How Crane Tree Removal Works

July 22, 2022/Tree Removal

If you’ve never seen a tree removal before, you may picture a tree that is cut near the base as workers yell, “timber!” and the entire tree tips and crashes to the ground.

While this is still a viable (if dangerous) method to remove some trees, it isn’t always possible or safe to remove them this way in neighborhoods or near buildings, roads, or landscaped areas.

Instead, we rely on specialized equipment like cranes to remove trees section by section. A crane isn’t the right tool for every job, but when it’s the right call, it’s tough to beat for safety and speed — and often costs less than homeowners expect for crane tree removal in MetroWest Massachusetts. Here, we’ll focus on how the work actually gets done, from the equipment we run to the way the crew and operator coordinate each lift.

The american climbers ground crew works to cut up and remove a large section of a tree from a residential area in massachusetts.

Is a Tree Removal Crane the Same Type as Used in Construction?

No, tree removal cranes are specially made for the arboriculture (tree care) industry. While cranes used in construction are stationary, tree cranes are part of a vehicle, which allows us to use the crane in almost any environment. It’s also why you may see the American Climbers crew taking some time to correctly position and stabilize the crane – we need to ensure it won’t move.

This stage can take a while when the crane is parked on hills or sloping areas. We also need to consider the location and size of the tree being removed, obstacles, and some other factors.

Totally professional. They worked like a well-oiled machine. Everyone knowing just what to do to get the job done in an excellent manner. Love them, would use them again in a heartbeat. American Climbers are the best! – Donna O., American Climbers customer

The american climbers tree crane preparing for a tree removal on a massachusetts residential property.

What Equipment Is Used in Crane Tree Removal?

Crane tree removal relies on a truck-mounted crane paired with a climber, a grapple saw, and a ground crew running chippers and log trucks. Unlike the stationary cranes you see on a construction site, a tree removal crane is built onto a vehicle, so we can drive it up your driveway or park it on the street and reach trees that would otherwise be impossible to get to.

American Climbers runs some of the largest and most advanced equipment in the area, including:

Telescoping and Knuckle-Boom Cranes: A telescoping crane extends a long, straight boom for maximum height and reach, letting us get to the tallest trees in our area, while a knuckle-boom crane folds like an arm to maneuver around obstacles and over rooftops.
A Grapple Saw: We were one of the first companies in the country to run a grapple saw, a tool mounted on the boom that grabs, cuts, and lifts a section of tree all in one motion. Newer remote-controlled models let the operator work the saw with a joystick from the ground, which keeps a climber off the most dangerous parts of an unstable tree.
A Robotic Tree-Mek: This remote-controlled machine adds even more reach and control on difficult removals, all operated from a safe distance.
Outriggers: These are hydraulic legs that extend from the truck and plant firmly on the ground to keep the crane stable. On a slope or soft ground, they can lift the truck completely off its wheels so all the weight rests on the outriggers, not the tires.
Support Equipment: Once a section is on the ground, our chippers, log trucks, and bucket trucks handle the cleanup and haul-off.

The tree’s size, how far the crane has to reach, and what’s in the way all determine which crane and setup we use for your removal.

An american climbers tree climber shown cutting a section of a tree (left) and the section of the tree being removed by a crane (right).

How Does Crane Tree Removal Work?

Crane tree removal works by taking a tree down in sections — a climber cuts each piece free while the crane lifts it up and away to a clear spot on the ground, instead of felling the whole tree at once.

The crane operator and climber work as one coordinated team, staying in constant communication so every cut and lift happens exactly when it should. They use headsets to talk clearly over the noise of the equipment, backed up with hand signals when needed, and nothing moves until both people confirm a section is ready.

Here’s how the team takes down one section:

The Operator Lifts the Climber in: Using the boom, the operator raises the climber to a safe spot in the tree.
The Climber Sets Up the Cut: The climber secures themselves, attaches the crane to a section, and decides where and when to cut based on the rigging and how much weight the crane can safely hold.
The Climber Cuts and Signals: Once the section is free and ready to move, the climber lets the operator know.
The Operator Clears the Section: The operator lifts and swings the cut section down to the ground crew, who take over from there.

Trees are usually taken down top-down, and a slightly different approach is used when a tree is brittle, unstable, or decaying, since it may be unsafe for a climber.

An american climbers crane as seen from above in a drone shot over. A massachusetts property.

How Long Does Crane Tree Removal Take?

Most single-tree crane removals are finished in just a few hours, though the exact time depends on the tree’s size, the site, and how many trees are coming down. Speed is one of the biggest advantages of a crane. A large removal that might take a climbing crew two or three days can often be done in a single morning, because the crane lifts whole sections away instead of lowering them piece by piece. It works like a choreographed dance, with each crew member knowing their role.

A few things affect the timeline:

Setup: Positioning and stabilizing the crane takes time, especially on a hill or soft ground, and we never rush this step.
Tree Size and Condition: Taller trees and brittle, decaying wood call for more, smaller lifts.
Access: A tree tucked behind the house takes longer to reach than one near the driveway.
Cleanup: Chipping brush and hauling away logs is part of the job and adds time after the last section comes down.

What Happens to the Tree Once It’s Cut?

Each section the crane lifts away is set down in a staging area, where the ground crew breaks it down and clears it. As the crane places limbs and trunk sections in an open spot, the crew limbs them (removing the branches) and bucks the trunk (cutting it into manageable lengths) so nothing piles up.

From there:

Brush and smaller limbs go through the chipper and turn into wood chips.
Large trunk sections are loaded onto our log truck and hauled away.
Wood chips or firewood-sized logs can be left on site if you’d like them. Just let your estimator know ahead of time.

Having the chipper and log truck on site is what lets us finish the job in one visit and leave your property clean.

The american climbers crane operator looks up while moving the boom of the crane during a tree removal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crane Tree Removals

Can a crane remove a tree in one piece?

Sometimes, yes. Smaller or easily accessible trees can occasionally be lifted out whole, but most trees come down in sections. Larger trees are too heavy and too wide to lift safely all at once, so the climber cuts them into manageable pieces that the crane carries away one at a time. The right approach depends on the tree’s size, weight, and what’s around it.

How big of a tree can a crane remove?

Our cranes can handle even the largest trees in the area. American Climbers runs some of the biggest tree-work cranes around, which lets us lift heavy trunk sections that smaller equipment simply can’t. The limit is rarely the tree itself — it’s usually about access and where we can safely set up.

How much room do you need to set up the crane?

We need a clear, stable spot to park and stabilize the crane truck, often a driveway or a stretch of street near the tree. The outriggers extend out to the sides for balance, so we account for that footprint too. We’ll confirm exactly where the crane will go during the estimate.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for a crane removal?

Not much, but a few things help. Clear vehicles, patio furniture, and other movable items from the work area and the crane’s setup spot, and let us know about anything underground like a septic system or sprinkler lines. Your estimator will go over any specific prep when we plan the job.

Can you reach a tree in my backyard with a crane?

Often, yes. One of the biggest advantages of a truck-mounted crane is that we can park out front and extend the boom over your house to reach a tree in the back. Whether it works comes down to the boom’s reach and a clear path over the roof, which we check during the estimate.

Wondering About Tree Removal?

If you have a tree that needs to be removed, contact American Climbers for a tree estimate. We will come to your property to assess the tree, its condition, the location, and more.

Learn more about our tree removal services.

Whether or not a crane pulls up on the day of your tree removal, you can be confident that the American Climbers team will ensure that your tree is removed safely, efficiently, quickly, and cleanly.