By Pam Stask

On every jobsite, certain calls of distress are heard every time a heavy object needs to be lifted — thousands of pounds of utility pipe must be delicately hoisted into the air and placed into trenches. Since Superman isn’t available to nimbly move the weight, a crane truck is often called upon to be the superhero of the jobsite — using its might to boost and shift items around the work area.

“Service cranes can be used in a number of applications,” says Kyle Whiteis, product manager for Auto Crane, a manufacturer of electric and hydraulic cranes. “Generally speaking, any situation requiring the lifting, supporting or placement of heavy objects will benefit from the use of a service crane.”

A crane’s features make it invaluable to a number of industries. Utility contractors use cranes to move piping and other large materials and small towns or cities utilize this helper to lift manhole covers and move fire hydrants. It can lift large machines to repair transmissions or drive trains, and even the propane industry employs cranes to install or remove propane tanks. Other outlets for business include the mining, construction, forestry and waste industries, to name a few.

Before just anyone can add a crane to his or her fleet, he or she must understand the basics of the machine — its options, operation and overall upkeep.

Before purchasing a crane, the two most important considerations to make are how much a contractor needs to lift and at what reach. It is suggested that a contractor not buy the chassis before the crane, but instead, determine the crane that is needed for projects and the anticipated weight it will handle. This will allow the right truck and crane to be paired, without purchasing something that is too small for projects. By determining the weights before the buy, a contractor can save money and a headache later on.

“Too many times you see someone buy a crane without having a full understanding of what they’re going to be doing most of the time,” says Tim Worman, product manager for commercial vehicles at IMT, a manufacturer of hydraulic and electric cranes, as well as service vehicles. “Then they have a crane that’s too small and it’s under utilized. They have a capital expenditure that they can’t use to its full potential because they didn’t size it right.”

To better assess the usage of the crane, Worman recommends incorporating the 80/20 rule into the decision making process. The rule states that the contractor should select the proper crane by determining the various jobs it will be expected to perform. For example, if the crane will be required to lift 3,800 lbs at 10 ft 80 percent of the time, and 4,500 lbs 5 or 10 percent of the time, choose a crane that can accommodate both. This will allow for a contractor to purchase the right crane for his or her truck and enjoy years of productivity.

Contractors should also browse the various additions that can be made to the truck. These options can customize the truck, making it a more efficient part of a work crew.

“Take a long look at options and custom features; in many cases, you can spend as much — if not more — on options than the body itself,” Whiteis says. “I would recommend, at the very least, adding drawer units or shelf kits to the body, which add another 10 to 25 percent to the overall cost, but being able to organize your tools and maximize compartment space is critical.”

Major manufacturers of cranes include Auto Crane, IMT, Maintainer and Venturo. Crane bodies can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000, depending on the manufacturer and available options.

There are two different crane types to choose from: electric or hydraulic.

Electric cranes are used mostly for lower-duty cycles, where an operator is only required to do one or two lifts a day.

Electric cranes run on a battery, so once the battery dies it must be recharged. However, they’re ideal for working in enclosed spaces, since they do not produce harmful exhausts, notes Whiteis. Hydraulic cranes work off of the hydraulics of the truck, therefore the truck must be running for the crane to operate and working in an enclosed space with the truck running is dangerous. Any time a crane is used in an enclosed space, like a manufacturing environment or warehouse-type of building, an electric crane is best, as there will be no fumes.

Hydraulic cranes are able to function as long as needed and perform numerous lifts. They operate at a much faster speed and provide better load precision than electric cranes. If a jobsite requires continuous heavy lifting and consistent use, a hydraulic crane is the best fit.

Another difference between electric and hydraulic cranes is the crane function speed control on each. On electric cranes, an on/off remote function control system is utilized. When the operator switches it on, the crane functions run at full speed. There is no control of the speed with this type of system. On hydraulic cranes, a proportional system is used — where an operator can control the crane function speed through his or her control handset. This allows for better control during operation, because a contractor manages the speed that is best for handling a load, says Worman.

Cranes come with either tethered or radio remote control handsets systems for operation. With a tethered system, a cable runs between the handset and the crane body. This type of control binds the operator to the crane and limits his/her distance. However, a radio remote, or FM control, is a wireless control that gives the operator a greater range of motion to manage the crane since he or she is not tethered to the crane.

Operators have the ability to move about the jobsite without dragging the crane’s cable through mud or tangling it around other machinery. Safety is improved through using FM remotes, because an operator is not bound to the crane. For instance, if the crane were to strike a power line, the operator would not be affected, as would someone using a tethered remote, explains Whiteis.

Safety before, during and after operating a crane is crucial. Prior to using a crane, the operator should make sure there are no obstructions around or above the jobsite — especially power lines or any high wires. The outriggers on the unit should be deployed for proper stability, says Whiteis. Ideally, the truck should be parked on a level, solid surface.

“Operators should just always be aware of those around them,” explains Worman. “Never operate a load above someone’s head. It sounds like common sense, but it is often overlooked.”

When the crane is finished for the day, the outriggers are to be properly stowed and PTO should be disengaged. The crane itself should be stowed properly to avoid any obstructions when the truck is moving.

“Storing the crane is important,” says Whiteis. “There are a lot of people who’ll drive off with the crane too high and they run into bridges or low overhangs.”

To ensure greater safety when operating a crane, all units come standard with an overload protection system that prevents the crane from being overloaded. If the capacity is exceeded, potential damage to the equipment could occur, as well as pose serious safety concerns for the operator and surrounding crew members.

Like any attachment or piece of equipment, cranes require particular maintenance to ensure that they keep working properly and efficiently. Maintenance on a regular basis ensures that the crane is receiving the care it needs for optimal performance.

“Performing proper, regular maintenance on your service truck and crane will make it operate better on a daily basis and will help you by making it work for you for a long time,” says Whiteis.

Daily maintenance includes: visually inspecting all hydraulic hoses and replacing those that indicate wear; inspecting the load hook; making sure cable is wound evenly on the drum; checking the hoist cable for flattening, kinks and broken strands; and checking the levels of hydraulic fluid. Weekly maintenance checks require that all bolts should be inspected for torque and tightened as required. The rotation gear should be lubricated and sheave bearings should be inspected, notes Whiteis.

Quarterly and annual maintenance checks are also recommended and are typically described in the crane’s operator’s manuals.

Pam Stask is assistant editor of Compact Equipment.