Used cranes – a buying guide

Used cranes are great value for money, as long as you choose cranes that are reliable and that will meet your needs sufficiently. It’s not good buying a crane for the right price if it isn’t going to meet your needs. As long as you spend your time checking the specifications and looking at the reliability, then you should be able to get a bargain.

Just be careful when looking for used cranes for sale, as they might not always be all they seem. The main thing to remember is to buy from a reputable supplier and not to be led astray by an impressive list of benefits. Even if there are lots of benefits, if the crane doesn’t meet your needs, it is pointless buying it.

Types of used crane

There are lots of different types of crane you can select. No one type is better than another – it all totally depends on what you are hoping to achieve. These are the most popular types of crane:

• Jib crane. They can be used in smaller, tighter spaces to achieve a lift in a compact environment.
• Portable crane. These can be moved from place to place.
• Mounted Crane. It’s useful to mount these on vehicles and take them from place to place.
• Overhead Cranes. Fixed cranes that operate using a fixed bridge.
• Gantry cranes. Large cranes for lifting heavy loads.

Choose the type of crane for your needs. Identify what would work for your industry before looking for a place to purchase used cranes. This will narrow down your search so you can be more specific.

Finding a reputable crane supplier

Ask around within your industry to see where people purchased their used cranes. This will help you to find somewhere that is reliable and has a good reputation in your industry. There will be plenty of choices, so narrow it down to trustworthy suppliers. Talk to them in depth about what you want to work out whether what they have is going to be right for your needs. A good supplier will be happy to help you arrive at the right decision for you.

A full service history

PUWER and LOLER specify how often cranes need to be serviced. Make sure the crane model you choose has a full service history, so you know it has been well looked after by previous owners. This will ensure you get a crane that is safe to use and it reliable, lasting you for as long as possible into the future. It’s really important for meeting health and safety standards – even the best crane model in the world needs to be serviced regularly to keep it in good condition. A crane that hasn’t been properly serviced is putting your staff at risk.

Putting your own crane up for sale

If you have a crane that is no longer required, why not put it up for sale? If it is in good condition, you should be able to get a decent price for it. Look for a supplier that is happy to buy used cranes for sale and that will offer you a fair amount of money.