Searching for a crane to use on your next construction project? You’re going to have the option to bring either a mobile or a fixed crane onto your worksite. Mobile cranes are obviously the easier option since they’re simple to set up and remove once you’re done. But fixed cranes might be a better choice if you’re going to be tackling a heavy-duty job that calls for a crane that’s capable of picking up and moving just about anything. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of mobile and fixed cranes to help you decide which one you should choose.

What Are the Benefits of Mobile Cranes?

There are a bunch of different mobile cranes that you can put to the test on your construction site. From truck-mounted cranes and side-lift cranes to crawler cranes and pick-and-carry cranes, you’ll find that there is no shortage of options when it comes to mobile cranes. Mobile cranes are, as we mentioned earlier, easy to move into place in a hurry. They’re also great for those construction companies that need to bring a crane onto a worksite that’s difficult to access. They don’t need much room to operate, either, and are usually more cost-effective than fixed cranes that need to be put into place for extended periods of time.

What Are the Drawbacks of Mobile Cranes?

For years, one of the biggest cons of using mobile cranes over fixed cranes has been that mobile cranes weren’t able to lift as much weight as fixed cranes. But that isn’t always the case anymore. Thanks to technological advancements, many mobile cranes are every bit as powerful as fixed cranes nowadays. That being said, mobile cranes do have some limitations as far as how much weight they can move around. They’re also not always super cost-effective if you’re going to need to hang onto them for longer stretches of time. You’ll have to crunch the numbers to see if mobile cranes make sense for you based on your needs and your budget.

What Are the Benefits of Fixed Cranes?

Just like with mobile cranes, there are many different types of fixed cranes that are available to those looking for cranes for construction sites. You can choose from tower cranes, stacker cranes, loader cranes, and more. The biggest advantage of using a fixed crane over a mobile crane is that it offers an unprecedented sense of stability. As long as you set a fixed crane up the right way, you won’t have to be concerned at all with it moving around in the middle of a lift. The same can’t always be said for mobile cranes. Fixed cranes can also usually reach greater heights than mobile cranes, and they can pick up and move things that some mobile cranes wouldn’t be able to lift.

What Are the Drawbacks of Fixed Cranes?

With mobile cranes, you can move them onto your construction site and start using them almost right away. You’ll need to do a little bit more prep work with fixed cranes. Fixed cranes need to be brought onto a worksite in pieces and assembled one by one. This can be a time-consuming process. It’s a process that’s well worth it if you want to benefit from all the pros we just listed. But you will have to plan to take time out of your project to set up a fixed crane. You’ll also need to spend time later taking a fixed crane apart when you’re all finished using it. This could add a few extra days to a construction project.

Do You Need a Fixed or Mobile Crane for Your Project?

Without question, both mobile cranes and fixed cranes are excellent options for those preparing to take on a construction project. They’ll give you an opportunity to lift heavy materials with ease and keep your project moving along. But you should think long and hard about which of the two options would work best for you prior to renting one for your next construction project. You might want to to speak with someone from a crane company about the two options to see which one would be ideal based on your specific situation.

Do you need help choosing the right crane for a construction project? Astro Crane offers mobile cranes and fixed cranes for those companies that need to rent one or the other. We have the history to give you all the information you’ll need to pick the right crane for your project and arrange to have a crane rental brought out to your construction site. Call us at 978-429-8666 to speak with someone about your different options.