HVAC crane service
Setting a new rooftop unit or pulling an old one? Here are the Twin Cities crane companies that list HVAC lifts, plus what units weigh and what a lift costs.
15 of the 23 companies we list say so on their own website. Alphabetical.
Based in St. Bonifacius
Cranes: 30-ton (124 ft boom), 50-ton (155 ft boom), 90-ton (164 ft boom) and 110-ton (164 ft boom) cranes
Based in Lakeville
Cranes: 28-ton boom truck; grapple truck
Based in Elk Mound, WI
Cranes: Liebherr all-terrain cranes (LTM 1130 to LTM 1500), Link-Belt HTC86100 truck crane, tower cranes, boom trucks; access to the ALL fleet up to 1,200 tons
Based in Lino Lakes
Based in Hager City, WI
Cranes: Boom truck 45 tons; all-terrain cranes 45 to 450 tons, topped by a 450-ton Grove GMK6400
Based in St. Cloud
Cranes: Mobile cranes 30 to 450 tons, boom and jib up to 415 feet
Based in Chisago City
Based in Corcoran
Cranes: Boom trucks 24, 30, 40 and 55 tons; truck cranes 75, 90, 120 and 225 tons
Based in River Falls, WI
Cranes: 40-ton hydraulic crane, 124 ft main boom, 45 ft jib
Based in Rogers
Cranes: One 50-ton boom truck with a 128-foot main boom
Based in Elk River
Cranes: 30 to 550 tons: National boom trucks of 30, 45 and 55 tons; 60, 175, 350 and 550-ton cranes
Based in Minneapolis
Cranes: Cranes 15 to 120 tons
Based in New Hope
Cranes: Boom trucks 28 to 60 ton; truck cranes 70 to 110 ton; rough-terrain cranes 50 to 120 ton; all-terrain cranes 150 to 360 ton
Based in West St. Paul
Cranes: 30-ton boom truck crane (95 ft of boom) and 45-ton boom truck crane (127 ft of boom)
Based in Rosemount
Cranes: Boom trucks 40 to 50 ton; truck cranes 70 to 115 ton; rough-terrain 22 to 90 ton; all-terrain 150 to 600 ton; crawlers 275 to 1,200 ton; carry decks 4 to 25 ton; Wolffkran tower cranes
Listings checked November 3, 2026 on each company's own website. No company pays to be listed. Missing a company or see a mistake? Tell us.
Their sites don't mention this lift, but they run the cranes that usually do it. Ask them.
| Unit | Weight |
|---|---|
| Carrier 48FC, 3-ton | 482 lb |
| Carrier 48FC, 10-ton | 878 lb |
| Carrier 48FC, 25-ton | 2,174 lb |
| Trane Foundation, 25-ton | 1,938 to 2,103 lb |
Approximate weights from the makers' spec sheets. Options add weight, so check the exact model.
Building managers often want lifts on weekends or before 6 a.m. on weekdays, when fewer people are around (RiggingForce). On a busy street the crew may need to close lanes and the sidewalk. In 2023 the rooftop HVAC units on U.S. Bank Plaza in downtown Minneapolis were replaced by helicopter on a Sunday, with streets and sidewalks closed (CBS Minnesota).
If the crane sits on the street, Minneapolis and St. Paul both require an obstruction permit. See Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Sources: Carrier 48FC rooftop unit specs · Trane Foundation 15 to 25 ton guide, 2024 (PDF) · RiggingForce, HVAC crane size guide · RiggingForce, HVAC rooftop crane cost · Crane Hot Line, rolling lift for rooftop units · CBS Minnesota, helicopter HVAC lift downtown · Minneapolis, obstruction permit · St. Paul, obstruction permits
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Set trusses on houses, additions, garages and pole barns with a boom truck or crane.
Companies and costsLift a hot tub or swim spa over the house or fence when there is no side access.
Companies and costsCrane-assisted removal for big or dead trees over houses, garages and lines.
Companies and costsSteel beams, shipping containers, sheds, machinery, boats: most crane companies do them. See all crane companies or boom trucks.
Usually $1,000 to $5,000. One and two story jobs average $1,200 to $1,800 with a 4-hour minimum (RiggingForce). Early morning and weekend lifts cost more.
Carrier's 48FC units weigh about 482 lb at 3 tons, 878 lb at 10 tons and 2,174 lb at 25 tons. A 25-ton Trane Foundation unit is 1,938 to 2,103 lb.
Most single-story jobs take a 15 to 30 ton boom truck. A unit far from the roof edge can need a 40 to 100 ton crane. The crane company sizes it from the weight and the reach.
If the crane has to sit on the street or sidewalk, yes. Minneapolis and St. Paul both require an obstruction permit. Your HVAC work may need its own mechanical permit too.