Crane Hire: 4 Types of Crane Available for Hire

Cranes are a key component of any works project. A crane allows you to move and hoist materials and heavy equipment on site. If you are considering crane hire, you may be wondering which type is best for you. There are a range of cranes designed to operate in different conditions and perform various tasks. Below is a guide to 4 of the most common types of cranes used for industrial purposes.

Rough Terrain Crane

This type of crane is normally mounted on a chassis. The vehicle is fitted with specialist rubber tyres which have a very deep tread for grip and which are oversized, allowing for an improved distribution of weight. This allows the crane to easily manoeuvre over muddy or uneven terrain. When the crane is lifting a load, outriggers can be deployed for greater stability. This type of crane is useful if your site features rough terrain.

Franna Crane

This type of crane is mounted on a chassis to allow it to move from one location to another. It is designed to lift loads and then transport them to their destination using a forward facing boom arm; however, because a Franna crane does not feature outriggers, it is only used to carry loads a short distance or to load them onto a transporter. This type of crane is useful if you need to move, lift or load a lot of items a relatively short distance.

Mounted Crane

This type of crane is usually mounted on the back of a large truck. This allows the crane to be transported on public roads without the need for special equipment or escort vehicles. This also means that they can quickly arrive at your site of work and begin operation. A mounted crane can also move at very slow speeds while suspending a load, which means it can also be used to move heavy items around your site. However, it does not have the speed of a Franna or rough terrain crane.

Tower Crane

A tower crane is a static crane which provides fantastic lifting capabilities. This is the classic type of crane often seen during the construction of tall buildings. This crane can slew through 360 degrees and a large boom which provides a long reach. Tower cranes have to be constructed on site using smaller cranes. Because of this you should carefully consider any modifications you may need to make to the site to allow access.

If you would like further information about the best type of crane for your construction site, contact a professional crane hire company today for help and advice.