13T Bubble Crane
Hire in Melbourne
13 Tonne City Crane with Variable Outrigger Setup
A 13 tonne bubble crane is a city-class mobile crane that lifts up to 13,000 kg from a narrow carrier, with multi-stage outriggers that let it set up in spaces most cranes cannot use. It is the most commonly hired machine in the bubble class across Melbourne.
That last point matters more than it sounds. Because these cranes are the volume machine in the class, they are easier to get at short notice, cheaper to run than the 20 tonne, and sized for the lifts that actually come up most often.
The Everyday City Crane
Most urban lifts do not need twenty tonnes. They need a crane that can access narrow streets, set up without closing the entire road, reach over buildings and place loads accurately. The 13-tonne bubble crane handles rooftop air conditioning units, structural steel, building materials, factory plant and pool shells with ease. Its multi-stage outriggers can use partial extension on one side and full extension on the other, allowing setup beside boundaries, parked cars or within tight driveways. A luffing fly attachment provides additional reach for lifting up and over obstacles across Melbourne, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh or Western Victoria. Tell us the load, radius and available setup space.
What This Machine Does Well
Five things define the 13 tonne bubble:
Variable outrigger setup. Multi-stage outriggers set at different extensions per side, so the crane works in spaces a fixed spread machine cannot occupy.
Narrow carrier access. Fits laneways, driveways, suburban streets and between-building access that rules out conventional mobile cranes.
Sized for common lifts. Thirteen tonnes covers the large majority of urban and residential lifting without paying for capacity that sits unused.
Extended reach with fly. Luffing or fixed fly attachments add height and radius for lifts that need to clear a building rather than just reach across a yard.
Widely available. The most common city crane in Melbourne, which makes short-notice and replacement bookings considerably easier to fill.
What This Machine
Does Well
Five things define the 13 tonne bubble:
Variable outrigger setup
Narrow carrier access
Sized for common lifts
Extended reach with fly
Widely available
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Where 13T Bubble Cranes Get Used
Air Conditioning and Rooftop Plant
HVAC units, condensers, exhaust fans and services equipment lifted to roof level from street or driveway positions on commercial and residential buildings.
Structural Steel and Framing
Beams, lintels, columns, portal frames and roof steel erected on residential builds, extensions and small commercial projects.
Building Materials and Site Supply
Bricks, timber packs, trusses, sheeting and materials lifted over fences and onto upper levels on constrained blocks.
Pool, Spa and Landscaping
Fiberglass shells, spas, boulders, trees and water features lifted over houses into rear yards from the street.
Shop Fit Out and Refurbishment
Fixtures, glazing, signage, plant and equipment placed on retail and hospitality sites in active shopping strips and laneways.
Factory and Plant Maintenance
Machinery, components and equipment lifted and positioned around operating industrial facilities during 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 13T bubble crane?
A city class mobile crane that lifts up to 13 tonnes from a narrow carrier designed for confined urban access. Bubble crane and city crane mean the same thing, with the name coming from the rounded operator cab.
How far can a 13T bubble crane reach?
Typically 25 to 30 meters depending on the model and whether a fly attachment is fitted. Capacity at maximum reach is a small fraction of the rated tonnage, so the working figure depends on your actual radius.
What are multi-stage outriggers and why do they matter?
They allow each outrigger to be set at different extension positions rather than all at full spread. That lets the crane set up against a boundary, beside parked cars, or in a driveway. Capacity reduces on the restricted side, and the crane’s load moment system accounts for it automatically.
Can a 13T bubble crane lift a swimming pool?
Yes, and it is common work for this class. Fiberglass shells are bulky rather than heavy, so the deciding factor is the reach over the house rather than the weight. We check that against the chart before quoting.
Should I hire a 13T or a 20T bubble crane?
Check the chart at your working radius rather than comparing headline tonnage. A 13 tonne machine often handles the job at less cost and with a smaller setup footprint, and the 20 tonne is only necessary where weight or reach genuinely exceeds it.
Can it work on an unformed site?
Yes. These machines are rough terrain capable and do not require sealed hardstand, though outriggers still need firm, level bearing with pads where ground conditions demand them.
Do I need permits?
If the crane stands on the road, footpath or nature strip, generally yes. Road occupancy permits and traffic management plans are arranged as part of the engagement and coordinated with the relevant council.
How quickly can you get one on site?
Faster than most other classes, because the 13 tonne bubble is the most common city crane in Melbourne, short-notice bookings depend on fleet availability and whether permits are required, so call early where the street is involved.
Is an operator included?
Yes. All cranes are supplied with a licensed operator as standard, with riggers, dogmen and spotters supplied where the lift requires them.
What does 13T bubble crane hire cost in Melbourne?
Hourly, day and weekly rates apply, with travel from our Maddingley depot, permits and traffic management itemized separately. It is the most cost-effective machine in the bubble class. Call 0457 000 637 for a figure against your job.
Which areas do you cover?
All Melbourne metro suburbs, with Maidstone, Werribee and Caroline Springs among the areas we attend most often, extending through Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Ballarat. Regional work is arranged on request.
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.