Heavy item lifts: if it can't go through the door, over the roof it goes

Some things are just too heavy or too big to carry. If it can't go through the door, over the roof it goes. Our truck-mounted telescopic boom crane picks it up from the street, driveway or trailer and sets it down where it belongs.

Common heavy item lifts:

• Generators and electrical equipment going onto pads
• Machinery for shops, businesses and properties
• Safes that need to get into a yard, garage or building opening
• Large planters, pots and statues for landscaping and backyards
• Boulders and landscape features
• Building materials like beams, block, pallets and steel
• Just really anything that needs to be lifted, after Don confirms the lift

Every lift is different. 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.

The single most useful thing you can give us is the weight. A crane's ability to lift something changes with how far the boom has to reach, so a load that is fine close to the truck may not work at the far side of a backyard.

Where to find the weight:

• The spec sheet, manual or manufacturer's website
• A shipping label, bill of lading or delivery paperwork
• The seller or supplier, who often knows the shipping weight
• For stone and concrete, the supplier can usually estimate

If you only have rough dimensions, share them anyway along with photos, and Don will tell you what else is needed.

• Truck spot. Figure out where the truck can park: driveway, street, alley or lot. Measure roughly from there to the drop spot.
• Landing spot ready. Pad poured, base set, or floor cleared. Know exactly where the item goes before it is in the air.
• Clear the path. Move vehicles, furniture and anything between the truck and the drop spot.
• Look up. Note trees, patio covers, eaves and power lines.
• Rigging points. Tell us if the item has lifting eyes, a pallet or a crate, or if it is loose and needs to be slung.
• HOA and street. Check HOA rules. Some cities require a right-of-way or street-use permit to set up in the street; check with your city.

Backyard drop. The truck sets up in front of the house and swings the item over the roof or side wall into the yard. Common for planters, statues, generators and spas.

Trailer to pad. A delivery trailer pulls up beside the crane, and the item goes straight from the trailer to its pad or foundation.

Commercial or shop. Machinery and equipment lifted from a truck to a dock, yard or roof.

Materials staging. Pallets and bundles lifted to an upper level or over obstacles for a job site.

Before the first pick we agree on signals with the person guiding the load. Everyone else stays out of the swing area and out from under the load (29 CFR 1926.1425).

Power lines are a serious hazard. OSHA requires a minimum 20-foot clearance from lines up to 350 kV unless specific procedures are used (29 CFR 1926.1408). The ground under the truck also has to be firm, drained and graded enough to support it (29 CFR 1926.1402), so tell us about septic tanks, pool equipment or soft ground.

Read more in how a crane lift works.

If a lift is beyond what our truck can handle, we will tell you. We have trusted relationships with other crane companies and can help point you in the right direction.