Crane vs. Telescopic Forklift

When you look at lifting heavy objects in industrial, construction, and commercial settings, there are lots of equipment options available. Two of the most common are cranes and telescopic forklifts. Telescopic forklifts are also called “telehandlers” or “off-road forklifts.”

While both have their merits, cranes offer distinct advantages in certain situations.

Here are 4 reasons to use cranes on your next lifting job:

1. Vertical Lifting Capabilities

Fork-lifts can lift objects, but only so high; usually a max of about 50 feet. Cranes have a huge advantage. We regularly lift objects over 150 to 200 feet with incredible precision!

This means that cranes excel at jobs like erecting steel structures, setting up large equipment, or positioning materials on elevated services.

For example:

  • Building steel and concrete structures
  • Bridge construction and repair
  • Towers, signs, and rooftop installations

2. Precision and Control

When you need precision, you need a crane! We are adept and experienced at positioning heavy materials with crazy accuracy. If you need delicate handling or placement in tight spaces, a telescopic forklift may not cut it.

Some precision jobs where cranes excel:

  • Installing delicate machinery or equipment
  • Heavy components in confined spaces
  • Assembling large structures
  • Statue placement

3. Increased Load Capacity

Cranes can handle extremely heavy loads. Often, this is far beyond what a telescopic forklift can handle. This means that when the weight of your materials increase, you’re probably looking for a lift from a crane!

Some jobs where cranes excel at moving substantial materials with safety and efficiency:

  • Shipping containers
  • Large industrial machinery
  • Heavy precast concrete elements
  • Oversized construction materials like bridge girders

4. Versatility Across Terrain

Telescopic forklifts may be designed to traverse uneven terrain, but cranes are equipped with all kinds of attachments to adapt to each job. Plus, when you add the length of the boom, cranes can go places that a forklift would never fit! This versatility makes cranes enormously useful for a variety of jobs.

For example:

  • Offshore construction and maintenance projects
  • Oil and gas industry tasks in remote locations
  • High-altitude construction sites
  • Large-scale infrastructure projects with varying requirements

Get You a Crane!

Telescopic forklifts can be super efficient and useful in certain situations. But if you’re looking at jobs along the lines of what we discussed above, you should be looking at a crane!

Did you know that costs are often comparable as well!?

So what are you waiting for! Give us a call now!

We are happy to help with all things crane!