For Dave Propson, owner of Propson Construction, a “family-owned” and operated residential framing company in Whitelaw, Wisconsin, shying away from a challenge isn’t an option. “We have to find unique ways to do as much work with foresight,” he said.
“We put a lot of thought into executing everything we can into larger components and setting those in place with equipment rather than moving materials using a strong back,” Propson continued. “It’s about getting ahead of the issues rather than saying that we’ll figure it out later.”
Specializing in framing large, custom residential homes, Propson Construction works on many smaller lots with limited access. At times, the company’s crew may be almost completely cut off from the backside of the lot, a circumstance that requires expertise to navigate, often a bit of ingenuity and having the right equipment.
In many cases, Propson relies on a Manitou MRT 3050 rotating telehandler purchased from Ideal Crane Rental. Recently, the machine was put to work on a large build in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The 6,000-square foot residential home located directly on a channel featured an intricate design with a large pergola mezzanine that sits over the living structure on the backside, along with large screened-in porches. The second story of the house required a significant amount of beam work to hold up everything.
“On this build, we were essentially chasing the main structure from interior to exterior to hold it all up,” Propson explained. “To accomplish that, the builder, the designers of our components and the homeowner were all involved to make sure that they’re getting what they want, that it looks right and so it’ll stand up forever.”
Propson has owned and operated rotating telehandlers for more than 10 years, in large part for the flexibility they provide, a capability that allows them to have fewer machines on site and in their fleet.
On the Sturgeon Bay job, for example, the Manitou MRT 3050 rotating telehandler, which has a lifting height of 97 feet, 5 inches and a lifting capacity of 10,998 pounds, was the right solution for its ability to play three roles in one by serving as a material handler, a work platform and a jib.
Small Footprint, Big Impact
“One of the nicest capabilities of the Manitou MRT is its small footprint,” Propson said. “We had the machine in the front corner of the building for two weeks and it wasn’t in our way yet the machine could work around the entire property.”
Propson added that with the reach of the Manitou MRT the crew was able to place the telehandler’s attachments in one area, set off to the side and still get to them. Among those attachments were a large extendable jib winch that provided depth of reach when needed, along with a PT 1500 3,300-pound jib winch. The company also had 360-degree continuous rotation forks and a 16-foot collapsible man basket on hand.
“With the Manitou, we have one machine that can accomplish many different applications on a construction site,” Propson said. “Rather than having a self-propelled lift and a crane and a couple of telehandlers, we have one machine that’s capable of doing all that with a three-minute switch out of an attachment. We can set an entire roof of trusses, and we can turn right around with the same machine, never leave the footprint and we can start sheeting the roof.”
Having a multi-purpose machine doesn’t just provide time savings for Propson. It also garners cost savings. “Machines cost money, so we’re happy with the MRT because it’s one machine and it does so much,” Propson said. “It’s less insurance we need to buy for multiple machines to do multiple things, too.”
Safety at the Forefront
Safety is another factor that Propson said makes the Manitou rotating telehandler the right piece of equipment. “The MRT is the machine that we look to so we don’t have to throw the beam up on our shoulder and push it up ladders,” he related. “That improves safety on the jobsite and can prevent back and other injuries.”
The rotating telehandler’s remote operation capabilities add to the safety aspect as well. With the remote’s digital interface, for example, a load chart system indicates what the weight of the load is and if it’s working within the machine’s operating capacity. That gives Propson and his crew the ability to know how close they are to maxing out a load before it happens.
“If we have a deep load and we’re not sure we’re able to take that and swing it out, we check the digital interface,” Propson explained further. “That gives us peace of mind rather than guessing what capacity we think is going to be there.”
The remote also gives the operator full sight of what they’re doing by standing closer to the workspace, and that proximity allows them to have conversations with their coworkers in the area, further improving jobsite awareness and safety.
“We’re able to watch the rotator, as well as the work being done,” Propson stated. “It’s given us the ability to get rid of any blind spots like on this recent build where the entire back screen porch was a total blind spot if you were an operator from a cab. It takes out the guesswork and all the hand signals and the chance for miscommunication.”
A Reliable Foundation
At the end of the day, the Manitou rotating telehandler was the best solution for Propson Construction’s recent build, and Propson knows it will continue to provide the performance the company needs for other projects. It also provides flexibility because the machine is legal to drive on the road and features lights for safety so it can be moved easily between jobsites within a 10- to 15-mile radius without needing to be loaded on a trailer.
Propson also gives high marks to the support from Ideal Crane Rental. “With Ideal Crane as a partner, we’re not worried about if we have an issue, will they fix it?” he said. “They have always given us good support and that builds us up.”
Ultimately, for Propson the rotating telehandler is a capstone of the company’s business. “We rely on it,” he said. “Without it, can we build a house? Yes. Do we want to build a house without it? No.”
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
On our websites, we employ cookies to bolster technical functionalities, enriching your user experience and helping us refine our site. Your continued use of this website implies acceptance of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
