Who calls us for this
Mostly HVAC contractors replacing rooftop package units on retail plazas, schools, medical offices and warehouses, and property managers doing end-of-life swaps on 15–25 year old units. The second group is residential: a split-system condenser going onto a flat roof or a second-story deck where a hand crew cannot safely carry it.
Sizing the crane
- Boom truck (17–30 ton): units up to about 3,500 lb on a 1–3 story roof, with the truck parked within 40–60 ft of the set point. Covers most strip-mall and office work. $900–$1,400 typical.
- Hydraulic truck crane (40–75 ton): 5–20 ton units, deep setbacks where the truck has to stay in the lot, or picks over a parapet with a long reach. $1,400–$2,200 typical.
- All-terrain (100+ ton): large air handlers, chillers and cooling towers on multi-story buildings. Quoted per job.
What we need from you
- Unit model number or shipping weight, and the curb location on the roof.
- A photo from the parking lot showing the building face and where the truck can park.
- Whether the old unit comes down the same day (two picks, usually still inside the 4-hour minimum).
- Building height or number of stories, and any overhead power along the setup side.
Day-of coordination
We arrive 30–45 minutes before your crew to set outriggers and mats, do the site walk, and tag the pick points. The old unit comes down, the new one goes up, your crew sets it on the curb, we rig down. A typical swap is 2–3 hours on site. If the roof needs two or three units, we schedule it as a half day and the per-unit cost drops.
Permits and parking
Most lot-based picks need no permit. If the crane has to set up on a city street in New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport or Stamford, a street occupancy or sidewalk closure permit is required and takes 3–10 business days. We file it and bill it at cost.