Today's Job

I get excited when I see a new crane post, doesn't matter if it's tree related or otherwise. Crane work is pure awesomeness. Keep the pics and vids coming!
 
I guess since we run a crane almost every day moving a generator or a chevy or portapotty or whatev is not a big thang and since the subforum is "cranes in arboriculture" ....but more power to y'all...enjoy! popcorn-and-drink-smiley-emoticon.gif
 
I actually agree too. When we look at how other industries use the same equipment we almost always learn something. This discussion shows how exact and calculated you can be with a crane and the process that the rules are developed by. Both are useful for different reasons. The exactness should wear off on us tree guys and the rules are sometimes out of whack for us.
 
Well Treevet, yesterday I did some tree work, bush work anyway. I had to unload some hollow core concrete floor panels off the semi and set them into place on a foundation. A Manitex 40124SHL (40 ton, used as an example as I have it's chart on my smartphone) could have set them from the street, but just barely, and the residential street would have been totally blocked off while doing so. No pictures, my phone crapped out on me.

After checking with the contractor, I got permission to remove 3 lilac bushes, (they were going to be ripped out anyway, so he was happy to get it done by me for free) so I could back in and do the job with the 22 ton, easily. I brought my WARN PULLZ ALL electric winch, and figured I'd run the cable around the bush base and suck it up tight, and then use my Makita electric chain saw (go ahead and laugh....., I use it once or twice a year, it's pretty gutty and in between uses, no matter how long, it starts every time, first time, I run it off the cranes inverter, same with the winch.) But at the last minute I decided to just use a 3/8 wire rope sling, choked at the base. I thought it might just slip off and up but it cinched up just fine, and at 5700 lbs of pull it came up, the other two were below 3,000 lbs pull, while only weighing 700 lbs. I also had to move some bunks of lumber, and was really wishing I had a wireless remote, sure would have been quicker and easier them multiple climbs up into the cab. That gets old quick, but is the only disadvantage I've experienced with a rider. A rider with a remote will be the best of both worlds for me anyway.

Another job where I was comparing the 22 to the 30 ton: the 30 couldn't have done it from the street, I would have STILL needed to pull the bushes, so once again the 22 ton did a particular job as handily as the 30 ton. I have a very few days left to decide, the part of the new purchase I am getting financed will be available next week and then I have to make up my mind and order. Can't afford either, but can make either happen, just a matter of a bigger monthly payment! I unfortunately have real good credit! Then I have to decide if I can charge more for the 30 ton work if I get it, that may be a hard sell to my established customer base. Next week I'm pulling city well water pumps, 8 to 14 K, don't need the 30 there either. 1 1/2 hr drive to get to the job site, lots of hills and curves, not sure I need to be packing an additional 9,ooo lbs of crane (most of that added weight higher up , so higher center of gravity while trucking down the highway) to do the same job. My ego wants the 30 ton, reality is the 22 would serve my existing customer base just fine, we'll see. I like the idea of showing up with a brand new 22 ton with a remote, and being able to tell my customers I'll be charging the same rate as before. Charging them more per hour for the same work I was charging less for would not go down well. My builder/contractors and HVAC guys, 10 or 15 bucks an hour more is a big deal to them, and rightly so.
 
Courierguy said:
Well Treevet, yesterday I did some tree work, bush work anyway. I had to unload some hollow core concrete floor panels off the semi and set them into place on a foundation. A Manitex 40124SHL (40 ton, used as an example as I have it's chart on my smartphone) could have set them from the street, but just barely, and the residential street would have been totally blocked off while doing so. No pictures, my phone crapped out on me.

After checking with the contractor, I got permission to remove 3 lilac bushes, (they were going to be ripped out anyway, so he was happy to get it done by me for free) so I could back in and do the job with the 22 ton, easily. I brought my WARN PULLZ ALL electric winch, and figured I'd run the cable around the bush base and suck it up tight, and then use my Makita electric chain saw (go ahead and laugh....., I use it once or twice a year, it's pretty gutty and in between uses, no matter how long, it starts every time, first time, I run it off the cranes inverter, same with the winch.) But at the last minute I decided to just use a 3/8 wire rope sling, choked at the base. I thought it might just slip off and up but it cinched up just fine, and at 5700 lbs of pull it came up, the other two were below 3,000 lbs pull, while only weighing 700 lbs. I also had to move some bunks of lumber, and was really wishing I had a wireless remote, sure would have been quicker and easier them multiple climbs up into the cab. That gets old quick, but is the only disadvantage I've experienced with a rider. A rider with a remote will be the best of both worlds for me anyway.

Another job where I was comparing the 22 to the 30 ton: the 30 couldn't have done it from the street, I would have STILL needed to pull the bushes, so once again the 22 ton did a particular job as handily as the 30 ton. I have a very few days left to decide, the part of the new purchase I am getting financed will be available next week and then I have to make up my mind and order. Can't afford either, but can make either happen, just a matter of a bigger monthly payment! I unfortunately have real good credit! Then I have to decide if I can charge more for the 30 ton work if I get it, that may be a hard sell to my established customer base. Next week I'm pulling city well water pumps, 8 to 14 K, don't need the 30 there either. 1 1/2 hr drive to get to the job site, lots of hills and curves, not sure I need to be packing an additional 9,ooo lbs of crane (most of that added weight higher up , so higher center of gravity while trucking down the highway) to do the same job. My ego wants the 30 ton, reality is the 22 would serve my existing customer base just fine, we'll see. I like the idea of showing up with a brand new 22 ton with a remote, and being able to tell my customers I'll be charging the same rate as before. Charging them more per hour for the same work I was charging less for would not go down well. My builder/contractors and HVAC guys, 10 or 15 bucks an hour more is a big deal to them, and rightly so.
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Courierguy said:
Well Treevet, yesterday I did some tree work, bush work anyway. I had to unload some hollow core concrete floor panels off the semi and set them into place on a foundation. A Manitex 40124SHL (40 ton, used as an example as I have it's chart on my smartphone) could have set them from the street, but just barely, and the residential street would have been totally blocked off while doing so. No pictures, my phone crapped out on me.

After checking with the contractor, I got permission to remove 3 lilac bushes, (they were going to be ripped out anyway, so he was happy to get it done by me for free) so I could back in and do the job with the 22 ton, easily. I brought my WARN PULLZ ALL electric winch, and figured I'd run the cable around the bush base and suck it up tight, and then use my Makita electric chain saw (go ahead and laugh....., I use it once or twice a year, it's pretty gutty and in between uses, no matter how long, it starts every time, first time, I run it off the cranes inverter, same with the winch.) But at the last minute I decided to just use a 3/8 wire rope sling, choked at the base. I thought it might just slip off and up but it cinched up just fine, and at 5700 lbs of pull it came up, the other two were below 3,000 lbs pull, while only weighing 700 lbs. I also had to move some bunks of lumber, and was really wishing I had a wireless remote, sure would have been quicker and easier them multiple climbs up into the cab. That gets old quick, but is the only disadvantage I've experienced with a rider. A rider with a remote will be the best of both worlds for me anyway.

Another job where I was comparing the 22 to the 30 ton: the 30 couldn't have done it from the street, I would have STILL needed to pull the bushes, so once again the 22 ton did a particular job as handily as the 30 ton. I have a very few days left to decide, the part of the new purchase I am getting financed will be available next week and then I have to make up my mind and order. Can't afford either, but can make either happen, just a matter of a bigger monthly payment! I unfortunately have real good credit! Then I have to decide if I can charge more for the 30 ton work if I get it, that may be a hard sell to my established customer base. Next week I'm pulling city well water pumps, 8 to 14 K, don't need the 30 there either. 1 1/2 hr drive to get to the job site, lots of hills and curves, not sure I need to be packing an additional 9,ooo lbs of crane (most of that added weight higher up , so higher center of gravity while trucking down the highway) to do the same job. My ego wants the 30 ton, reality is the 22 would serve my existing customer base just fine, we'll see. I like the idea of showing up with a brand new 22 ton with a remote, and being able to tell my customers I'll be charging the same rate as before. Charging them more per hour for the same work I was charging less for would not go down well. My builder/contractors and HVAC guys, 10 or 15 bucks an hour more is a big deal to them, and rightly so.
Click to expand...
Courierguy said:
Well Treevet, yesterday I did some tree work, bush work anyway. I had to unload some hollow core concrete floor panels off the semi and set them into place on a foundation. A Manitex 40124SHL (40 ton, used as an example as I have it's chart on my smartphone) could have set them from the street, but just barely, and the residential street would have been totally blocked off while doing so. No pictures, my phone crapped out on me.

After checking with the contractor, I got permission to remove 3 lilac bushes, (they were going to be ripped out anyway, so he was happy to get it done by me for free) so I could back in and do the job with the 22 ton, easily. I brought my WARN PULLZ ALL electric winch, and figured I'd run the cable around the bush base and suck it up tight, and then use my Makita electric chain saw (go ahead and laugh....., I use it once or twice a year, it's pretty gutty and in between uses, no matter how long, it starts every time, first time, I run it off the cranes inverter, same with the winch.) But at the last minute I decided to just use a 3/8 wire rope sling, choked at the base. I thought it might just slip off and up but it cinched up just fine, and at 5700 lbs of pull it came up, the other two were below 3,000 lbs pull, while only weighing 700 lbs. I also had to move some bunks of lumber, and was really wishing I had a wireless remote, sure would have been quicker and easier them multiple climbs up into the cab. That gets old quick, but is the only disadvantage I've experienced with a rider. A rider with a remote will be the best of both worlds for me anyway.

Another job where I was comparing the 22 to the 30 ton: the 30 couldn't have done it from the street, I would have STILL needed to pull the bushes, so once again the 22 ton did a particular job as handily as the 30 ton. I have a very few days left to decide, the part of the new purchase I am getting financed will be available next week and then I have to make up my mind and order. Can't afford either, but can make either happen, just a matter of a bigger monthly payment! I unfortunately have real good credit! Then I have to decide if I can charge more for the 30 ton work if I get it, that may be a hard sell to my established customer base. Next week I'm pulling city well water pumps, 8 to 14 K, don't need the 30 there either. 1 1/2 hr drive to get to the job site, lots of hills and curves, not sure I need to be packing an additional 9,ooo lbs of crane (most of that added weight higher up , so higher center of gravity while trucking down the highway) to do the same job. My ego wants the 30 ton, reality is the 22 would serve my existing customer base just fine, we'll see. I like the idea of showing up with a brand new 22 ton with a remote, and being able to tell my customers I'll be charging the same rate as before. Charging them more per hour for the same work I was charging less for would not go down well. My builder/contractors and HVAC guys, 10 or 15 bucks an hour more is a big deal to them, and rightly so.
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why can't you charge the customer your present rates for 22 ton work and charge more when the larger crane is warranted? the customers will allow you to work for nothing if you want. 10-15$ increase for a bigger crane is an issue? hard to believe. just out of curiosity, would you care to post your rates? i'm sure our rates in ct. are much higher, due to our increased overhead. just curious what happens in the west.
 
Keeping in mind Idaho's per-capita income is only 78% of the national average, and 44% of the wages earners make only minimum wage (!!), and the average wage is only 34% of the national average, I am happy to be able to charge 95 an hour to my local customers. Out of towners, from the big cities like Boise, and Salt Lake, don't have a problem with 105 per hr. I charge some customers travel time (full hourly rate) both ways, some one way, some not at all, depending on how far, how much work, and how I'm feeling that day. I also charge a minimum of 2.5 hrs, including travel. Most of my HVAC jobs are done in 20 minutes, with maybe 15 minutes of driving, so that min. charge is a money maker and the best thing I've done. Some days I do 2 or 3 of them of them.

A local steel fab company has a newer National 30 ton, they charge 135 an hour and that keeps it parked most of the time. They used to run beater Pettibone RT's, with about 50' of stick,until I put a big dent in their customer base with the 101' 22 ton, plus better service, since they got the 30 ton my biz has improved if anything. Nonetheless, I'd like to keep up with them of course. I'm thinking staying at 95 for the foreseeable future for my local small time guys, and bumping it up for the big boys from out of town to 120 or 125.

Just got a call for three jobs at new credit unions, setting the pre fabbed bank vaults, all in March, that right there will help push me over into the 30 ton, probably. Even though I can do them with the 22! My buddy in Arizona, who bought my crane, charges 125 an hour for his 22 ton, and for his 18 ton Elliott, but it's booming where he's at. He works long days, 6 days a week, unlike me, where I work maybe 2 or 3 days a week on average, with a few bigger weeks helping up the average enough to make it all work out. OK, how the rates here compare with back there?
 
Local 35 ton Altec where we are is minimum of $660. That covers you for 4 hrs. After 4 hrs, I believe it's $150/hr till you go over 8 hrs then $200? I'll double check today. Port to port. You pay if you don't cancel within 24 hrs, you pay if operator shows up and bags it due to weather. Climber is 100/hr extra. They are 5 minutes from our shop. They also sub out there 75' Teupen for the exact same as there crane.

Grove 3055 (60 ton) $250/hr no minimum, no overtime boost, pay one way of travel. Climber is $75/hr extra. They are close to 3 hrs from us.

Kieran
 
40t grove-1250/8 hr port to port, ot plus 30$/hr
75t link belt-1750/8 hr port to port, ot plus 30/hr
90t grove-2600/8hr port-port, includes second man and counterweight truck, to plus 60/hr.
permits and fuel surcharges are additional.
 
The rates are great but in the right market...just like tree work the service will trump the rate(with the right customer).
My crane rate is $50-$75 per hour more than others for crane service. The contractors I work for would rather have me. Sell yourself and do quality work and it will be worth more in the long run. Knowing your market and your costs are important when it comes to trying to get a job too.
 
allmark said:
The rates are great but in the right market...just like tree work the service will trump the rate(with the right customer).
My crane rate is $50-$75 per hour more than others for crane service. The contractors I work for would rather have me. Sell yourself and do quality work and it will be worth more in the long run. Knowing your market and your costs are important when it comes to trying to get a job too.
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I hear that, I gave up on being cheapest long ago, that just attracts the nickel and dimers, and the guys who don't pay at all. And yes, your K boom would have been just the thing for that generator move under the power lines! Another real busy week so far, setting and pulling municipal water pumps. 11+ hr days counting travel, and yet another task that the 22 ton is more then adequate for. I have to find the time to get to the bank for the final OK and then make up my damn mind. Had a line I thought on a Manitex 28102S, turns out it was a 2892. Out of production, but this one is brand new and never mounted. ALT CRANE has it.
 
Here's a crane job that we decided to do with conventional rigging methods instead of the crane. You can see the weather we had when we started and yet the temp was rising. Me and the crane guy, Leon, talked and decided that the 50t crane would demolish the lawn. This client has used our services since 1976 when we started and she likes her lawn ;)

Anyway, take a look and see what you think. rps20150314_132312.webprps20150314_132312.webp rps20150314_132420.webprps20150314_132518.webp
 

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oldoakman said:
[QUOTEI "Mark Chisholm, post: 423511, member: 8she likes her lawn ;)

View attachment 30941View attachment 30941 View attachment 30942View attachment 30943
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Yeah, i get that a lot here in the south. I can't figure it, lawns require so much more work and money to maintain and what benefit do they give?[/QUOTE]


Lawns are a lot of work, but some use it as a symbol of pride or even of status. Either way we knew the crane would sink a bit and I didn't have a worry about rigging it out. It wasn't a real hard tree.
 
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