Key Considerations When Renting or Purchasing a Mobile Crane

When renting or purchasing a mobile crane, it’s essential to evaluate all its characteristics rather than judging its merits solely based on load capacity and boom reach.

When selecting the equipment, it’s necessary to consider other equally important parameters. For instance, the boom extension speed, measured in seconds, characterizes the ability of the boom to move from the maximum reach position to the minimum reach position. On projects where time is critical, the crane is selected considering parameters such as the lifting speed of the load and the lowering speed to the required position.

The efficiency and productivity of specialized equipment are also influenced by the chassis. Depending on the operating weight of the crane (vehicle weight + boom equipment weight), the number of axles on the vehicle chassis varies. The drive type is another parameter characterizing crane operation. Modern and foreign mobile cranes are mostly equipped with hydraulic drives, which provide smooth control of all crane mechanisms and outriggers. Unlike other types of drives, hydraulics has a significant advantage—it simplifies the operator’s work by allowing precise synchronization of crane operations and easy adjustment of working cycle speeds.

Depending on the type of work performed, the crane is selected based on the number of telescopic boom sections. In terms of compactness, three-section booms are no different from two-section ones; however, for transporting loads to greater heights, only a crane with a three-section boom may handle the job. The presence of a lattice extension under the boom is also an important detail.

This extension is designed to increase the space under the boom and expand the service area.

As evident, the efficiency and productivity of a mobile crane depend on many parameters. To correctly select the specialized equipment for specific tasks, consulting with specialists is recommended.