It started with a simple enough request from our ops manager. "We need a tower crane for the new development in Orem. Something self-erecting. And quick." That was in March 2024. Looking back, I should have known better than to trust the first shiny brochure handed to me.
I'm the office administrator for a mid-sized construction company in the Mountain West. I manage all our heavy equipment ordering—roughly $3.5 million annually across a dozen vendors. I report to both operations and finance. When this came through, I figured, okay, a Potain crane, that's the industry gold standard, right? We'd spec'd a few smaller units before. Always went smoothly.
This time, it didn't. Here's what happened.
The Setup: We Needed a Potain City Crane, Utah-Style
We were looking for a tenant for a new commercial complex. The site was tight. Access was limited. The typical luffing jib cranes we used for larger projects were overkill and wouldn't fit. Our equipment planner recommended a Potain city crane—the self-erecting, compact models they market for urban jobs. We needed something that could lift structural steel and precast panels within a 200-foot radius.
I called three dealers. Two quoted a Potain MDT 389. The third pushed a used unit from 2018, saying it was "just as good." The new ones were going to run us about $480,000 delivered. The used one? $320,000. I'm not gonna lie—the $160,000 savings looked good on my annual budget report. The dealer swore it was fully serviced. I believed him. That was my first mistake.
I didn't dig into the serial numbers. I didn't ask for a recent load chart or inspection record. I figured, it's Potain—probably fine. We placed the order in early April. Delivery was scheduled for mid-May.
The Turning Point: When 'Fully Serviced' Meant 'Not Really'
The crane arrived on time. The truck driver had a delivery document. I signed it. That's when the trouble started.
Our erection crew started the assembly. Within two hours, the site foreman called me. "We have a problem with the hydraulic system on the jib. It's leaking—bad."
I called the dealer. "Oh yeah," the salesman said, "that unit had a minor leak during the pre-sale inspection. We thought it was just a loose fitting."
I nearly dropped the phone. "You 'thought'? You didn't fix it before shipping?"
"We can send a tech out next week."
Next week. Our job was scheduled to start that Monday. We were looking at a week of downtime—$8,000 in lost productivity per day, plus the crane rental fee we were now paying for a machine we couldn't use.
I said "as soon as possible." They heard "whenever convenient." Result: a delay of two weeks longer than I expected.
The Real Cost: More Than Just Money
It got worse. When the tech finally arrived, he found the hydraulic pump was faulty. That wasn't a leak—it was a failure. The unit needed a new pump. We ordered the part from Potain. It took six weeks. Six. Weeks.
And then the spare parts issue. We needed a specific seal kit for the hoist drum. The serial number on the crane didn't match the dealer's records. When we finally got the right numbers, the part was backordered globally. I had to pay $1,200 for a third-party repair just to keep the thing running for another month. That unreliable supplier made me look bad to my VP when the project manager started complaining.
By the time the crane was fully operational, we were 90 days behind schedule. Total cost overruns: $47,000 in downtime, $8,000 in expedited freight, and $3,500 in additional labor. I ate $2,400 out of the department budget from the rejected expense report for the third-party fix. Finance refused to reimburse it because it wasn't properly authorized.
I only believed "always check the spec" after ignoring it and eating a $2,400 mistake.
The Lesson: Spare Parts and Serials Matter
If I could go back, here's what I'd do differently—and what I now do for every crane acquisition:
- Verify the serial number before ordering. Not just the model. The actual unit. I now ask for a photo of the data plate. This avoids the "wrong serial" fiasco.
- Confirm spare parts availability for that specific serial. Potain's parts network is generally good, but for older units or discontinued models, you might be waiting weeks. For the MDT 389, certain seal kits and hydraulic components were listed as "limited availability"—but nobody told me that until after the order.
- Get a recent inspection report—not just a salesman's assurance. I now require a third-party inspection before I release any payment. Cost me $350. Saved me a $47,000 headache.
- Ask about the dealer's after-sales support for that specific model. If they say "we can send a tech" but can't tell you when, run. I now have a clause in our purchase agreements that imposes a 10% late fee if a tech isn't on-site within 48 hours.
"Potain makes great cranes. But a used crane is only as good as its last servicing record—and the dealer's willingness to back it up. Don't buy the brand alone."
The Right Way to Buy a Potain City Crane (For Your Site)
Now, I'm not saying Potain cranes are bad. They're actually excellent. The MDT 389 is a solid machine when it's maintained properly. But if your situation is like mine—needing something fast, on a tight site, with limited vendor support—you might want to consider alternatives.
If you're in Utah, I'd recommend the following approach:
- Go with a new unit if you need quick delivery and guaranteed support. The cost difference is significant ($480k vs $320k), but the risk of downtime on an old unit can eat that savings quickly. For a 6-month project, a 2-week delay wipes out the financial benefit.
- If you must buy used, use a dealer that offers a 30-day warranty on all major components. I didn't. I should have. Most reputable dealers in the region (I can name a few now) offer this as standard.
- For self-erecting cranes (like the city crane), verify the setup process on-site. Some models require a concrete pad that's larger than standard. Our site's pad was too small by 4 feet. That was another $1,500 in rework.
As of January 2025, the industry standard for tower crane rentals in the Intermountain West is roughly $14,000–$18,000 per month for a mid-range self-erecting unit. That's based on my own quotes and the Cost Index data from the Associated General Contractors of America (Q4 2024). Verify current rates at your local dealers, because I've seen prices fluctuate by as much as 12% in a single quarter depending on supply and demand.
One more thing: don't overlook the gantry crane option if your site isn't suited for a tower. For single-story projects, a portable gantry crane can actually be faster to set up and cheaper to rent. We've used one on two projects since the fiasco, and it's saved us a lot of headaches. But that's a story for another day.
Anyway, that's my cautionary tale. We eventually got the Potain running at full capacity. The project finished three months late. The crane is now sitting in storage because we're not sure if the next job will need it. But I learned a $2,400 lesson that I won't forget.
