Choosing the right crane is one of the most important parts of planning a lifting operation.
The biggest crane is not necessarily the best option, and selecting equipment based on load weight alone can lead to unnecessary costs, access problems or, more importantly, an unsuitable lifting arrangement.
Whether you are a homeowner lifting a hot tub over a property, a contractor installing structural steel or a commercial business positioning plant or HVAC equipment, several factors need to be considered before a crane arrives on site.
Total Lifting Services provides residential and commercial crane hire across London, the South East and surrounding areas, with a fleet ranging from agile truck-mounted cranes to larger mobile cranes for more demanding lifting operations.
Here is what you should consider when choosing the right crane for your project.
1. Start With the Load
The first question is simple: what needs to be lifted?
Your crane provider needs accurate information about the load, including:
• Its weight
• Dimensions
• Shape
• Centre of gravity where relevant
• Suitable lifting points
• Whether specialist lifting accessories are required
• Where the item is currently positioned
• Where it needs to be placed
Do not estimate the weight if manufacturer information or technical documentation is available.
The crane’s lifting capacity also needs to account for lifting accessories and the configuration required for the job. Under LOLER, lifting equipment must be suitable for the intended operation and have adequate strength and stability.
2. Consider How Far the Crane Needs to Reach
A crane’s maximum lifting capacity does not apply at every distance.
As the distance between the crane and the load increases, the amount that the crane can safely lift generally reduces. This makes the working radius one of the most important factors in crane selection.
For example, lifting a hot tub from the roadside into a front garden may require a very different crane from lifting the same hot tub over a two-storey house into the rear garden.
The same principle applies to commercial projects. An air-conditioning unit positioned immediately beside the crane is a different lifting challenge from one that needs to be placed on a rooftop or behind a building.
Your lifting provider therefore needs to understand both how heavy the load is and how far it needs to travel.
3. Assess the Required Height
Reach is not only horizontal.
The crane may need to lift over:
• Houses
• Commercial buildings
• Scaffolding
• Roof structures
• Trees
• Walls
• Existing plant
• Other site obstacles
Total Lifting’s fleet includes Böcker truck-mounted cranes designed for high-reach and restricted-access work, alongside larger mobile cranes such as the 60-tonne Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 for heavier lifting requirements.
The right solution depends on the combination of height, radius and load rather than any one measurement in isolation.
4. Look Carefully at Site Access
Access can quickly determine which crane is suitable, particularly when arranging mobile crane hire in London or other densely populated areas of the South East.
Consider:
• Road width
• Property entrances
• Tight corners
• Low bridges
• Weight restrictions
• Parked vehicles
• Overhead cables
• Trees and street furniture
• Available setup space
• Space required for outriggers
A crane may have more than enough lifting capacity but still be unsuitable if it cannot safely reach or set up at the site.
Compact truck-mounted cranes can be particularly useful in restricted locations. For example, Total Lifting’s Böcker AK36/4000 combines a lifting capacity of up to four tonnes with compact dimensions and a maximum jib length of 36 metres.
For more challenging projects, a site visit allows the lifting company to assess these restrictions before recommending equipment.
5. Check Ground Conditions
The area where the crane will stand is just as important as the lifting route.
Cranes transfer substantial forces through their wheels, supports or outriggers, so the ground must be suitable for the planned operation.
Potential concerns include:
• Soft or recently disturbed ground
• Basements or cellars
• Underground utilities
• Drainage systems
• Manhole covers
• Trenches
• Sloping surfaces
• Retaining walls
• Driveways with unknown construction
Tell your crane provider about any known underground structures or services.
Suitable mats or other load-spreading arrangements may be required, and the proposed crane position may need to change if the ground cannot safely support the operation.
6. Residential and Commercial Projects Have Different Priorities
The fundamentals of crane safety remain the same, but the practical requirements can differ considerably.
Residential Crane Hire
Typical domestic lifting projects may include:
• Hot tubs and swim spas
• Glazed units
• Skylights
• Steel beams
• Roof trusses
• Trees
• Building materials
Total Lifting provides lifting services for both homeowners and contractors and specifically includes items such as hot tubs, glazed units, steel beams and roof trusses within its contract lifting work.
Residential jobs often involve tight streets, neighbouring properties and limited setup space. The crane may also need to operate from a public road, making parking restrictions and traffic management important considerations.
Commercial Crane Hire
Commercial projects may involve heavier loads, larger sites and more complex coordination with other contractors.
Typical requirements can include:
• Structural materials
• HVAC and air-conditioning equipment
• Plant and machinery
• Roofing components
• Glazing
• Construction materials
Commercial lifts may also need to fit around delivery schedules, road restrictions, site inductions and the wider construction programme.
7. Decide Between Crane Hire and Contract Lifting
This is one of the most important decisions in the process.
Standard Crane Hire
Total Lifting describes standard crane hire as appropriate when the customer already has the relevant competence to plan and manage the lifting operation. The crane and operator then work under the customer’s control.
This type of arrangement is typically more appropriate for contractors or organisations with the necessary lifting expertise in-house.
Contract Lifting
With a contract lifting service, the lifting company takes responsibility for planning and managing the agreed lifting operation.
Total Lifting’s contract lifting service can include:
• Pre-lift site assessment
• Lift planning
• Risk assessment and management
• Crane and operator
• Lifting equipment
• Relevant insurance
• Permits
• Road closures and traffic management where required
• Liaison with local authorities
• Appropriate lifting personnel
HSE guidance requires lifting operations involving lifting equipment to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely.
For homeowners or businesses without their own lifting expertise, a contract lift will therefore often be the more appropriate route.
8. Consider Roads, Parking and Local Restrictions
In London and other busy parts of the South East, the lifting operation may extend beyond the project boundary.
If a crane needs to stand on a public road, additional arrangements could include:
• Parking suspensions
• Traffic management
• Road closures
• Pedestrian diversions
• Local authority permits
Total Lifting includes permits, road closures, traffic management and liaison with local authorities within its managed contract lifting service where required.
These arrangements should be identified early because they can influence both the lifting date and overall project programme.
A Simple Crane Selection Checklist
Before requesting a quotation, try to provide:
• Exact load weight and dimensions
• Collection and placement points
• Required lifting height
• Approximate working radius
• Site photographs or drawings
• Details of access restrictions
• Known ground conditions
• Information about overhead obstacles
• Proposed project date
• Details of any public-road involvement
The more accurate the information provided, the easier it is for the lifting company to recommend an appropriate solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size crane do I need?
Crane size depends on load weight, lifting radius, required height, access and site conditions. A heavier-capacity crane may sometimes be required for a relatively light load if it needs to reach a considerable distance.
Can a crane lift over a house?
Yes, subject to suitable planning, crane capacity, access and site conditions. Lifts over buildings require careful assessment of the load, working radius and lifting route.
Do I need a contract lift?
If you do not have the competence and resources to plan, supervise and manage the lifting operation yourself, a managed contract lift may be the appropriate option.
Can Total Lifting carry out residential and commercial lifts?
Yes. Total Lifting provides crane hire and lifting services for residential and commercial projects across London and the South East.
Choose the Right Crane With Total Lifting Services
The right crane is not simply the machine with the highest lifting capacity. It is the crane that can safely handle the load at the required radius while fitting the access, ground conditions and restrictions of the site.
With more than 35 years of experience, Total Lifting Services provides crane hire across the South East, including residential and commercial lifting projects throughout London and surrounding areas.
The process begins with discussing the project, followed where appropriate by a site visit, quotation and planned lifting day.
To discuss your lifting requirements, call 0208 226 4000 or email info@totallifting.com.