Resources
Crane and Rigging Guides
These guides explain how crane and rigging work actually runs: how capacity and reach are matched to a load, how to prepare a site, what happens on the day, and what drives the cost of a lift. They are written to be useful whether or not you hire us.
- How Mobile Crane Service WorksA mobile crane brings the machine and the operator to your site. Here is what happens from the first phone call through setup, the pick and pack up.
- Capacity and Reach ExplainedA 40-ton crane will not lift 40 tons at full boom. Here is what capacity ratings, load radius and 142 feet of reach actually mean for your job.
- Site Preparation ChecklistWhat to clear, move, unlock and check before a crane arrives. A prepared site keeps the visit short and stops problems being found at the worst moment.
- What to Expect on Lift DayA walkthrough of lift day from arrival to departure, including how long each stage takes, what you can do, and why setup takes longer than the pick.
- HVAC Unit Crane Placement GuideHow rooftop package units and condensers get craned on and off, how the work is sequenced with your HVAC contractor, and what a curb mismatch means.
- Truss Lifting Process and SafetyHow roof trusses get set with a boom truck: staging bundles, spreader bars, bracing, wind limits and keeping the crane in one position along the wall line.
- Spa Placement Safety and MethodsHow hot tubs and swim spas get lifted over block walls and rooftops into backyards, including shell protection, spreader bars and pad preparation.
- Owner Operated vs Other OptionsWhat owner operated actually changes on a job, why bare crane rental is not offered, and how the options compare when a site turns out different from the plan.
- Lift Planning BasicsWhat a lift plan contains, why even a small residential pick gets one, and what a written plan looks like when a project file needs documentation.
- Ground Conditions and OutriggersA crane puts its weight through four small pads. Here is what makes ground good or bad for outriggers, and what caliche and buried trenches mean here.
- Power Line ClearanceOverhead power lines are the highest risk on a residential lift. How the operator spots service drops, sets clearance, and calls the utility.
- Pre-Lift Safety BriefingThe short talk before anything moves. Who attends, what gets covered, the exclusion zone, signal agreement, and the stop-work rule anyone can use.
- Post-Lift DocumentationWhat you get after the lift: photos of the set load, notes on site conditions, and a record a contractor or an HOA can put in a project file.
- Rigging ProcessHow rigging gets chosen and run on a crane job: the weight, the pick points, the hardware, the test lift, tag lines, landing on dunnage and the release.
- Planning a Roof Load-UpHow to plan a roof load-up by crane: where stacks land, how the load is spread over bearing walls, when it happens around tear-off, and what to send ahead.
- Safety StandardsDaily equipment checks, sling inspection, load chart discipline, exclusion zones, weather limits, and the right to refuse a lift that does not add up.
- Load Chart BasicsA load chart maps radius against boom length, and capacity falls as the load moves out. What the deductions are and why the chart governs the pick.
- Rigging FundamentalsHow slings, shackles and spreader bars attach a load to the hook. Sling angle, center of gravity, gear inspection, and who supplies the rigging.
- Signal Person RoleWhen the operator cannot see the load, one person gives signals. Standard hand signals, radio backup, and why a homeowner is rarely the right pick.
- Tight Access LiftsSetting up in the street, partial outrigger extension, working over the corner, and staging loads closer when there is barely room for the truck.
- Over-Structure PlacementHow a crane lifts a load over a house, garage or block wall and lands it on the far side when there is no ground route into the yard.
- Generator PlacementWhat it takes to crane a standby or portable generator onto a pad, roof or platform, from cure time and anchor bolts to electrician coordination.
- Transformer PlacementHow pad-mounted transformers and switchgear get set: utility coordination, outage windows, conduit window alignment and keeping the unit level.
- Machinery PlacementSetting lathes, presses, compressors, tanks and pumps: finding lift points, protecting panels, measuring doorways and moving gear inside a yard.
- Precast Panel PlacementSetting precast panels, vault lids, steps and box culverts: using cast-in inserts, rotating flat to vertical, bracing and joint tolerance.
- Modular Section PlacementSetting casitas, park models, sheds and container-sized boxes: set point survey, pier layout, crane position, marriage lines and ground crew.
- Common Mistakes to AvoidEight mistakes that actually delay or stop crane jobs, from guessing the weight to booking before the pad has cured, and what to do instead.
- Client Preparation ChecklistA short customer checklist for the day before a lift: measurements to take, photos to send, people to have there and what to unlock or mark.
- What Affects Your QuoteThe eight things that change what a crane job takes: weight, reach, access, ground, duration, travel, timing and rigging. No numbers here.
- Choosing the Right CapacityChoosing between the 22-ton and 40-ton boom truck is weight, distance and setup room together. Here is how the call gets made and what to send.
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