Nebraska Crane Adds Grove GRT9165 Rough-Terrain Crane
July 1, 2020 - As construction jobs require heavier picks in ever-tighter spaces, Nebraska Crane was on the lookout for a crane that delivered high capacity and was compact enough to maneuver easily in all kinds of job sites.
A big fan of Grove cranes, the Kearney, Nebraska, rental company says 95% of its rough-terrain cranes are Groves.
So, to meet its newest requirement, Nebraska Crane decided to buy Grove’s longest-reaching, highest-capacity rough-terrain crane: the GRT9165.
The crane has been working nonstop since arriving at Nebraska Crane’s facility last December. It has performed maintenance work on wind turbines in Iowa and, most recently, helped construct a large parking garage in Nebraska, where it is currently setting precast concrete panels.
“We are very pleased with the performance of our new GRT9165. Being a Grove product, it’s exactly what we expected. It’s superior to competitor’s machines,” said Ty Noyes, operations manager at Nebraska Crane. “We expect excellence, and they deliver it every time.”
Noyes added that the GRT9165’s strong charts and boom length provide excellent capabilities. As an example, he said that the job at the parking garage would traditionally be done with a small crawler crane. “But we were able to do it with the GRT9165 at a lower cost while adding more flexibility to the job site, as we can move this compact rough-terrain crane around where we need it,” he said.
The GRT9165 features 165-U.S.-ton maximum capacity and a 205’ six-section, pinned boom. That’s 5’ longer than the closest competing model.
It is easy to transport, thanks to an overall height of 12.4’ and its hydraulically removable counterweights and outrigger boxes, both fully self-rigging to eliminate the need for an assist crane during setup.
The new three-axle carrier has hydro-gas suspension on the rear axles. That enables reducing overall height for transportation and also provides a comfortable ride.
The GRT9165 also features Grove’s new, wider, full-vision cab with Crane Control System (CCS) for maximum operator comfort and intuitive and efficient operation.
“Operator comfort is an important factor for us. We really like the new cab design and how simple the crane is to run,” Noyes said.
Nebraska Crane’s rough-terrain rental fleet works jobs across the Midwest. Lately, it has been used mostly in the wind energy sector and commercial construction.
As these cranes are often on out on job sites, transportability and low cost of ownership — repair and parts availability — were crucial factors when Nebraska Crane purchased the new machine.
“For the GRT9165, we looked at the strength of the charts and boom length, and we also had in mind that Grove’s network of dealers does a lot for us out in the field. We rely heavily on them,” Noyes said. “At the end of the day, customers want the most capability that they can get at the lowest cost.”
The Grove dealer in Bloomington, Minnesota, Aspen Equipment, helped its long-time customer Nebraska Crane purchase the new Grove.
“We are thrilled to continue supporting Nebraska Crane’s success with the new Grove GRT9165. The only rough-terrain crane of this size in the Nebraska market should give them a major competitive advantage with its outstanding capabilities,” said Todd Foster, president of Aspen Equipment. “I thank Doyle Benson, president of Nebraska Crane, and his team for continuing to trust in Aspen Equipment and Manitowoc to meet their unique business needs.”
