What Is a Tower Crane?
A tower crane is a tall, fixed crane bolted to an engineered base. A vertical mast carries a long horizontal arm called the jib, which turns a full circle and moves loads up and out across the whole site. The operator works from a cab high on the mast, with a clear view of every pick.
Because it stands in one place for the length of the build, a tower crane is planned around the project, not the day. It’s the usual choice for high-rise residential, commercial, and mixed-use construction, where materials have to reach the upper floors again and again.
How a Tower Crane Job Comes Together
A tower crane is only as good as the work done before it goes up. Here is how we take a job from first call to a crane ready to lift:
- Confirm the crane model, tower height, jib length, and location against the engineering drawings
- Coordinate the base and anchor design with your project’s foundation engineer
- Install the base, with inspections at the points the engineer requires
- Receive concrete strength results and the engineer’s foundation certification
- Complete crane inspections, repairs, and certification, plus mechanical and electrical checks
- Assemble the documentation, file the WorkSafeBC notice, and hold a final review before erection
What Our Clients Say
At MR Crane Service, every project is a commitment fulfilled. Our clients trust us for our safety standards, on-time performance, and precision in every lift. Below are some experiences from companies that have worked with our team and seen firsthand the value of a reliable, professional crane service.
Hammerhead, Luffing Jib, and Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Hammerhead cranes have a flat, horizontal jib and are the standard for large sites that need steady reach over a wide area. Luffing jib cranes raise and lower the jib like a mobile crane’s boom, so they suit tight urban sites where several cranes share the sky or the load must stay inside the property line.
Self-erecting cranes fold out and fold away quickly, which makes them practical for shorter projects and smaller sites where a full tower isn’t justified. We carry all three types, so we can match the crane to the building instead of the other way around.
Tower Crane or Mobile Crane for the Job?
A tower crane stays put and lifts all day for months. A mobile crane arrives, makes its lifts, and leaves. If your project is tall and long, with constant picks over many weeks, a tower crane usually pays off. If you need a few heavy lifts, or short bursts of work, a mobile crane is often simpler. Many projects use both, since a mobile crane often helps erect and dismantle the tower. Tell us the height, the duration, and the lifting plan, and we’ll help you choose.
Associations and Industry Standards
We stay connected to the industry and hold ourselves to the standards that matter on real job sites.
What Goes Into a Tower Crane Rental Quote?
Tower crane pricing depends on the crane and on everything that comes with it, so we quote each project individually. Rental length, crane size, and site conditions drive most of the number. To put a quote together, we need:
- The building height and the lifting heights you need
- The jib length or reach required across the site
- The heaviest single load the crane will carry
- Your site address, site layout, and foundation conditions
- Power availability and your electrical arrangements
- Your start date and how long you need the crane
Our Tower Crane Fleet: 20 Units From 3.5 to 28 Tons
The tonnage is the maximum load near the tower. Capacity drops as a load moves out along the jib, so the jib length and your heaviest pick matter as much as the headline number. Here is how the fleet breaks down:
- 3.5 tons, FM GRU 1035 RBI: our self-erecting crane for smaller sites and shorter projects
- 5 to 8 tons, Jaso J52NS, J150, J80PA, and Wolff WK148 SL, 160B, and 166B: compact hammerhead and luffing jib cranes for small footprints
- 12 tons, Wolff 226 SL, 325 SL, 6031.8, 6031.12, 6522 SL, and 7031.12 SL, Jaso J300, and Liebherr 280: the working core of our hammerhead fleet
- 16.5 to 20 tons, Wolff W8033.16, 7532.16, and 8033.20: hammerheads for heavier loads and larger sites
- 18 to 28 tons, Wolff 180B and 355B: luffing jib cranes for high-capacity work in tight spaces
Not sure how much capacity or reach your build needs? Send us the plans and we’ll recommend the right crane.
Maintained by the People Who Know the Fleet
When a crane stays on one site for months, reliability matters. Our sister company, MR Tech, inspects, services, and repairs our equipment in house, so the team that knows your crane is the team that keeps it running.
Home Base in Victoria
Victoria has been our home base since 2006. Today, more than 60 people across sales, dispatch, operations, safety, and field crews work behind every project, so the person planning your crane is only a phone call away.
Safety Built Into the Schedule
Foundations, inspections, and engineering sign-off all come before the first section of mast goes up. We schedule erection around those approvals, not the other way around, and our crews work to WorkSafeBC and CSA requirements.
Tower Cranes Across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Sea to Sky, and the Okanagan
Our tower cranes work on builds from Victoria, Langford, and Nanaimo to Courtenay on Vancouver Island, from Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, and Langley across the Lower Mainland, up the Sea to Sky corridor to Squamish and Whistler, and through the Okanagan and BC Interior, including Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, and Kamloops. If your project is in BC, we can plan the crane for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tower crane?
A tower crane is a tall crane fixed to an engineered foundation, with a vertical mast and a rotating horizontal jib. It lifts materials high and across a large area, which makes it the standard crane for multi-storey construction.
How much does it cost to rent or hire a tower crane?
The cost depends on the crane model, the height and reach required, how long you need it, and the site conditions. Because every project is different, we quote each one. Send us the building height, the heaviest load, the site address, and your dates for a clear quote.
What is the difference between hammerhead, luffing jib, and self-erecting tower cranes?
A hammerhead has a flat jib and gives steady reach across a large site. A luffing jib raises and lowers its jib, which suits tight sites and shared airspace. A self-erecting crane folds out and away quickly, so it fits shorter jobs on smaller sites. We carry all three.
What does a tower crane rental include?
Delivery, erection, and dismantling, along with the engineering, base installation, and inspection work that leads up to erection. We coordinate with your project’s foundation engineer so the base and anchors match the crane.
What has to happen before a tower crane can go up?
The crane model and configuration are confirmed against the engineering drawings, the base is installed and inspected, and a professional engineer certifies the foundation. The crane itself is inspected, and the required notice is filed with WorkSafeBC. We handle the coordination so nothing is missed.
How do I choose the right size tower crane?
Start with the heaviest load, the height, and how far the jib has to reach. A crane’s capacity is highest near the mast and drops toward the tip, so reach matters as much as tonnage. Send us your plans and we’ll recommend the right model.
Can you supply a tower crane for a small or short project?
Yes. Our self-erecting FM GRU 1035 RBI is built for smaller sites and shorter durations, and our compact hammerhead and luffing jib cranes fit tight footprints.
Where do you offer tower crane rental?
Across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Sea to Sky, and the Okanagan. That includes Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Whistler, Kelowna, and Kamloops.
Planning a Build That Needs a Tower Crane?
Send us the site, the height, and your schedule. We’ll come back with the right crane and a clear plan from engineering to erection.