Choosing the Right Truck Mounted Crane

If you're buying a truck mounted crane — whether for your own business, or for a crane rental company — you have a lot of options. There are small cranes, big cranes, telescopic cranes, knuckle boom cranes, and more. It can be overwhelming. How do you choose the right one? Here's how to pick the right truck mounted crane for your operation.

Step 1: Know What Kind of Work You'll Be Doing

Before you buy any crane, you need to know what kind of work you'll be doing. Think about:

- What will you be lifting? How heavy are the loads? How big are they? How high do you need to lift them?
- Where will you be working? Construction sites? Oilfields? Urban areas? Off-road? The location determines what kind of crane you need.
- How far will you be driving? If you're driving long distances between jobs, you need a truck that's comfortable on the highway. If you're mostly working on one site, you don't need a highway-rated truck.

Step 2: Choose the Right Type of Crane

There are two main types of truck mounted cranes:

Telescopic Boom Cranes. These are the classic cranes, with a straight telescoping boom. They're the most common type, and they're good for all kinds of lifting work. Advantages: simple, reliable, easy to operate, cheap to maintain. Disadvantages: they're bigger and longer, so they're less maneuverable in tight spaces.

Knuckle Boom Cranes. These have a folding boom, like a finger. They're more compact, and they can get into tighter spaces. Advantages: more maneuverable, more compact, can lift heavier loads in a smaller footprint. Disadvantages: more complex, more expensive, harder to maintain.

Most people choose telescopic boom cranes, because they're simpler, cheaper, and more reliable. Knuckle boom cranes are used when you need more maneuverability, or when space is tight.

Step 3: Choose the Right Size

What size crane do you need? It depends on the work:

- Small cranes (5-15 ton capacity): These are small, maneuverable cranes, for light lifting and tight spaces. They're good for utility work, tree work, sign installation, and light construction.
- Medium cranes (20-35 ton capacity): This is the industry standard. They can handle most construction, utility, and industrial lifting jobs. This is what most crane rental companies start with.
- Big cranes (40+ ton capacity): These are big, powerful cranes, for heavy lifting — big construction, industrial work, and heavy rigging. They're more expensive, but they're the only way to handle the biggest jobs.

Don't buy more crane than you need. If you're mostly doing light utility work, a small crane is enough. You can always upgrade later. But also don't buy a crane that's too small — you'll regret it when you get a big job and can't handle it.

Step 4: New or Used?

New truck mounted cranes come with a warranty, and you know exactly what you're getting. But they're expensive. Used cranes are 40-60% cheaper, but you have to inspect them carefully. Bring an experienced crane operator or a mechanic with you to inspect any used crane before you buy.

FAQ

Q: Do you need a special license to operate a truck mounted crane?
A: It depends on the size of the crane, and the country or state you're in. In the US, cranes over a certain size require a crane operator certification. For smaller cranes, you just need a regular commercial driver's license (CDL). Always check the local regulations — crane operation is heavily regulated, and you don't want to get in trouble.