Spider crane dilemma.

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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
A friend of mine runs a hiab wagon and does high end garden statue removals etc. he also has a Unic spider crane 295 ? It’s the little baby one that has about 8m reach and fits through a doorway. We have had it out on a couple of jobs where I can’t get my trailer hiab to fit. Anyways he’s mentioned retiring a few times and selling it, and I’ve got first refusal. It was always one day but might actually be soon now. I’m sorely tempted to buy it but would need to use it regular to make it earn its keep. Last time we spoke about money he reckoned £16-24K (very low hours). Probably more now as it was pre inflation.
What’s the crack with operator tickets on a micro crane and Loler etc? I’m used to our little hiab and various other kit that has annual checks, and I’m used to paperwork.
I have a suspicion that a crane (even a baby one) has a horrible operators training course?
Anyone run one? Anyone have a value? I never see them sold.
Thanks
 
S

Smiffy

Well-known member
A friend of mine runs a hiab wagon and does high end garden statue removals etc. he also has a Unic spider crane 295 ? It’s the little baby one that has about 8m reach and fits through a doorway. We have had it out on a couple of jobs where I can’t get my trailer hiab to fit. Anyways he’s mentioned retiring a few times and selling it, and I’ve got first refusal. It was always one day but might actually be soon now. I’m sorely tempted to buy it but would need to use it regular to make it earn its keep. Last time we spoke about money he reckoned £16-24K (very low hours). Probably more now as it was pre inflation.
What’s the crack with operator tickets on a micro crane and Loler etc? I’m used to our little hiab and various other kit that has annual checks, and I’m used to paperwork.
I have a suspicion that a crane (even a baby one) has a horrible operators training course?
Anyone run one? Anyone have a value? I never see them sold.
Thanks

I don't think there is such a thing as a horrible operators course In this industry. If the training was thorough and difficult there wouldn't be weekly photos of upside down machinery
 
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JD450A

JD450A

Feral as Fk 🐾
Realistically if your worried about tickets and doing it by the LOLER book your trailer Hiab is a world of hurt anyway.
FYI anything other than Load on, Load off a lorry with a Hiab should have a separate appointed person.
Same with Spiders, Should have a Operator and a AP minimum
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
A friend of mine runs a hiab wagon and does high end garden statue removals etc. he also has a Unic spider crane 295 ? It’s the little baby one that has about 8m reach and fits through a doorway. We have had it out on a couple of jobs where I can’t get my trailer hiab to fit. Anyways he’s mentioned retiring a few times and selling it, and I’ve got first refusal. It was always one day but might actually be soon now. I’m sorely tempted to buy it but would need to use it regular to make it earn its keep. Last time we spoke about money he reckoned £16-24K (very low hours). Probably more now as it was pre inflation.
What’s the crack with operator tickets on a micro crane and Loler etc? I’m used to our little hiab and various other kit that has annual checks, and I’m used to paperwork.
I have a suspicion that a crane (even a baby one) has a horrible operators training course?
Anyone run one? Anyone have a value? I never see them sold.
Thanks
Russ used to run one .. 3 or 4 tonner IIRC .... couldn't make it pay and sold it .... they make and hold strong money.



would suggest getting some insurance quotes for it, 'fore making a decision on purchasing it ... will have a big influence

your hiab trailer should be subject to more than just 12 monthly inspections ... any/all lifting gear should be in a 6 monthly inspection regime.
do you have a test cert. for the hiab trailer?
 
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S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Russ used to run one .. 3 or 4 tonner IIRC .... couldn't make it pay and sold it .... they make and hold strong money.



would suggest getting some insurance quotes for it, 'fore making a decision on purchasing it ... will have a big influence

your hiab trailer should be subject to more than just 12 monthly inspections ... any/all lifting gear should be in a 6 monthly inspection regime.
do you have a test cert. for the hiab trailer?
Trailer (micro) hiab only lifts things not people so on a 12 month certificate. My tail lift is on a 6 month cycle. All my lifting gantry’s on 12 month as well.
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Realistically if your worried about tickets and doing it by the LOLER book your trailer Hiab is a world of hurt anyway.
FYI anything other than Load on, Load off a lorry with a Hiab should have a separate appointed person.
Same with Spiders, Should have a Operator and a AP minimum
Ta.. I’ll do some googling
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Realistically if your worried about tickets and doing it by the LOLER book your trailer Hiab is a world of hurt anyway.
FYI anything other than Load on, Load off a lorry with a Hiab should have a separate appointed person.
Same with Spiders, Should have a Operator and a AP minimum
I need to have analyse the costs involved . My trailer hiab is paying for itself, not sure the spider crane will unless I end up running it a couple days a month
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
I’m still considering this. Crane is now for sale, the bugger is we don’t hire it very often, but if we had our own we would use it a lot more, and down here in Devon I can’t find another within 50 miles so alternative hire is going to be a ballache. The training and legality side I can cover.
Tempted to run it for 1-2 years and see if it’s worth it. Just don’t want to loose too much money on the resell (if I have to). I can fund it without risk. Think new ones are 50K?
Been offered this unit for 19K+vat. I trust my friend, but it’s very hard to carry out any comparison quotes.
Anyone care to offer their opinion on the value/price?
Unic 295 CR. LPG/Petrol
Cable remote.
New LOLER
2003 model with 932 hours.
Stored indoors and same owner since 2006.
Cheers in advance .
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
Sounds to me that it'll need to do a job a month and not break down much to cover itself. I'd go for it if you have that kind of work, it can always go out instead of the trailer hiab if that one is busy too.

And if matey is retiring, surely he will put his old work your way? Sounds like a great opportunity.
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Sounds to me that it'll need to do a job a month and not break down much to cover itself. I'd go for it if you have that kind of work, it can always go out instead of the trailer hiab if that one is busy too.

And if matey is retiring, surely he will put his old work your way? Sounds like a great opportunity.
He works all over the UK. I don’t like leaving the county 😂. Actually I prefer a 15mile radius for an easy day… However I am sure it would pick up enough (pun) to look after itself.
Insurance company want £39 a month to add to policy to cover loss and risk. I can lump the training and Loler in with our existing kit so minimal cost on that.
It will be a nice combo with my tracked carrier :)
 
Giles

Giles

Well-known member
He works all over the UK. I don’t like leaving the county 😂. Actually I prefer a 15mile radius for an easy day… However I am sure it would pick up enough (pun) to look after itself.
Insurance company want £39 a month to add to policy to cover loss and risk. I can lump the training and Loler in with our existing kit so minimal cost on that.
It will be a nice combo with my tracked carrier :)
What tracked carrier have you got?
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member

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Grahams

Grahams

Don't complain - suggest what's better
I’m still considering this. Crane is now for sale, the bugger is we don’t hire it very often, but if we had our own we would use it a lot more, and down here in Devon I can’t find another within 50 miles so alternative hire is going to be a ballache. The training and legality side I can cover.
Tempted to run it for 1-2 years and see if it’s worth it. Just don’t want to loose too much money on the resell (if I have to). I can fund it without risk. Think new ones are 50K?
Been offered this unit for 19K+vat. I trust my friend, but it’s very hard to carry out any comparison quotes.
Anyone care to offer their opinion on the value/price?
Unic 295 CR. LPG/Petrol
Cable remote.
New LOLER
2003 model with 932 hours.
Stored indoors and same owner since 2006.
Cheers in advance .
I would have thought it is a gamble worth trying. Worst case you end up selling it in a years time and will probably get what you paid for it as they tend to hold their price. I would go for it, especially if you have the money.
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
You got it back the right way up then 🤣🤣
So far. I'm always intruiged by plant that can lift more than its own weight. Quirky little machine. Beeps at more than the bloody Dmax!
 
TiltyShaun

TiltyShaun

Well-known member
Well. I am now the proud owner of a micro spider crane, in house training booked. Insurance sorted. RAMS is underway. Next year's loler booked. I have 6 little jobs lined up for it. Let's see how it pans out.
Good luck.
Back in very late 2007 I was looking into self erecting cranes after seeing them when I was in Europe. Thought they where fantastic and would have some major advantages over site telehandler. Never got around to it and by late 2008 I was glad I hadn’t!!
 
Giles

Giles

Well-known member
Good luck.
Back in very late 2007 I was looking into self erecting cranes after seeing them when I was in Europe. Thought they where fantastic and would have some major advantages over site telehandler. Never got around to it and by late 2008 I was glad I hadn’t!!
When i lived in Munich 2001-2003 they were on every job from one of houses to big apartment builds. Great bits of kit but you’d need mindset change here first
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
When i lived in Munich 2001-2003 they were on every job from one of houses to big apartment builds. Great bits of kit but you’d need mindset change here first
they're more available than they were though and great way of servicing a job/site .....
RB actually developed one back in the 70,s based on a 10 RB track frame ... only ever seen one and sold it to a guy from Malta who used to come over twice a year buying gear ... used to acquire stuff for his visits :giggle:
 
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