Cranes For Sale
Buying a crane can be one of the best investments for you and your business; not to mention that it will make your life a little easier when performing big construction jobs. There are many different types of cranes which you can buy, however, you will want to do a little research on what would be best for your business or job to be preformed. Different tasks may require different needs and you will want to find the most cost-effective equipment to complete them.
Here is a list of the different types of cranes and their many uses:
Tower cranes are generally used in the construction of tall buildings, for they have a great reaching and lifting capability (they can reach up to 265 feet, out to 230 feet, and lift a total of about 20 tons). The tower crane consists of an arm lying horizontally along the top of the tower, with one side holding up the lifting gear and another being a dead weight to balance the material.
Hydraulic cranes are operated by just that…hydraulics. Hydraulics uses a fluid to get energy from one point to another. Many fluids can be used to make this happen, the most common being oil. This energy helps moves the pistons up and down, which exerts so much power that a hydraulic crane can lift more than double the weight of a tower crane.
Loader cranes are exclusively used in order to lift material onto a trailer. By being attached to the trailer, it gives it leverage in order to lift heavy loads.
Telescopic cranes are made up of tubes inside of one another, which extend as the crane must reach higher elevations.
Gantry cranes are given ultra mobility because they are attached to and move on rails. These cranes which are used in the freight and railway systems are able to carry large loads.
Stacker cranes are used in warehouse in order to stack products on storage racks with little ease.
Floating cranes are used when large bodies of water are involved. This makes work on bridges, ports, and ship salvages much easier, due to the mobility of the crane over the water via platform.
Crawler cranes move with a set of attached tracks in order to move more freely on any construction site.
Overhead cranes move along beams, which gives support to lift very heavy materials. These cranes are usually used in manufacturing sites.
Purchasing brand new construction equipment is a good idea for two reasons 1) you can get a warrantee for if and when something breaks down on the piece of equipment. Often, warrantees also give you free service and maintenance up to a certain mileage on the vehicle. This is a good idea for bigger construction companies in order to have the capability to keep the equipment in full service. 2) brand new cranes have a longer life span, as long as they are properly maintained, than those that are bought used.
Buying brand new cranes is a good idea, however, buying a used one can sometimes be more beneficial. When running a smaller company (or starter business) it is sometimes a better idea to purchase used equipment for lack of funds. As you bring in revenue it is a good idea to replace old with new. Because you won't always know the kind of condition or maintenance the previous owner kept the crane in, you will want to take extra precautions when buying a used crane. Here is a list of steps you should take when looking for a used crane:
- Look for broken cables with loose strands
- Check for loose or sloppy operational use. This can be determined by loose bolts or screws.
- Visually inspect the crane for any discrepancies.
- When operating the crane, test for the maximum capabilities. Extend the crane as far as it will go and check for smoothness.
- Rotation – check for rotation
- Look for bent shafts or sharp edges on the teeth.
- Inspect for warn rotational mechanism. This can be done by booming to 85 degrees and checking the base pedestal. Another indication of this would be to find brass shavings or dust on the base.
- Check all hydraulic hoses and cylinders for leaks.
- Outriggers must be inspected. Any bent outriggers might indicate that the crane was mishandled.
- Check all belts and bearings after removing safety covers.
Many companies that sell construction equipment will have financing available for the machinery. Because big bulky equipment can be pretty spendy, especially when purchased new, most companies have made the process easier for purchasing their equipment. You can get set up on a payment plan to where you can make the designated monthly installments to pay it off.
Tip: Shop around. It is always a good idea to shop around especially when it could save you hundreds of dollars. This is especially useful when purchasing brand new equipment. See what other companies sell them for and if they have warrantees on their products.