Our history has witnessed different lifting mechanisms invented and used throughout time to build astonishing structures. While our ancestors relied on ramps and ropes pulled by animals and humans, the modern world sees cranes doing the same job much more efficiently and faster.
These modern creations of humanity have made construction work easier and faster to complete. Today building anything, from a multistoried skyscraper to a small house, requires hydraulic mobile cranes to do the heavy lifting.
Hydraulic mobile cranes are frequently used for lifting and transporting heavy machinery, concrete, bricks, shipment containers, and metal frames.
Thus, cranes are considered mission-critical equipment for almost all developmental projects. However, before looking for a crane hire company, you must consider a few factors to make the best choice.
5 Important Factors to Consider Before Renting a Hydraulic Crane
Crane Requirements for the Project:
There are various kinds of cranes available in the market for rental. Before renting one, you must determine what type of crane will best suit your requirements. This will narrow down your options, helping you decide quickly.
Working with an expert helps understand the capabilities and features of all these cranes. You can also contact a reputed crane hire company to assist you. You must first determine the kind of load the crane needs to lift. Based on that, you can consult the load charts to determine at what boom length a particular crane can lift and how much.
For example, the lifting capabilities of the latest spider cranes range from 1.7t to 6t at a boom length of between 590mm to just 1600mm. This makes it ideal for commercial as well as domestic developmental projects.
On the other hand, hydraulic crawler cranes can lift as much as 40 tonnes at a maximum height of 44m. Therefore, the hook height, boom length, and weight capacities significantly affect the crane hire process.
Consider the Construction Site:
Space and terrain are also critical factors when it comes to crane rentals. If not taken into consideration, you might end up hiring a crane bigger than the area you are working in.
Therefore, understanding the space constraints, terrain, weather, and type of work is vital before hiring a crane for the job. Let’s understand with an example. As mentioned earlier, spider cranes and hydraulic crawlers are lightweight and best for working in confined spaces.
These cranes are one of your best options if you need a lifting hand on small construction sites. Spider cranes and hydraulic crawlers cranes are primarily used in industrial and inner-city worksites where the mobility range is limited. In contrast, a tower crane is mainly used in large projects requiring horizontal or vertical weight lifting.
The Crane Operator:
Some specific licenses, certifications, and levels are required to become a crane operator in New Zealand. So, if you hire an operator along with the crane, ensure they have all the necessary licenses.
While you can rent just the crane from the company, some rentals do not allow it to ensure that the condition of the crane is maintained and operated correctly.
Tires or Crawlers:
The terrain of your construction site is also a determining factor for the type of crane you need. For example, opting for cranes with treads is best if your worksite has wet and soft ground. It will help the machine move slowly and prevent it from sinking into the soft ground.
Tire cranes work best on paved or levelled grounds as they can move quickly on this terrain. Crawler cranes are all-terrain machines used on all surfaces regardless of their condition.
Static Cranes or Mobile Cranes:
Cranes, overall, can be distinguished into two broad categories: mobile and status cranes. A mobile crane comes mounted on wheels or crawlers and can move from one work site to another. Static cranes are fixed in one place and move materials horizontally or vertically along a determined path.
While some construction sites require either, some require both, depending on the job type. So, it is important to understand what kind of cranes you will need for your project.
Final Word:
While the abovementioned factors are essential for choosing the right crane, it is not all. The more information you have about the crane and the rental company, the better. So, fine-tune your needs and requirements and ask the right questions regarding crane hire for your project.
