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Mobile crane operator adds 88-ton road-friendly asset

Pete Smith Crane Rental & Rigging Corp is a newer mobile crane service in Mississauga, Ont., and they are expanding with the first-ever Tadano AC 4.080-1 in Canada.

The all-terrain crane stood out for Smith because of its long boom, being a great taxi crane, outstanding roadability and fitting a myriad of applications around the province of Ontario.

Pete Smith, owner of the company and a crane operator, says he decided to purchase the crane “because it has a 197-foot main boom and the Flex Base system that works with IC-1 Plus; it was a no-brainer. I can take this machine downtown Toronto into an alleyway, I know before I even get out of the carrier cab (Drivers Seat) where the outriggers will be, and it has a fantastic chart with the 20,500 lbs counterweight configuration.”

The configuration of the crane is legally roadable in Ontario.

As for the downtown core type work for roof top units and the HVAC mechanical side, Smith says that he believes this crane is going to prove handy in that market.

“With the competitor’s crane in this class of ATs, you either get 164 or 167 of main boom. The AC 4.080-1 comes out with 197’, the same counterweight configuration and same roadability. It just made sense,” he says.

“It is very impressive to see such a young company build their business and clientele so quickly,” says Tadano America Regional Business Manager Justin Andrews. “This unit perfectly fits the Ontario market and Pete Smith’s fleet with the longest boom and ideal 88-ton capacity.”

Smith points out that he appreciates the support from Tadano’s Canadian distributor Cropac.

“I approached Cropac in 2020 to discuss purchasing a crane. With some other dealerships I’d walked into, it was you having to jump through some hoops. But with Bill (Cropac President and Owner Bill Finkle), it was a face-to-face conversation, a handshake, and the deal was done,” says Smith. “He got me into this industry, and I support Cropac 100 per cent. This is a family-owned business, and he treats you like family.”

Cropac Equipment sales executive Dan Sweeney adds that the four-axle machine provides great weight distribution, “and in the Ontario market, 90-ton cranes require two people – Operator and an Apprentice. So the machine’s 88-ton capacity is a one-operator crane;” which should make it popular in the market.