crawler tracks rather than rubber tires. Although they are mobile on site they must be transported to and fro due to the treads and the physical size.
