Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
I don’t think he’d have anymore of an idea what to do with a crane then he would a… ahh, never mind….
That's the next 'big' purchase after a crane.
New thread
- Thread starter tree MDS
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
That's the next 'big' purchase after a crane.
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
Get a few more ducks on the pond first.
Learn to solve the problems without one first, build your work & equipment base, then think a big specialist item.
I pass on lots of jobs because the customer wont pay for a crane
half of the bids I lose are trees too dead to climb (like this oak we are doing next month)
looked at one a while back, 90ft poplar, 5ft DBH, limbs over house (about 5ft clearance, pizza oven underneath, very tight drag for brush, fence underneath, and no bucket access, would be tough with a GRCS, much safer, faster, and cheaper (day rate for the crew) to use a crane
on a better note, picked up a new foot ascender, ART positioner 2 swivel, small ISC block and a brand new 500i today
Whats is craning a tree? We don't do that in the largest country on earth...
mike515
ArboristSite Operative
I'm not going to tell you not to buy a crane (or to buy one) but I will say that you should have a very good understanding of a number of other things before jumping in on a crane. Outside of all of the issues just related to running and loading the crane safely in the most general sense.....you should understand how different types of wood react to different situations, you should have an advanced knowledge of different types of rigging systems because if you know that...you probably have a pretty good idea of how things will move, load, twist, swing, balance or not balance, etc. You should be used to working in situations where you're under pressure to be perfect (many normal jobsites aren't that exact).
You should also look into the math. Is it worth actually buying something like that? For us, our smaller crane is much more useful than our big crane. It cost a lot less too. How much will you use a bigger crane? Maybe a bunch, maybe not. It doesn't work on many jobsites because of the footprint it requires to set up and use. You need a large spot for the crane, possibly a spot for a bucket, possibly a spot for a chipper and truck and then also a landing area to set material down. How often will you get all of that? My experience in my area is that we will get that on less than 20% of all jobsites and many of the ones in that 20% don't require a crane that big.
So we have the bigger crane and it's nice when it works but if you're just starting out...I just feel like there are better things to spend your money on. Buy a super sweet chipper or a crawler boom or something that will earn money every day. Just my two cents here.
im looking to get one similar to what we are renting, 45 ton, 115ft boom tip height without jib, the 50 (55?) ton they have has around 150ft boom tip without job, the load chart is really good, and the crane is rather small and will fit in most places my bucket truck wont
mike515
ArboristSite Operative
I don't know man. Maybe you call it something else but I've been doing this for my whole adult life and when I'm getting ready to crane something out....I call it craning something out (or picking the individual sections)
mike515
ArboristSite Operative
That sounds like a nice crane but I would go back to the math. Maybe it works for you, maybe not. Do you need something that big? Probably not. How big are you planning on picking? I'd rather go smaller than bigger...because it means I need a smaller landing area and it's a lighter load. You don't need the biggest picks. I always say at the beginning of a crane job "Alright guys...let's have the most boring crane day ever. Nothing exciting today!"
working limit, due to the risks involved with tree work im going to try and stay under 50% of what the crane is "good for"
say we are good for 16000, my biggest pick will be 7500
done the math many times over, a crane is worth it for us
That mini giant has definitely proven itself to be a strong, strong asset to the team!
We’re loving that thing. Like I said, I’ve had the new kid running it/loading and unloading it pretty much every day this week. Plus hoping on and off myself and kicking tree ass. Gong real well. Machine/dump trailer (even though we never really use it as a dump trailer) fits the niche I needed it to perfectly. Definitely a ground force multiplier.
Pa Giant is still a major player when things get really heavy, but this thing is definitely handy to have on the team (across the board). Haven’t looked back for one second on that purchase!
We’re loving that thing. Like I said, I’ve had the new kid running it/loading and unloading it pretty much every day this week. Plus hoping on and off myself and kicking tree ass. Gong real well. Machine/dump trailer (even though we never really use it as a dump trailer) fits the niche I needed it to perfectly. Definitely a ground force multiplier.
Pa Giant is still a major player when things get really heavy, but this thing is definitely handy to have on the team (across the board). Haven’t looked back for one second on that purchase!
I can’t imagine Laura buying a crane with only that tired old 250 and Pa home schoolin’ on the ground. Lol
Sounds like hell on earth. Lol
Sounds like hell on earth. Lol
Pretty much a perfect week as things go here. Everything tucked back away safely and having earned it’s money.
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
Now that's good, high return equipment that will pay for itself within a day or two & keep giving, with low overheads, for the next five-ten years. If you climbing big or even processing high volumes on the ground, the 500 will save your body plenty in the long term.
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
Is a good feeling to get everything back in it's spot after it's been working hard all week.
gonna use it on the crane job, will be getting a 28" light bar (sugi or tsumura) and a 36", saw will live with the 28 and get the 36 once/twice a month for big stuff, super excited to run it, played with the positioner today it hates sap but super nice otherwise, spliced up an ultra sling for the ISC block and load tested today, small ~6ft sling but the block can come out and go on a piece of bull rope if I need a bigger sling, im thinking about picking up a second one as im moving towards blocks (bend radius, midline attachable and no friction), second one will probably be the next size up so whenever I get a larger (5/8") bull rope I can use that in a block, although I will be getting another 1/2" rigging line (probably arbormaster since my local shop sells it), small portawrap is probably soon to come, my homemade one is awesome but I want a smaller light one (since im not using 3/4" rope in it and towards the end of the day when its 100+ degrees wrestling with the "XL" porty is a pain)
how do you like yours? ive heard the antivibe is too soft, and it does feel that way, westcoast saw has a stiffer antivibe kit for sale that I might order, along with the 4 point west coast dogs and a wrap handle + maxflow
start easy on a hot day? we are lucky if anything other than a battery saw works after 5pm, between boiled fuel and heat soak they just dont want to run
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
Think the 500's are a great all-round workhorse. Seemingly a 'soft' saw, with their light weight & anti-vibe, but we throw absolute hell at them & still powering. Brutal heat all summer, pretty much used underwater now, lots of dust, lots of big wood. Used frequently in critical felling such as firegrounds, where being able to run fast with the saw is beneficial to ones health.
Pretty much everyone that does more than a bit of firewood cutting around the region rolls them as their own personal saw now, in our conditions wouldn't run more than a 25" on them, they rely on chain speed over torque. The ones I have seen cooked have been trying to run longer bars.
I like the anti-vibe as it is & the standard handle, as it sits nicely on harness, easier to manoeuvre in tight positions. It also allows more saws to be packed into toolboxes quickly.
Pretty much everyone that does more than a bit of firewood cutting around the region rolls them as their own personal saw now, in our conditions wouldn't run more than a 25" on them, they rely on chain speed over torque. The ones I have seen cooked have been trying to run longer bars.
I like the anti-vibe as it is & the standard handle, as it sits nicely on harness, easier to manoeuvre in tight positions. It also allows more saws to be packed into toolboxes quickly.
ive heard your trees are like concrete?
ive ran a 25 on my 261 (with a mostly melted piston thanks to the last owner) in hickory and it ran decent, 20" is where its at tho
cant imagine an 80cc saw would struggle much with a 36, but we will see, it wont see that bar daily, maybe once/twice a month, will live with a light 28 I think
Similar threads
