Crane and lift services

Height and weight are the two hard parts of tree work. A lift solves the first by putting a person exactly where the cut needs to be made. A crane solves the second by holding the piece while it is cut and carrying it away. Owning both is a large part of why we are among the best-equipped tree services in the region.

At a glance

• Crane, 75-foot Altec GMC boom truck and aerial lift in our own fleet
• Operators, climbers and ground crew from the same team
• Less time on site and less impact on the property
• Works near homes, wires and other obstacles
• Each job assessed by a certified arborist first
• Free estimate

Which machine does which job?

The crane lifts sections of a tree over obstacles, the 75-foot boom truck puts an arborist in the crown from pavement, and the aerial lift reaches spots the truck cannot. The table below pairs each with its typical work.

Often two are used together: the lift or a climber makes the cuts and the crane takes the weight. The comparison is written up in crane vs climbing vs bucket truck.

Why use a crane on a tree?

Traditional large tree removal needs complex rigging to lower every piece past the roof and the fence, and it often means trucks and heavy machinery driven across the yard. A crane greatly reduces the time it takes and decreases the impact on the surroundings. Cranes can work near your home, wires and other obstacles.

The crane sets up on outriggers at a spot the team chooses for elevation, overhead obstacles and distance to structures. The climber attaches the line, makes the cut while the operator holds the piece, and the operator moves it to the drop zone. The full five steps are on the crane-assisted tree removal page.

What is lift work used for?

Lift work is used for pruning tall crowns, dead wooding, clearance pruning, installing cables and braces, removing trees too weak to climb and storm work. The list below gives each use.

• Pruning the crowns of tall cottonwoods, elms and pines
• Dead wooding over roofs, driveways and parking lots
• Clearance pruning around buildings, signs and lights
• Installing cables and braces high in a crown
• Removing trees that are too weak to climb
• Storm work, where broken limbs hang out of reach

A bucket lets the arborist work from outside the tree. That matters most on dead and storm-damaged trees, where the wood cannot be trusted to hold a climber.

What does the site need for a crane or lift?

Room to set up, firm ground and a clear path in. The arborist checks these on the estimate visit and picks the set-up spot. You can help by telling us about anything under the surface or overhead.

• Septic tanks, leach fields, wells and irrigation mains
• Pavers, heated driveways and thin slabs
• Overhead power, phone and cable lines
• Gate widths, slopes and soft or wet ground
• Shared driveways and street parking rules

NV Energy handles its own primary power lines. If a line is close to the work, we plan around it and you may need to contact NV Energy first.

Why does it matter that the equipment is ours?

Because the machines are ours, a job is planned around one team and one schedule. The people who plan the lift carry it out, and crane removal takes an organized and experienced team to do well.

It also means storm work does not wait on a rental. The same crane and boom truck are part of our 24-hour emergency service. Photos of each machine are on the equipment page.