Crane Service

First, schedule a time to discuss your crane rental needs. You are on a mobile device, click our number and Lisa will be glad to assist you with scheduling a crane. You can Call 248-363-8500 or click here to fill out the form.

Formulate a safe crane work plan. 

Upon arrival, the crane operator and your team will evaluate the job-site and conduct a pre-work meeting. During their meeting they will discuss site specific tasks. Such as the ideal spot for the crane to set up, the best spot for the other trucks and equipment to be staged, and what obstacles and limiting factors are present. There are several elements that must be considered. Grade/elevation changes, utility lines and other overhead obstacles as well as the distance from the tree to the crane and from the crane to the landing zone.

Set up the crane.

Once the best place to position the crane has been determined, we safely pull into the work zone and begin to level the crane. Plywood and wood blocks will be used for cribbing and footing under the outriggers. This will provide stabilization and additional height to level the crane. The crane must be perfectly level to ensure 100% stability during tree removal operation. The crane is designed with outriggers/stabilizers that lift the crane off of the ground and support it during operation. The set- up procedure typically takes about 20-40 minutes, which is longer than the time needed to remove an entire tree with the crane in some instances.

Formulating an approach to the crane assisted tree removal.

Every tree demands a different plan for tree removal. The tree climber and crane operator will develop a plan for the tree removal process before the tree climber gets into the tree. Every cut will be planned and discussed thoroughly. The tree removal will then begin once a plan has been made and is fully understood. There are many things that must be taken in to consideration. Such as the weight of each piece that is going to be removed, the attachment points of the rigging, the balance point of the section and the available space that the pieces will lowered to. The crane operator and tree climber must possess the ability to determine the weight of piece before it is cut. The crane may turn over if the piece is too heavy and exceeds the safe operating capacity of the crane. Tree structure and growth pattern are determining factors too. Oak trees with large limbs that grow horizontally will require a different approach than a Pine tree that has a vertical growth pattern.

The cutting process.

Let the fun begin! The climber will then use a variety of hand signals or radio to communicate with the crane operator. Once the climber has securely attached the cranes rigging to the tree, tension will be applied. The climber then rappels down the tree to a designated point where the cut will be made, and reconnect his lifeline to the tree. After the climber has safely secured himself to the tree, he will make the necessary cut. As the cut is being made, the crane operator applies the necessary amount of pressure, and adjusts the boom as needed to ensure as the cut is finished, the section of tree can be safely maneuvered away from the climber and carried to the safe, landing zone for the ground guys to remove tree part from rigging and work the tree branches or trunk to load out.

Disposal of the cut pieces.

Once the cut section of the tree is in the landing area, ground operations will go to work on it. They will disassemble the tree limbs, branches or trunk.  Pieces will be process and hauled off based on their size and final form. 

Cleanup and dismantle.  The operator will break the crane and cribbing down.  In 20 to 30 minutes, the crane will be wrapped up and ready to transit to another job.