When it comes to heavy lifting on job sites, rarely is there a one-size-fits-all approach to renting a crane.
Terrain, job site conditions, load weight, obstructions, duration on the site, and many other factors need to be considered when selecting the best crane for the job. A critical starting point is understanding the weight of the load(s) and how the weight is distributed (center of gravity).
Understanding crane lifting capacity limitations can prevent misuse that could lead to incidents, causing downtime on the project site.
To maintain a safe working environment and keep your projects going, you need to be able to evaluate a crane’s lifting capacity to use the crane properly.
The manufacturer determines the lifting capacity of a crane. It is presented in the form of a load chart representing a range of configurations and capacities.
Unlike an elevator with a fixed limit, a crane is often designed to for use in a variety of ways based on a maximum and minimum lifting capacity. A crane’s lifting capacity is dependent on the crane’s configuration, structural limitations, distance to the load to be lifted, the height of the lift, ground conditions, and ambient weather conditions, etc.
When renting a crane use these tips below to help you determine the lift capacity requirements for your job.
Identify Your Project
The job dictates the lifting capacity requirements.
When it comes to cranes, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Sometimes your job site conditions will permit the use of one specific type of crane for all of your lifting needs. Other times, your project may require different types of cranes to complete the same job. This is most common when working on variable terrain.
Tower crane rentals are best in metropolitan areas with tall obstacles and little room for movement at the surface, while crawlers, rough terrains, and all-terrain cranes are more appropriate for difficult, uneven ground and open areas.
The crane rental company will want to know information about your project before recommending a crane, such as:
- What is the weight of the object you are lifting?
- What will the ground conditions be like when the crane is needed for the lift?
- How high and far back does the crane need to raise the object?
- What are the physical obstacles present where the lift is taking place?
Thankfully, you can plan your project with professionals like Maxim Crane. They offer project management and engineering services to guide you from the pre-lift planning drawing board to executing the work in the field.
Engage Professionals
Job sites, lifting plans, and logistics can be complex when planning a lift. Engineering staff and the crane rental company need to work together to achieve efficiency and ensure the crane you rent is the crane you need.
Rely on companies with years of lifting experience like Maxim Crane specialize in turnkey lifting services and crane rental.
Our team can help examine your project and the materials you want to move. They will then recommend the specific type of crane to use with the proper lifting capacity for the job. For example, crawler cranes are known for their superior stability and mobility
It's Time to Rent A Crane for Your Project
Now that you know how important it is to understand a crane’s capacity, you must engage the right professionals and find the most suitable crane. That’s where Maxim Crane comes in. As a nationwide turnkey lift service provider, Maxim has a network of over 3,500 crane operators available to take on any project.
Maxim offers complete services, equipped with one of the largest fleets of cranes in the world.
When we create lift plans, Maxim simulates positioning and lifting models using computer-drawn models before doing actual fieldwork. You can submit a rental inquiry to get a quote and start the conversation with Maxim Crane today.
