How to Choose the Right Type of Crane for Your Upcoming Lift

The term “crane” — which has deep Middle English origins — might have remained constant throughout the centuries, but the machinery and structures it now represents have radically transformed.

With technology propelling evolution, an impressive variety of vehicles, machinery and structures proudly bear the title of a “crane.”

From towering cranes that erect skyscrapers to mini-spider cranes perfect for tight spots in curtain wall constructions, the crane family is expansive.

If you’re a first-time crane hirer or even a seasoned manager wanting to brush up your knowledge, understanding the different types of cranes is crucial to ensuring you hire the right lifting equipment for your project.

At Premier Cranes, we’re eager to simplify the process for you. We’ve crafted this guide to help you navigate the world of cranes and better ensure you find the perfect fit for your upcoming project.

Mobile Cranes vs. Tower Cranes

Categorising cranes is a cinch when you look at whether they’re mobile or need assembly on-site.

Tower cranes, constructed on-site for specific projects, are typically towering metal structures with a full 360-degree turning radius. Frequently gracing large commercial construction projects, tower cranes can lift between 18 and 300 tonnes. Sometimes, you’ll find tower cranes on tracks, enabling movement around a construction site — we call these rail-mounted cranes.

Understanding tower cranes paves the way for comprehending mobile cranes — versatile workhorses that are easily movable and can be transported to a construction site, eliminating the need for on-site assembly.

However, mobile cranes aren’t just a monolith — they come in various unique types.

The Different Types of Mobile Cranes

Mobile cranes can essentially be broken down into two types — those with wheels and those without wheels. 

Cranes with wheels are traditionally thought of as your standard mobile crane, while cranes with tracks are often called crawler cranes. 

Truck-Mounted Cranes

Truck-mounted cranes combine the maneuverability of a truck with the standard features of a crane. Outriggers give a truck-mounted crane additional stability. They can mobilise quickly and are a more cost-effective solution than hiring a larger crane with a bigger radius for smaller lifts.

Franna Cranes

Similar to a truck-mounted crane, a Franna Crane — also known as a pick-and-carry crane — combines the mobility of a truck with the lifting power of a crane. 

Unlike truck-mounted cranes, however, the boom of a Franna Crane is built into the vehicle’s chassis. This allows Franna Cranes to lift heavier weights without the need for outriggers.

However, it doesn’t allow for 360-degree rotations, as the direction of the boom is fixed, meaning you’re limited when it comes to rotational movement.

Frannas are better for lifting and moving heavier objects over greater distances compared to truck-mounted cranes. However, they have limited capabilities in other general applications.

You can read more about Franna Cranes here! Or, check out 25-tonne and 40-tonne Franna Cranes!

Bubble Cranes

Often used in compact urban environments, bubble cranes are typically four-wheeled cranes that have the features and benefits of an all-terrain crane in a smaller design with a single cab — similar to a truck-mounted or Franna Crane. 

This streamlined design comes at the cost of lifting capacity, but the taller boom and jib (crane arm) make bubble cranes highly effective in smaller city spaces and completing residential lifts.

All-Terrain Cranes

A vast majority of mobile cranes can be classified as all-terrain. These cranes are road-legal and can handle most off-road terrains.

Unlike the previous cranes mentioned, all-terrain cranes have a separate crane cabin from the driver’s cabin and are generally not able to move when performing lifts. 

Through the use of additional lifting and rigging equipment, such as stabilising bog mats and outriggers, these cranes can perform heavier lifts.

At Premier Cranes, we offer all-terrain cranes with lifting capacities between 40 tonnes and 250 tonnes. You can see our full range of mobile cranes here.

Spider (Mini-Crawler Cranes)

Designed to be used in tight spaces and indoors, mini-crawler cranes are often remote-controlled cranes that can be used within factories or plants to help install industrial equipment. 

Relative to their size, spider cranes can lift significantly heavier weights due to their four stabilising legs, which remain planted when performing lifts. These legs are what gave the mini-crawler crane the nickname of the spider crane.

Crawler Cranes

The least mobile of the mobile cranes is the crawler crane, which uses large metal tracks — similar to a military tank — instead of wheels.

This makes them more effective on soft ground. It also means they require heavy haulage vehicle assistance to and from a construction site, which increases the cost of hire. 

The range of configurations for a crawler crane is much more diverse than that of all other mobile crane types. The lifting capacity of crawler cranes is also greatly increased, which makes them highly adaptable. Often, crawler cranes are used for longer-term projects due to this versatility.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Crane

A crane is an integral factor that influences your project’s timeline and client’s satisfaction. Selecting the right crane is an integral part of successfully completing your project. 

In addition to understanding the crane sizes and types best suited for your project, you should also be aware of several other factors that could affect its successful completion. 

You need to know the conditions you will be working under to get the proper crane specifications for the job. Here are tips on how to choose a crane for your project.

1. Factor in the Lift Height, Boom Length and Weight Load

To determine the suitable types of cranes for your construction projects, you should factor in the lift height, the weight load and the boom length. 

The height you must reach determines the length of the boom. You also need to pick a crane with power proportional to the load to be lifted.

Other than the weight of the load, the type of load also determines the type of crane to be used in your project. Moving a tank of chemicals will require a different kind of crane than moving a concrete block.

2. Consider the Moving Distance

When choosing a crane for your project, you must also consider the horizontal moving distance the crane needs to cover when transporting the load. 

If the project involves moving loads from one location to another, a mobile crane like a truck-mounted crane would be the best choice. However, if the worksite is more fixed, a rail-mounted crane, such as a tower crane, might be the better option.

Aside from the distance the crane needs to travel to move the load, you also need to check the counterweight, stability of the boom and support structures against the load weight of the crane. This helps ensure stability as the crane covers the horizontal distance while lifting the load.

3. Determine Transportation Logistics

Transportation logistics, such as route planning and site regulations, can also influence your choice of crane for a given project. Unlike mobile cranes, larger cranes require special transport arrangements to reach the worksite. 

Before hiring a crane, determine how you’ll get the crane to the worksite — are there any on-site regulations? Do you have the space to unload? This will help you determine which crane can be transported to the site on time and within the budget.

4. Job Duration and Construction Site Conditions

The location of your worksite also influences your choice of crane. You should determine whether the location is on even or uneven ground, dirt, concrete or gravel. These conditions are vital and will impact the crane you select. 

You must also factor in the site’s accessibility — how easy it is to get the cranes on-site and work with them. 

The duration of the job can also help determine the cranes you will use. Long-term projects may allow you to set up higher-capacity cranes, such as crawler and tower cranes. A short-term project may require a crane with quick setup and dismantling capability.

5. Weather Conditions And Climate

You need to consider the weather conditions of your worksite, as cranes require firm footing to operate optimally. Weather can adversely affect the terrain and the working conditions at the project site. 

Find out the weather pattern of the worksite, whether it is experiencing heat, snowy, rainy or windy conditions. Knowing the weather patterns around when you conduct your job will help you decide on the right crane for those conditions. 

Choosing the Right Type of Crane

If you need help in choosing the right type of crane for a lift, contact the team at Premier Cranes today!

With an experienced team of lifting and rigging experts, we can help you plan and complete your lift in a safe and efficient manner. No matter how complex the project, you can rely on Premier Cranes & Rigging to get the job done.

With Melbourne’s most dynamic fleet of mobile and crawler cranes and a hand-selected and trained team of Crane Operators, Riggers and Dogmen, we stand out from our competitors.

Whether it’s a small builder site, medium-sized commercial project or government-led infrastructure project, we thrive on providing safe solutions to your challenges. Call (03) 9311 1499 or enquire online today about our lifting solutions!