What Are Mobile Cranes?

A mobile crane is a self-propelled crane that is mounted on a truck and operated by a crane operator who sits in the cab.  They are able to be driven (either on or off-road depending on the type) to their required location, as opposed to tower cranes, which need to be transported and then constructed on-site. Mobile cranes can be used for almost any job from lifting domestic furniture to removing industrial waste and heavy-duty construction site work.

Mobile Crane Types

While the term mobile crane is used to refer to any crane that is self-propelled, there are a number of different mobile crane types available for various applications.  The most common mobile crane types are:

Spider Crane

Spider cranes are compact and lightweight, allowing them to be lifted and placed on higher ground or to fit into confined spaces. They are often used in building construction to perform tasks like lifting building materials or to perform maintenance inside a building. Spider cranes have outriggers that look like insect legs, which give them the appearance of a giant spider.

Crawler Crane

Crawler cranes are able to lift very heavy loads and have tracks instead of wheels so they can be used on rough terrain and construction sites. Mini crawler cranes can be driven on public roads, whereas larger crawler cranes cannot.

Franna Cranes

Franna cranes also known as taxi cranes are used to pick up and transport materials across worksites. They are known for their versatility and are commonly used to transport materials in workshops, mines, factories and plant sites.

What Are Rough Terrain Cranes?

Rough-terrain cranes (off-road cranes) are a type of mobile crane used for working on uneven surface sites. They are able to access difficult to reach and uneven areas while maintaining both traction and stability. Rough terrain cranes are typically mounted on an undercarriage with 4 oversized tires. They offer four-wheel drive and multiple steering modes (front-wheel steering, all-wheel centric steering and all-wheel crabbing), which allow them to navigate uneven ground, travel up and down steep slopes and drive over obstacles and difficult terrain. The wheels and the base are wider than that of most other mobile cranes. This is to increase stability and improve ground clearance when navigating rough terrain.

Rough Terrain Crane Advantages

There are a number of reasons to choose a rough-terrain crane over other types of mobile cranes:

· Superior Handling: They can move effortlessly from smooth road to uneven muddy gravel and can also execute sharp turns in almost any condition. They are much better at manoeuvring in tight spaces than crawler cranes and better at navigating uneven terrain than Franna cranes.

· Good Stability and Safety: They have a low centre of gravity which makes them very stable even when executing difficult jobs.

·  Powerful: They offer a significant amount of lifting and driving power while still offering the convenience of mobility. They can lift much heavier loads than spider cranes and Franna cranes.

A rough terrain crane is a type of mobile crane that is best suited to navigating complex and uneven terrain such as construction sites. It can lift very heavy loads, manoeuvre in tight spaces while navigating slopes and obstacles with ease.  

St. George Cranes offers the most advanced rough terrain cranes for hire in Sydney. Contact us today, if you are thinking about hiring a rough terrain crane in the Greater Sydney area.