Tolleson crane service: commercial roofs and older homes

Tolleson is a small city, about 5.7 square miles, but it sits at one of the West Valley's busiest junctions. Loop 101 begins at a three-level interchange with Interstate 10 here, and a Union Pacific rail line runs through town. Walter and Alethea Tolleson subdivided their ranch in 1912, the city incorporated in 1929, and in the 1940s and 1950s it was known as the "Vegetable Center of the World."

Since the 1980s, warehouses, distribution centers and food processing plants have become a big part of the city. For us, that means Tolleson is a mix of commercial and industrial jobs and older residential streets, all within a few minutes of each other.

Rooftop air conditioning and heating equipment is our main focus, and commercial buildings in Tolleson have a lot of it. We help HVAC contractors with:

• Removing old rooftop package units and setting new ones
• Lifting curbs, adapters and equipment rails
• Staging ductwork and materials on the roof before a changeout
• Setting equipment on smaller office and support buildings at industrial sites

Big buildings bring their own questions. How tall is the building, and how far is the unit from the nearest edge where the truck can set up? Is the truck allowed in the yard, and where? Every lift is different, so call with the weight of the item, how far it needs to go and where the truck can park, and Don will confirm the lift. Large warehouse roofs can call for more reach than our truck has. When that happens, we have trusted relationships with other crane companies and will tell you up front.

Businesses also call us for non-HVAC lifts: signs, rooftop equipment from other trades, roofing materials and other heavy items that need to go up, come down or get moved over an obstacle. The same rule applies: send the weight, the distance and the setup spot first, and Don will confirm before anything is scheduled.

More on our HVAC crane lifts page and in our notes for HVAC contractors.

Industrial and distribution sites run on schedules. Semi-trucks come and go, docks stay busy, and parking lots fill at shift change. A smooth lift works with that, not against it.

1. Coordinate with the site. Have the facility contact confirm where the crane truck can set up and when.
2. Pick the right window. A time between deliveries or before a shift change keeps the lift zone clear.
3. Block off the lift zone. Cones or barricades keep forklifts, trucks and people out of the area while the load is moving.
4. Follow site safety rules. Let us know about any check-in, PPE or escort requirements ahead of time.

Your crew rigs and guides on the roof; our operator runs the boom. Total trust between the cab and the rigger on the ground makes the impossible look easy.

Tolleson's residential core is older than most West Valley subdivisions. Homes tend to sit on smaller lots, with mature trees and overhead power lines along streets and alleys. OSHA requires crane equipment and loads to stay at least 20 feet from lines up to 350 kV unless specific procedures are used (29 CFR 1926.1408), so lines often decide where the truck parks.

Homeowners here call us for rooftop unit and cooler swaps through their HVAC company, spas and hot tubs, and other heavy items that won't fit through a gate. If it can't go through the door, over the roof it goes.

Some cities require a right-of-way or street-use permit to set up in the street, so check with the City of Tolleson if the truck will need to sit in the roadway.

Skyhook Crane is licensed and insured and run by Don and his son Bryce out of Surprise. Tolleson is about 25 miles away, with easy freeway access by Loop 101 or Loop 303 and I-10. Send the address, the unit or item weight, photos of the building and roof, and where the truck can set up. Call 602-615-0712 or text 623-258-8361 to schedule, or email skyhookcranedon@gmail.com.