10T Bubble Crane
Hire in Melbourne
10 Tonne City Crane for Tight-Access Lifts
A 10T bubble crane is the smallest city crane in our compact range. It lifts up to 10,000 kg at close radius from a short, narrow carrier, so it fits down driveways, laneways and side access that rule out larger mobile cranes.
That smaller footprint is the point. When the load is a few tonnes and the setup space is tight, a 10 tonne bubble crane gets in, sets up on less ground and costs less to run than stepping up to the 13T or 16T bubble crane.
Hire from $180.00 per hour inc GST
Minimum 4 hours ($720.00 inc GST) · Licensed operator included
This is a starting rate, not a fixed quote. Prices may vary with your site, travel and the lift. Charged depot to depot, 7am–3:30pm Mon–Fri; overtime, counterweights and permits are extra where they apply. Call us for an exact quote.
The Small City Crane for Tight Sites
Plenty of lifts around Melbourne are well under ten tonnes: a split-system condenser onto a two-storey roof, a steel lintel over a new opening, a spa lifted over the house into the back yard, or a pallet of tiles onto a first-floor deck. A 10T bubble crane handles that work from a carrier short enough to turn into suburban driveways and narrow enough to set up beside parked cars or a boundary fence.
Its multi-stage outriggers can be set at different extensions on each side, so the crane can work where a fixed-spread machine cannot. Keep in mind the 10 tonne rating is the maximum at close radius; capacity drops as the boom reaches further out. Send us the weight, the distance from the crane to the drop point and the setup space, and we will check it against the load chart for jobs across Melbourne, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh and Western Victoria.
What This Machine Does Well
Five things define the 10 tonne bubble crane:
Smallest footprint in the bubble range. A shorter, narrower carrier makes it the easiest of our city cranes to position on residential blocks, in laneways and behind shopfronts.
Variable outrigger setup. Outriggers set at different extensions per side, so the crane can set up hard against boundaries, fences and parked cars.
Lighter on the ground. Lower outrigger loads than the bigger bubble cranes help on driveways, pavers and slabs, subject to a ground bearing check before the lift.
Right-sized for light lifts. Most residential, HVAC and fit-out loads are a few tonnes, so you are not paying for capacity that sits unused.
Quick setup and pack-down. Short jobs, multiple drops and day work suit a crane that is on site and lifting quickly, then gone.
What This Machine
Does Well
Five things define the 10 tonne bubble crane:
Smallest footprint in the bubble range
Variable outrigger setup
Lighter on the ground
Right-sized for light lifts
Quick setup and pack-down
Compact Crane Hire in Melbourne
Compact Crane Hire in Melbourne
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10T Bubble Crane
13T Bubble Crane
16T Bubble Crane
20T Bubble Crane
Where 10T Bubble Cranes Get Used
Air Conditioning and Rooftop Plant
Split-system condensers, small packaged units, exhaust fans and solar gear lifted onto houses, townhouses and low-rise commercial roofs.
Home Builds and Renovations
Steel beams, lintels, trusses, wall frames and materials lifted over fences and onto upper floors on tight residential blocks.
Pools, Spas and Landscaping
Spas, plunge pools, sleepers, boulders and planter boxes lifted over the house into the back yard from the street.
Glass, Windows and Shop Fit-Out
Glazing panels, shopfront frames, signage and fit-out equipment placed in strip shopping centres and laneways.
Sheds, Cabins and Kit Homes
Shed frames, site cabins, kit-home components and lighter modules positioned on backyard and acreage sites.
Factory and Maintenance Lifts
Motors, pumps, small machinery and parts lifted around operating sites during shutdowns and maintenance windows.
Call us now at 0457 000 637.
How the Job Runs
How the Job Runs
Start with the weight, the radius,s and the setup dimensions.
Start with the weight, the radius,s and the setup dimensions.
Send the lift and the setup area
Load weight and dimensions, working radius, hook height, the space available for outriggers, ground conditions, and any overhead services.
Send the lift and the setup area
Load weight and dimensions, working radius, hook height, the space available for outriggers, ground conditions, and any overhead services.
Configuration and capacity confirmed
Outrigger positions selected for your available space, capacity checked against the chart for that configuration, and a quote issued with costs itemized.
Configuration and capacity confirmed
Outrigger positions selected for your available space, capacity checked against the chart for that configuration, and a quote issued with costs itemized.
Approvals and scheduling
Road occupancy and traffic management arranged where required, spotters booked if powerlines are involved, and dates locked to your program.
Approvals and scheduling
Road occupancy and traffic management arranged where required, spotters booked if powerlines are involved, and dates locked to your program.
Lift day
Crane drives to site, sets up on the planned outrigger configuration, lifts completed, then packs down and departs.
Lift day
Crane drives to site, sets up on the planned outrigger configuration, lifts completed, then packs down and departs.
What Comes With the Crane
Six things covered as part of the hire:
Licensed operator supplied. Every crane comes with a ticketed operator holding the correct class of license.
Setup assessment before quoting. Available outrigger area, ground bearing, boundary clearances, overhead services, and lift path checked upfront.
Traffic management arranged. Road occupancy permits, traffic control plans, and accredited crews where the crane occupies road or footpath.
Electrical spotters where required. Certified spotters supplied for work near overhead powerlines, which is common on suburban streets.
Crew supplied as needed. Riggers, dogmen and spotters matched to the complexity of the lift.
Lift documentation prepared. SWMS, ground bearing calculations and engineered lift plans where the builder or council requires them.
Tight setup area or a boundary to work against? Call 0457 000 637 with the dimensions, because outrigger configuration often decides whether the job is possible at all.
What Comes With the Crane
Six things covered as part of the hire:
Every Lift Meets Safety Standard
What is a 10T bubble crane?
A 10 tonne city-class mobile crane with a narrow carrier and a rounded, fully enclosed operator cab, which is where the “bubble” name comes from. It is the smallest bubble crane we run and suits light lifts where access and setup space are tight.
How far can a 10T bubble crane reach?
It depends on the machine and setup, but 10 tonne city cranes typically run a telescopic main boom in the low-to-mid 20-metre range. Capacity falls as the radius grows, so a load that is easy at 3 metres may be over the chart at 15 metres. Send us the weight and the radius and we will check the load chart.
How much can it lift at longer reach?
The 10 tonne rating only applies close to the crane with the outriggers fully extended. At long reach it lifts a fraction of that, which is why we size every job from the load chart rather than the number in the crane’s name.
Should I hire a 10T or a 13T bubble crane?
If the load is light, the radius is short and access is the main problem, the 10T is usually the better fit and cheaper to run. If the lift is close to the 10T chart limit, needs more reach, or involves heavier steel or plant, step up to the 13T, 16T or 20T bubble crane. We recommend the smallest crane that does the lift safely.
Will a 10T bubble crane fit down my driveway?
Often, yes. Send us the access width, any overhead clearances (trees, carports, eaves and powerlines) and a few photos, plus what the crane would stand on: concrete, pavers, pits or grass. We will confirm whether it fits and where the outriggers can go.
Can it lift a spa or small pool?
Most spas and plunge pools are within range if the crane can set up close enough to the drop point. Full-size fibreglass pool shells lifted over a house usually need a bigger crane. See our pool lifting service and we will match the crane to the shell and the distance.
Can it work on a soft or unformed site?
City cranes need firm, level ground under the outriggers. On soft or unformed ground we use outrigger pads or mats and check the ground bearing first. Very soft sites may suit a spider crane better.
Do I need permits?
If the crane or its outriggers will sit on the road or footpath, you will usually need a council permit and traffic management, which we can arrange. Work near overhead powerlines needs an electrical spotter.
Is an operator included?
Yes. Every 10T bubble crane is supplied with a licensed operator, and we add a dogman or rigger when the lift needs one.
What does 10T bubble crane hire cost in Melbourne?
Bubble cranes are charged by the hour with a minimum hire, and the final price depends on travel, time on site, crew, permits and traffic management. See our crane hire rates for the bubble crane range, or call 0457 000 637 for an exact quote.
Which areas do you cover?
Melbourne metro, the western suburbs, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Ballarat and regional Victoria. Our service locations page lists every area.
0457 000 637
Open 24 hours
25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340
Contact Us
The crane drives to site from our depot at 25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340, directly on the Western Freeway. No float transport is involved, which keeps mobilization cost down and makes short notice bookings realistic rather than theoretical.Maidstone is where variable outrigger setup earns its keep. Narrow frontages, cars parked on both sides, and boundaries close to the work mean a fixed outrigger spread often will not fit at all. Being able to set partial extension on one side is frequently the difference between the lift happening and the job being deferred.