Truck-crane buying decisions should start with the object to be placed and the radius at which it must be handled. A model name or maximum lifting figure usually describes only part of the operating envelope. Compare the required lift against the actual crane’s load chart and the approved truck installation.
The chart must cover the required point
Before you approve the quotation: Ask the crane integrator to mark the required lifting points on the applicable chart. Confirm accessories, support space, chassis compatibility and remaining payload together; equal tonne-metres do not make two lifts interchangeable.
What the purchasing team needs to resolve
Describe the load, lifting accessories, placement point and any obstruction in a dimensioned job sketch. Distinguish horizontal radius, lifting height and available vehicle position. The crane supplier must evaluate these together with the applicable operating conditions and configuration. A crane that can reach a point is not automatically rated to carry the required load there.
The truck installation adds another boundary: support arrangement, stability, chassis compatibility, remaining payload and operating space. Require the responsible integrator’s assessment. Do not transfer a load-chart result from another boom configuration or treat a simple tonne-metre number as a substitute for the chart. Operators need the correct training and instructions for the delivered installation.
Make the buying trade-off explicit
| Decision | Alternative A | Alternative B | Buyer’s evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift requirement | Maximum object mass | Mass at the actual placement radius | Job sketch and lifting-accessory allowance |
| Reach basis | Maximum boom reach | Usable rated envelope | Correct configuration load chart |
| Truck interface | Crane mounted on a chassis | Approved integrated installation | Chassis and stability documentation |
| Transport duty | Crane performance alone | Crane plus remaining cargo capacity | Final vehicle and axle weights |
| Acceptance | Boom movement demonstrated | Agreed rated-duty evidence | Competent test and inspection record |
A worked buying example
Illustrative assumptions; not a supplier quotation, an approved design or a machine rating.
A 1.5 tonne object at 8 m gives a simple 12 tonne-metre comparison; a 2 tonne object at 6 m gives the same arithmetic value. That does not mean the two lifts are interchangeable. Boom geometry, crane self-mass, support configuration and the manufacturer’s load chart can make their permitted capacities different. The arithmetic is useful for explaining the enquiry, not approving a lift or selecting a crane by itself.
What to freeze before manufacture
Request a supplier response marking the required lifting points on the applicable load chart and identifying the installation assumptions. Freeze the crane configuration, support arrangement and chassis combination in the order. At acceptance, use the manufacturer-approved test and a competent team. Keep the chart, inspection evidence and training record with the actual crane and vehicle identification, so later buyers do not rely on a brochure from a similar-looking machine.
Questions to send with the enquiry
- What load must be placed at what horizontal radius and height?
- What lifting accessories and obstructions affect the requirement?
- Which exact load chart and support configuration apply?
- Who approves the crane and chassis as a completed installation?
Send Auto From China your enquiry, including your destination, operating brief and the answers above. We can work with manufacturers to compare the relevant vehicle or machinery configuration and identify the items that still need written confirmation.
Technical references
- PALFINGER TEC loader cranes — Manufacturer crane-family context; actual lifts require the exact load chart, installation and competent site assessment.
- Vehicles and loads – HSE — UK workplace-transport vehicle suitability and loading guidance; not destination registration approval.