Rooftop HVAC units in Boise: which crane, what it costs
A boom truck sets most rooftop units in the valley in a few hours. The bill moves when the crane has to sit in the street, reach over a tall building or work near the airport.
What does a crane cost to set a rooftop unit in Boise?
On a full posted rate sheet, a boom truck or crane up to 60 tons is $175 an hour with a 4-hour minimum, so about $700 plus fuel for a typical swap. If the crane has to sit in an Ada County street, add an ACHD temporary use permit at $30 to $85 a day.
- Up to 60 tons, the posted rate is the same $175 an hour, so a longer reach often costs no more per hour.
- In Ada County, ACHD issues the permit when the crane sits in the street or on the sidewalk.
- Cranes near Boise Airport may need FAA notice before the boom goes up.
- Book the unit delivery and the crane for the same morning.
Reach picks the crane
The weight of the unit matters, but the distance matters more. A crane’s capacity falls quickly as the boom stretches out, so the question is how far the unit has to travel from the center of the crane to the curb on the roof.
A strip center in Meridian with the parking lot right up to the back wall is a short reach. A downtown Boise building with the unit in the middle of the roof and the crane across the street is a long one. On the posted sheet used here, that difference may not change the hourly rate: everything from 17 to 60 tons bills $175 an hour.
| Job | Likely crane | Rough bill before fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser or small unit, crane in the lot | 23-ton boom truck, 4 hours | $700 |
| Packaged unit on a two-story office | 40 to 60-ton crane, 4 hours | $700 |
| Large unit on a tall building, long reach | 75-ton crane, 4 hours | $1,000 |
| Heavy equipment set with rigger and lift plan | 75-ton crane, 4 hours, rigger, plan | $1,750 |
The last row adds a certified rigger at $125 an hour for the 4-hour minimum and a $250 site survey and lift plan. Figures come from the rate page. The operator picks the machine from the unit’s weight and the lift plan.
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When the crane is in the street
In Ada County the street, the sidewalk and the shoulder belong to the Ada County Highway District, so the permit comes from ACHD whether the building is in Boise, Garden City or Meridian. ACHD requires a temporary use permit for any work in the right of way. The daily fee is set by the street: $85 on an arterial, $60 on a collector, $30 on a local street. Working without one costs $500.
On a private lot, no street permit is needed. Tell the operator if the only spot is the street.
Near Boise Airport
Boise Airport sits just south of downtown. Under 14 CFR 77.9, the FAA wants notice before construction or equipment above certain heights goes up near a public-use airport, and a crane boom counts. For jobs along Vista Avenue, the Bench and the Airport Way business parks, send the address early so the operator can check whether notice is needed.
Wires and timing
OSHA keeps a crane at least 20 feet from power lines up to 350 kV unless the utility de-energizes them or a closer approach is planned under the rule. Older commercial blocks often have lines in the alley right where a crane wants to park.
Schedule the unit delivery and the crane for the same morning. A crane waiting on a late freight truck still bills by the hour.
Info to include with the request
- Old and new unit weights from the nameplate or the submittal.
- Building height and where the curb sits on the roof.
- Where the crane can park, and whether that is a street.
- Any wires, trees or signs in the swing path.
Quick answers
Who pulls the street permit for a rooftop lift?
Usually the mechanical contractor or the crane company. In Boise, Meridian and the rest of Ada County it is an ACHD temporary use permit, not a city permit.
Can a rooftop unit go up in winter?
Yes. A dead furnace unit in January cannot wait. Frozen ground holds outriggers well; wind and ice on the roof are the limits.
How far ahead should I book?
A few days for a boom truck is common. Larger cranes are busier with the big valley projects, so give those more notice.
Where each Boise figure comes from
Price this lift with a Treasure Valley operator
Start with what you know. Guesses are fine.
Keep reading
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Boise crane rates by the hourOne posted rate sheet from 17 to 130 tons, the 4 and 8-hour minimums, fuel charges, riggers and sample math.
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Craning a hot tub or shed into a Boise backyardLifting a hot tub, spa or shed over a house or fence in Boise and Meridian: crane size, the 4-hour minimum, ACHD street permits, wires and soft lawns.
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Crane rental in Nampa and the west valleyA crane in Nampa, Idaho: city right-of-way permits and traffic control plans, the highway district outside town, the drive from Boise and posted rates.