2.8T Crawler Crane
Hire in Melbourne
2.8 Tonne Mini Crawler Crane for Tight Access Lifts
The load is not the problem on these jobs. Two and a bit tonnes is nothing for a crane. The problem is a doorway, side gate, finished floor, or courtyard with no access for anything on wheels across Melbourne, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, and Western Victoria.
Our 2.8 tonne crawler crane is built for exactly that. It tracks through openings that stop every other machine, sets up in a footprint measured in meters, and lifts where a truck-mounted crane cannot even park.
The Machine That Fits
Through the Gap
When someone enquires about 2.8t crawler crane hire or crawler spider crane hire, they have usually already identified access as the main constraint. The load is modest, the radius is short, and the entire job depends on whether a crane can physically reach the lift point. This machine tracks under its own power, folds narrow enough for standard accessways, and deploys four independent outriggers within the available space. Its rubber tracks allow it to travel over paving, tiled floors, timber decking, and lawns with suitable matting. Its capacity sits near the top of the mini crane range while maintaining a genuinely small folded footprint, making it ideal for jobs that might otherwise require scaffolding, gantries, or a large manual crew. Send us the load weight, working radius, and access dimensions.
What the 2.8 Tonne Machine Does Well
Five things make this size the workhorse of the mini crane fleet:
Doorway and gateway access. Folds to a width that clears standard door openings, single gates and basement ramps without dismantling.
Full capacity close in. Two point eight tonnes at short radius, with useful capacity still available as the boom extends out.
Independent outrigger positioning. Each leg set separately, so the machine works in asymmetric spaces and against walls.
Low ground pressure on tracks. Weight distributed across rubber tracks, protecting finished surfaces, paving and suspended slabs.
Indoor capable operation. Suitable for work inside occupied buildings where exhaust, noise and floor loading all matter.
What the 2.8 Tonne Machine Does Well
Five things make this size the workhorse of the mini crane fleet:
Doorway and gateway access.
Full capacity close in
Independent outrigger positioning
Low ground pressure on tracks.
Indoor capable operation.
Crawler Crane Hire in Melbourne
Crawler Crane Hire in Melbourne
2.8T Crawler Crane
3T Crawler Crane
4T Crawler Crane
Unsure where your lift sits? Run the weight and radius through the crane calculator, then send the figures and we will confirm the machine.
Where This Machine
Gets Used
The 2.8 tonne class covers an unusually wide range of work. Six areas come up most:
Glazing and Glass Panels
Windows, shopfronts, balustrades and skylights are placed with a vacuum lifter, often inside the building envelope where no other crane fits.
Plant Rooms and Basements
Chillers, pumps, switchboards, generators and tanks moved into basements, plant rooms and service areas through existing openings.
Backyard and Landscaping
Trees, boulders, spas, sheds and pool shells lifted over fences and into rear yards where the only access is a side gate.
Lift Shafts and Stairwells
Lift motors, guide rails and mechanical components positioned inside shafts and voids on new builds and upgrades.
Heritage and Fit Out Work
Stone, statuary, joinery and fixtures handled inside churches, galleries, museums and heritage buildings with protected surfaces.
Solar and Rooftop Equipment
Frames, HVAC units, water tanks and services equipment lifted onto roofs and decks on constrained residential and commercial sites.
We proudly support the construction, civil, commercial, residential and industrial construction sectors, along with infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, logistics and warehousing clients throughout Victoria. If your load is not listed here, give us a ring; chances are we have lifted one just like it.
Call us now at 0457 000 637.
How the Job Runs
How the Job Runs
Start with the access measurements.
Start with the access measurements.
Send the details
Load weight and dimensions, where it is picked up from and set down, and the access route including the narrowest point along the way.
Send the details
Load weight and dimensions, where it is picked up from and set down, and the access route including the narrowest point along the way.
Machine confirmed and quoted
Capacity checked against your radius on the load chart, protection requirements specified, and a quote issued with transport itemized.
Machine confirmed and quoted
Capacity checked against your radius on the load chart, protection requirements specified, and a quote issued with transport itemized.
Booking locked in
Date secured against your program, permits arranged if the street is involved, and the operator briefed on the access plan.
Booking locked in
Date secured against your program, permits arranged if the street is involved, and the operator briefed on the access plan.
Lift day
Machine floated in, tracked to position, outriggers set, lift completed, then packed down and removed with the site left as found.
Lift, carry, done
Your load is lifted and placed safely and efficiently. We leave the site tidy and your program a step ahead of schedule.
What Turns Up With It
On tight access jobs, the route matters as much as the lift, so we check it before quoting rather than on the day. Six things included:
Licensed operator supplied. The machine comes with a ticketed operator experienced on mini crawler cranes.
Access check completed. Door widths, ramp gradients, headroom, turning clearance and floor loadings confirmed upfront.
Surface protection supplied. Track mats, ply and spreader plates to protect tiles, timber, paving and lawn.
Attachments matched to the load. Vacuum lifters, slings, spreader bars and specialist rigging brought to suit the job.
Documentation prepared. SWMS, ground bearing figures and lift plans where the builder or building manager requires them.
Delivery included. Float transport to site, positioning, and removal on completion arranged as part of the booking.
What Turns Ups With It
On tight access jobs, the route matters as much as the lift, so we check it before quoting rather than on the day. Six things included:
Every Lift Meets Safety Standard
What does 2.8t crawler crane hire cost in Melbourne?
Rates depend on hire duration and distance from Maddingley, with transport making up a larger share than on a mobile crane because the machine is floated in. Half-day and full-day rates are available. Call 0457 000 637 for a figure against your job.
How narrow an opening does it need?
It folds down to clear standard door and gate widths, though the exact figure depends on configuration. Send us the narrowest point on your access route with a photo, and we will confirm before quoting.
Can it lift the full 2.8 tonnes at any radius?
No. Like every crane, capacity reduces as the boom extends. Full rated capacity applies close in, so we always check your working radius against the load chart before confirming the machine.
Will it damage floors, paving or lawn?
Rubber tracks spread the load far better than wheels, and we bring matting and spreader plates for finished surfaces. Suspended slabs are checked against engineering limits before the machine goes on.
Can it work indoors?
Yes, subject to headroom, floor loading, and ventilation. Indoor work is one of the main reasons this class exists, and we assess the building constraints as part of the access check.
Is an operator included?
Yes. These machines are supplied with a licensed operator as standard. We do not dry hire, because outrigger setup on constrained sites carries real risk.
How much notice do you need?
A few days is usually enough for straightforward jobs. Indoor and heritage work benefits from more lead time, since building access and protection often need arranging with third parties.
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.
Get Answers to Your Crane Hire Questions
Get Answers to Your Crane Hire Questions
Find answers to common questions about our crane hire services, equipment, operators, and project support.
0457 000 637
Open 24 hours
25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340
Contact Us
The machine travels on a float from our depot at 25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340, directly on the Western Freeway. That keeps delivery into the western suburbs and metro area straightforward, and transport gets scheduled around your access window rather than ours.