How to Choose the Right Truck-Mounted Crane and Maintain It

Picture this: You’re at a work site where you have to lift heavy objects all day. The truck-mounted crane is your best friend in this situation, but it just broke down. For some reason, it can’t reach the necessary height or take on anything above the weight limit. Now, your productivity is at a standstill, and frustration sets in.

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But don’t worry! In this guide, we’re going to help you avoid situations like these. We’ll explore why finding the right truck-mounted crane is so important for your operations.

To top it off, we’ll dive into essential maintenance practices that will keep your investment running smoothly. Let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the world of truck-mounted cranes.

Selecting the Right Truck-Mounted Crane

Think About What You Need

As we begin our quest for the perfect truck-mounted crane, let’s first stop by understanding your needs for lifting things. You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing how many people need to fit in it, right?

The same logic applies here as well. Think about what’s the heaviest thing you’ll need to carry, both now and in the future. This foresight ensures that no matter how hefty it gets; your chosen crane can get through it all.

Check Lift Height

Next up, let’s talk about the working radius. This is a fancy way of asking how far does your crane have to stretch to reach loads? And if you think it only affects convenience, think again. It directly affects the crane’s lifting capacity. If the situation calls for it, then choose a model that can comfortably extend.

Compatibility with Your Truck

The ability to lift heavy objects isn’t only limited to the crane. The truck is also very important. One thing about it is that you have to check if it’s compatible with weights and dimensions. Ensure the crane’s weight is supported by the truck. You can do this by looking at things like its payload capacity, how sturdy the chassis is, and its ability to keep stable.

You should also take into account how easy it is for you to move it. Are your projects usually in one location? If you’re constantly moving, then surely, you’ll want one with quick setup and breakdown features.

No matter what, always keep an eye out for legal regulations when moving heavy machinery on roadways in your region.

Safety First

Every time we work with truck-mounted cranes, safety always comes first. It’s about more than just completing a task, but ensuring everyone goes home unharmed.

When you’re looking for one that carries this mindset, prioritize their safety features such as on loading relay anti-two block unit and balance initiator monitoring processes.

These features are like a trusty net to prevent mishaps from turning your operations into a bad day.

Doing Regular Check-ups for Your Crane

Inspections That Are Never Negotiable

Now we’re on to maintenance. Think of it as going to the doctor for regular check-ups. Before and after each use, give your crane the once over. Look for any signs of wear, pesky hydraulic leaks, or loose connections. Getting ahead of these problems can save you time and money.

Lubricate Away

Keep all of your crane’s moving parts lubricated correctly and in large amounts, this will reduce friction and extend its life span. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding lubricants and how often you should be applying them.

A Clean Crane is a Happy Crane

Just like most things in life, having dirt on it can cause some serious consequences if left unattended for long enough, especially when there’s machinery involved. Maintain your crane by frequently cleaning it and eliminating wastes and corrosive substances as often as possible.

When cleaning, pay special attention to the boom lines and electrical connections since they’re more sensitive than other components.

Train Your Operators

Remember the saying “knowledge is power”? Well, that couldn’t be truer here. Having a well-trained crane operator could make or break you in this industry. They should be certified and very familiar with your specific truck-mounted crane model. Refresher training can also be very handy to keep their skills sharp.

Leave it to the Experts

While it may seem tempting to try to fix or service your crane yourself, you might want to think twice about that decision. Instead, leave it up to the pros who have experience working with truck-mounted cranes. Doing so will prevent any potential damage that can snowball into bigger issues later, and you’ll also ensure your crane is always at its best performance level.

If you adhere to the criteria of choosing an appropriate truck-mounted crane and properly maintaining it your operations will flow seamlessly, ensuring the progress of your projects is on schedule and successful returns on your investments.

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Remember, it's not just about any crane; it's about the right one for your needs. So, make your choice wisely and watch your productivity soar.

Choosing the right truck-mounted crane for your needs is a complex exercise. However, there are a couple of key factors to consider. In this article, we explore the variables and characteristics of common truck-mounted loading cranes to help you to make an informed choice.

Crane Lifting Weights and Distances

Naturally, the basic job of a crane is to lift an object vertically, but the second question that influences what type of crane is best for your operation, is how far away the item to lift actually is. All cranes are rated by their “tonne/metre” rating, which is the tonnes to be lifted times the number of metres of reach required. For example, lifting 800kg with 15 metres of reach (from the centre of the crane, not the edge of the truck) requires 0.800 × 15 = 12 tonnes/meters.

Most cranes can be specified with a different number of hydraulic extensions, i.e., how far their jib extends. Therefore, ordering a crane that at least reaches the length of the tray is a good place to start.

Here’s a quick guide Ranked by Power to Weigh (Tonne/Meter divided by Tare Weight in tonnes) of some of Australia’s most popular truck mounted cranes:

Truck Size for Mounted Cranes

The second question is: how big is the truck you need to fit the crane, and what is your payload requirement? To add to the complexity of this question, do you want the crane behind the cab or on the back of the tray? Placing it behind the cab keeps it out of the way and gives you more load flexibility. However, in Australia, the front axle load limit is a critical factor, meaning some heavy cranes may not be legal even on an empty truck if mounted behind the cab. A crane expert can answer these specific questions for you, but a lightweight and compact crane is a good place to start.

Radio Controlled or Manual Controls for Your Crane?

While a manually controlled crane is cheaper to purchase, unless you have a two-man crew in your truck, they also require a lot more walking around and take longer to load and unload. Radio-controlled cranes allow the operator to monitor and control the load from beside the load. Manual cranes require you to align the load, walk back to the controls, lower the load, and perhaps do this two or three times for every lift. Many building sites require a person alongside the load to monitor its lowering, requiring either radio control or a second man in the truck. Radio controls are also the safer option as directions can be given from a distance.

Truck-Mounted Crane Safety Systems

Every crane with more than 1 tonne on the load chart requires a rated capacity limiter system. In effect, this prevents the crane from being overloaded and running the risk of the truck being pulled over by the crane.

On all modern cranes, this is a digital system that recognises the amount of force on the crane and electronically de-rates the crane to keep it within safe working parameters. For example, a crane may be able to reach 15 metres and may be able to lift 3 tonnes safely at 5 metres, so the crane will prevent that load from being extended beyond its safe limit of (let’s say) 5.5 metres.

In most cases, these parameters are set by the crane dealer when fitting the crane to your new truck. These settings are different for every single truck/crane combination and are required by law to be set at a safe level when the crane is delivered. It is both illegal and extremely dangerous to disable these systems.

These safety systems also look at the position of the stabiliser legs and determine the safe program according to the position of the leg. To ensure these settings are safe, they are generally set based on the truck being empty. Having a load makes the truck more stable (because it is heavier), but most crane control systems cannot identify this increased stability.

The patented HMF EVS (electronic vehicle stability) system is unique in that it dynamically sets the crane’s performance parameters according to the stability of a truck for every situation. This means the crane automatically increases its reach and lift capacity to the maximum safe level of the truck with its load in any given situation. More load means more stability, which in turn means more reach. This is particularly important on medium and large cranes.

Crane Slewing Angle

The final piece of the puzzle to consider is the slewing angle. That is the amount of rotation the crane can make. A typical slew range is around 400–420 degrees, meaning the crane can rotate slightly more than a full circle.

Some large cranes are equipment with a system called “infinite slew”, meaning the crane is not limited by the amount of rotation. It can go around in a full circle without limit because it has very sophisticated rotary couplings and slew motors instead of a rack, which allows the crane to rotate without limit.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

Crane Electronics

Another question to consider is how many sensors there are on the crane. With cranes becoming ever more sophisticated, safety systems and electronic sensors have increased in use enormously. Some crane manufacturers have simply added sensors to an old design, while others have re-designed their cranes for new technology. Keeping the number of sensors to a minimum increases on-road reliability.

Crane Hydraulics

When considering the crane’s hydraulics, you may want to ask: how well protected are the hydraulic lines and sensors? Are they external or internal? The less exposed the hydraulics are, the less likely they are to snag on a load or kerbside object, reducing the risk of damage. HMF models also run their hydraulic hoses internally compared to other crane manufacturers, providing an added layer of protection.

Surface Finish

You’re about to spend a lot of money on a crane. Is it painted or powder-coated? Painted steel may require more maintenance in the long term compared to powder-coated steel, which is electrostatically covered in a layer of powder which is then cured or sealed with heat or UV light to form a protective layer to defend against corrosion, rust, and incidental damage from the environment. HMF also use EQC surface protection, meaning the surface treatment is environmentally friendly to the highest standards while still providing exceptional protection, even in coastal and industrial areas.

West-Trans: The Trusted Name in Lifting Equipment

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a truck-mounted loading crane, from the versatility of its boom, its manoeuvrability, and the overall cost and efficiency of the equipment at hand.

Call our friendly team at West-Trans Equipment today and talk to one of our experts about your industry’s operations and demands. With decades of experience, our experts can help you choose the right heavy-duty crane for your job or construction site. Get in touch with us today!

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