Five measurements to start sizing your crane.

1. Load weight, verified

Not the nameplate, not the shipping weight, not what the last guy said. The actual weight of what is on the hook, including the pallet, the skid, the crate, and anything bolted to it. Manufacturer drawings, a certified scale ticket, or a bill of lading are all acceptable. If the number is a guess, say so, and we will size with margin and flag the assumption.

Add the rigging while you are at it: slings, shackles, spreader, and any below-the-hook device. Those come off the crane's capacity, so they count as load.

2. Pick radius

The horizontal distance from where the crane will sit to the center of the load when you first lift it. Measure from the point on the floor where the machine's center of rotation will be. If you do not know exactly where the crane will sit yet, measure from the nearest place it could sit and note the obstacles that might push it back.

3. Set radius

The same measurement to where the load lands. It is often longer than the pick radius, and it can be the limiting point in a lift. A machine that picks an air handler close to the turret may not set it at the far side of a mechanical room. Give us both measurements and the path between them; the least favorable rated condition governs.

4. Required hook height

The height the hook itself must reach, measured from the crane support level to the hook when the load is at its highest point. Account for landing surface height, load height, rigging length from the load to the hook, and the clearance required by the lift plan. Do not assume a fixed clearance allowance is sufficient. Note the ceiling and overhead obstructions because the boom tip and rigging also need room.

5. Access width and height

The narrowest and lowest point between where the truck unloads and where the crane sets up. Door widths at the frame, not the opening in the wall. Corridor width at the tightest pinch, including anything mounted on the walls. Overhead height under ductwork, pipe, and door heads. Ramps and thresholds, with their slope. Elevator car dimensions and rated load if the crane rides one.

The checklist

• Load weight and source of the number, plus rigging weight
• Pick radius from crane center to load center
• Set radius from crane center to landing point
• Required hook height and any overhead limit
• Narrowest access width and lowest height along the route
• Floor or ground: slab on grade, suspended, rated load if known
• Power available: identify the supply and confirm it matches the machine, or confirm whether engine operation is acceptable
• Photos of the setup area, the route, and the pick and set points

Send that list with your quote request and the machine, the configuration, and the outrigger setup come back the same day.