When a crane is the safer, cheaper option
- Large oaks, maples and pines leaning over the roof, pool or garage.
- Storm damage: hung-up limbs, split trunks, trees already on the house.
- Backyards with no equipment access through the side yard.
- Dead ash (emerald ash borer has left thousands of unsafe ash trees in Litchfield, New Haven and Fairfield counties) that a climber should not be in.
- Lots of trees at once, where the crane lets the crew work from the ground.
A climber taking down a 90-foot oak over a house piece by piece can take two days and a lot of rope work. With a crane, the climber rigs a section, the crane lifts it clear and sets it in the driveway for the chipper. Ten to twenty picks and the tree is on the ground by lunch.
What it costs
| Setup | Rate | Typical job |
|---|---|---|
| Boom truck, 30 ton, half day | $1,400 – $1,900 | One large tree close to the driveway, under 80 ft, lighter sections |
| Hydraulic crane, 60–75 ton, full day | $2,400 – $3,800 | Large tree over the house, 100+ ft reach, or 2–4 trees in one visit |
| Crane plus our climbing crew | Add $1,200 – $2,500 / day | If you do not already have a tree service lined up |
Crane rates include operator, fuel and travel inside our core area. Chipping, hauling and stump grinding are the tree service's line items.
How the day goes
- Site visit or a street photo plus a photo of the tree from the house side, so we can size the crane and the reach.
- Crane sets up on the driveway or street on mats. Street setups in dense towns may need a one-day no-parking permit, which we arrange.
- Climber or aerial lift rigs sections top-down. Operator lifts each piece clear of the house and lands it on the lawn or driveway.
- Trunk comes down in 2–3 logs. The crane rigs down; the tree crew chips and hauls.
For tree services
If you are a tree company that needs a crane a few days a month, we offer a contractor rate and we keep a spot open for storm work after wind and ice events. Call and ask for the contractor sheet.