Cranes have become an integral part of construction today. It is said that the Romans invented cranes and used them for some of the most marvelous structures of the history known to mankind. Over time, better cranes and more cranes types were manufactured. Mobile cranes happen to be one of the most common as they are not only versatile but also easy to transport and manage. However, there are further different types of mobile cranes as well. Let’s take a detailed look to help you make an informed decision when it comes to either buying or renting one from crane rental services.
Types Of Mobile Cranes
Carry Deck Cranes
Carry deck cranes are like an updated version of pick-and-carry cranes. These cranes are amongst the smallest cranes in the world that come with four wheels. They can also rotate to 360 degrees which is an attractive feature of these cranes.
The biggest advantage of opting for a carry deck crane is that its small size allows easy transport and maneuverability. You do not need a huge amount of space for the crane to move around and perform different types of tasks.
This means that carry deck cranes can also perform different types of tasks as well at the same time but they are not made to lift extremely heavy loads, especially at heights. In some countries, these cranes are mostly used for maintenance purposes.
Crawler Cranes
Crawler cranes as the term suggests are cranes that crawl since they feature tracks and not wheels. Although, the tracks limit the crane’s mobility but also allow it to work in tough working conditions and on difficult terrains especially where there is a risk of sinking.
Crawler cranes as compared to carry deck cranes are a lot bigger and able to lift heavier loads. These cranes come with a wide variety of safety and lifting features that allow the operators to safely manage lifting tasks. However, these cranes are mostly used for long-term projects as they cannot be self-driven on roads and need to be transported via trucks.
Rough Terrain Cranes
Rough terrain cranes as the term suggests are cranes specifically designed for rough terrains. These cranes are designed to handle ice, mud, rocks, and other obstacles that could both be dangerous. These cranes are built quite similar to crawler cranes with an undercarriage but come with wheels.
The tires are especially designed to be used for off-road purposes proving optimum grip and traction. In addition to that, rough terrain cranes have telescopic booms and outriggers which are there for better mobility and improved stability.
Floating Cranes
Floating cranes also known as crane ships or crane vessels are mostly used for sea-related projects such as oil rigs or ports. These cranes go way back in ancient times and have significantly helped people catch fish and carry out other tasks necessary for survival.
Today, there are many kinds of floating cranes used in the world. They include sheer lag floating cranes and also semi-submersible floating cranes. These cranes depending on the task can lift extremely heavy loads and offer stability at the same time.
Similar to crawler cranes, floating cranes are mostly used for long-term projects as well as it could take years to rig an oil field.
Truck Mounted Cranes
Then again, as the term applies, truck-mounted cranes are cranes that are mounted on trucks. These cranes use the truck as a transportation method and neither come with wheels or tracks. Truck-mounted cranes are one of the simplest types of mobile cranes out there that come with a carrier and a boom.
Because of their shape and functionality that is like a truck, they don’t need to be moved from one place to another as they can be driven similar to regular trucks.
Additionally, truck-mounted cranes also feature counterweights and outriggers that are important stabilizing the load and the truck.
In most cases, truck-mounted cranes are used for public services and maintenance tasks like installing street lamps, fixing power lines, etc. You can hire them from crane truck rental VA companies.
Telescopic Cranes
Telescopic cranes come with a huge telescopic boom that is controlled by hydraulics to extend and contract. Although telescopic cranes are considered fixed cranes, in some cases, they are also mounted on trucks to be transported easily to different locations.
These cranes can lift extremely heavy loads and utilize a smaller amount of space to move around. This makes them multi-purpose machines used for both short-term projects and rescue operations.
Side Lifter
Side lifter cranes are usually mounted on regular flatbed truck. However, many side lifter cranes mounted of flatbed trucks are permanent used as they are. Their most common application is moving and loading and unloading containers.
These cranes lift these loads using parallel hoists from the truck and shift them to different transportation sources like trains. In some cases, they are also employed at construction sites.
Travel Lifts
A travel lift crane is also called boat crane or gantry crane. It’s like a big square or rectangular shaped crane that can move heavy objects. There are also wheel under the square or rectangular metal parts for steady mobility.
Travel cranes are mostly used at the docks for moving boats. This makes these cranes an important part of the fishing and transportation industry.
Railroad Cranes
Railroad cranes are made for moving on the railway track. These cranes can also be found mounted on a flatcar. But there are some multi-purpose cranes as well. Such types are used for recovery tasks and also for loading and unloading freight goods in yards.
Choosing the Right Mobile Crane
Choosing the right crane is crucial to ensuring safe lifting and shifting tasks. Considering the types of mobile cranes, it could be difficult to pick the right one. The best way to do that is by analyzing your needs and aligning them with the cranes out there.
This will help you narrow down the options and ultimately save you the time and effort that you would otherwise spend on going through each crane. Furthermore, you should only consider a crane that comes with a maintenance log.
Some states have strict regulations pertaining to maintenance to keep risks at a minimum. That said, before making a final decision, perform a thorough inspection of the crane and pick the one that is certified by the state and comes with an experienced operator.
Conclusion
After reviewing the most common types of mobile cranes, it comes down to how you go about making the final decision, your requirements, and the factors you consider. As draining and time-consuming as the process might seem, you should take your time and consult experts and rigging companies DC. Make the last call by gathering multiple options, cross-comparing them, and picking the one that ticks all the boxes.
