Construction projects either use tower cranes or mobile cranes or both depending on the location. If the area is inaccessible, mobile cranes are used, whereas tower cranes are mostly stationary. Therefore, many people tend to be confused between the two when considering a crane for rent. Let’s discuss!

What Is A Tower Crane?

Tower cranes as mentioned previously are mostly stationary since they are designed to lift very heavy materials such as concrete and steel. This is why these machines are mostly seen on the skylines as they are working at higher sites. Plus, tower cranes can lift the weight at the exact height. Due to this reason alone, tower cranes are also not mobile. They need to be dismantled before shifting them to another location.

What Is A Mobile Crane?

Mobile cranes as the term suggests are mobile. They can be easily driven to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach. This makes them accessible to almost any location. These cranes are mostly mounted on a truck and compared to tower cranes are not able to lift very heavy loads. Additionally, mobile cranes also cannot reach the same height as tower cranes. Mobile cranes similar to tower cranes come in different sizes depending on the project and location.

How To Choose Between Them?

When it comes to choosing between mobile and tower cranes, location is the most important factor. You have to carefully analyze your needs to ensure that the project demands are met. Since these are heavy machines and cost a lot to rent, one cannot afford to change the plan in terms of time and effort.

Tower cranes are able to lift very heavy loads but they have their limitations. These machines need to be constructed and dismantled once the project is finished. This process is time consuming and it also increases the overall cost. At the same time, these machines can move heavy items from one place to another at impressive heights as well. Therefore, once they are rented, they will remain on the site until the project is completed.

Mobile cranes on the other hand tend to be comparatively flexible. Since they are mounted on a truck, they do not need to be constructed or dismantled. It can be used as soon as it reaches the project site. Once the job is completed, the machine can return to the company and then arrive at the project site the next day. However, when it comes to renting mobile cranes, one needs to consider the operating radius as well as the extendable boom.

Should I Hire Operators When Renting Cranes?

Mobile crane operators are trained to operate the entire machine. With that being said, it is suggested that the project engineers hire an operator along with the machine instead of using one of their own to save money.

Furthermore, mobile cranes are not difficult to rent either. While you are renting a crane from a company, you should also hire a crane operator that will transport the machine to your site. Plus, the crane operator will be more skilled and will get the tasks done more efficiently.

Another major benefit of using mobile cranes is maneuverability. If you have multiple projects in motion at the same time, you can use the mobile crane at different sites. This is especially true for high-density areas where other types of cranes such as tower cranes are not able to access. Additionally, mobile cranes can be moved from one area to another on a project site without having to dismantle them.

Finally, mobile cranes are way more cost-effective than tower cranes. The reason being that mobile cranes do not require any labor to construct or dismantle the machine. Therefore, it can simply shift loads without anyone having to look after them.

Final Word

In the end, it all comes down to your needs and preferences when it comes to choosing between mobile and tower cranes. If the project site is difficult to reach and the loads are not that heavy, you can use a mobile crane. However, if the loads are extremely heavy and need to be shifted to higher areas, then choose a tower crane from crane rentals VA.