Cranes come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Not every crane is suited for a particular job and that is why it is important to choose the correct one when dealing with crane rentals. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about carry deck cranes.

What Is A Carry Deck Crane?

The construction industry utilizes almost every type of crane to lift, hold and shift items. Such machines typically feature a hydraulic arm to which the load is attached and then moved. Therefore, depending on the weight and type of the load that needs to be lifted, you have cranes that are designed to lift concrete and steel, etc., and there are relatively smaller lifting machines such as carry deck cranes.

These cranes feature an operator cab, a deck, and a central 360-degree operating rotating boom. Carry Deck cranes are a popular occurrence at job sites for two important reasons. First, they are wheeled and can be driven to almost any job site. This means that you do not have to wait for another machine to carry it.

Secondly, its deck allows the crane to transport materials without using another vehicle on the job site. Its deck also serves as the source of its name.

How Does A Carry Deck Crane Work?

Although carry deck cranes are versatile and easy to work with, one needs to understand what makes the process so easy for them. Carry deck cranes include self-loading carry decks, fully hydraulic controls, outriggers, counterweights, and varying load lifting capacity.

Self-loading carry deck cranes as the term suggests are able to put materials on their deck and unload them elsewhere. This is an essential feature of carry deck cranes.

Hydraulic controls allow the operator to load and unload on pinpoint precise points without needing any guidance from a second person. Additionally, outriggers keep the machine stable. Since the rubber wheels are excellent for mobility, they are not stable enough while lifting objects.

Finally, it comes down to the load capacity and counterweights. These cranes are able to take on about 7.5-15 tons of weight depending on the model. Moreover, the counterweights are used to keep the crane in its position and avoid sudden moves due to lifting heavy loads.

What Is A Carry Deck Crane Used For?

There is no limitation to the usage of a carry deck crane. These machines are used in construction as well as the transportation industry. It is not their lifting capacity but the ease of usage and mobility that makes them a preferred choice. A big benefit of these cranes is that they can transport, load, and unload by themselves without you having to use more tools and cranes.

In addition to that, these machines are also compact, which makes it easy for them to make their way through narrow locations. A chief feature of these cranes is that they do not require any work in terms of setting up or taking down. This saves time and effort required to prepare the machine for usage every day.

The Disadvantages Of Carry Deck Cranes

As mentioned earlier, a carry deck Crane is not the right option for every type of job. Sometimes, you need more than just agility and transport. Carry deck cranes in that respect have limited capacity and short booms. When compared to heavy-duty machines, carry deck cranes have lower lifting capacities.

On the other hand, while these cranes are compact, this means that the boom is shorter as well. Although many of these cranes come with booms, they are smaller in size when compared to other cranes with similar functionality. If you need to lift the weight from or unload to a significant height, you are going to need a different crane.

Conclusion

Carry deck cranes have increased in popularity over the years. From small to mid-size construction and transportation projects, these machines are easy to transport and use. However, the disadvantages pose certain limitations. Therefore, to ensure whether a carry deck crane is the right fit, define your needs and preferences. Moreover, talk with multiple crane for rent VA companies to get an idea of the rent and also keep an eye on the condition of the crane.