Truck cranes are one of the several different types of cranes available. Cranes are important in the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries for lifting and lowering heavy objects. They also are capable of moving the objects in a horizontal direction.

Hydraulic truck cranes are beneficial because they are mobile. Although very slow-moving, they travel on streets. With a pickup truck crane, companies do not need special equipment for transporting a crane to the jobsite. Before determining that this equipment is right for your job, consider some of the following truck cranes basics:

1. Cranes for pickup trucks are more easily moved to the jobsite.

2. Boom truck cranes are capable of lifting heavy loads in several directions.

3. Dealerships have truck cranes for sale and rent.

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Examine how a truck crane functions

Once the truck crane arrives at the jobsite, outriggers come out horizontally from the chassis of the crane and then go vertically down to the ground. This gives the truck crane stability while it hoists heavy equipment up and down and from side to side. Every truck crane has a boom, which appears to be a steel arm. This arm lifts and carries the load. The boom lifts objects several dozen feet. A person inside the cab of the crane controls all actions of the truck crane. The operator uses a joystick and a foot pedal to maneuver the truck crane.

I recommend: Gain valuable truck crane information from the science section of How Stuff Works. Learn about truck crane operation jobs from Trade Secrets.

Educate yourself on truck crane operation

Caution must be taken when operating a truck crane. Before lifting a load, the operator puts data into the cab computer. The weight of the object and the height to which it is lifted are both included in the input. With the information, the computer tracks the load and warns the operator of danger. In addition to the operator, an oiler and a signalman are needed. The oiler examines the crane and ensures that all parts are ready for the lift. The signalman helps the operator maneuver the truck crane in the right direction.

I recommend: Read an article about truck cranes at Street Directory. Learn about hydraulics and cranes from Jo Mac.

Learn how industries use truck cranes

The transportation industry uses cranes to load and unload freight. Construction workers use cranes for lifting heavy beams and other construction materials. Manufacturers make use of cranes for assembling large equipment.

I recommend: Get tips on buying used truck cranes from Carolina Crane Repair. View pictures of different truck mounted cranes from IMT.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Like most other heavy equipment, the operator of a truck crane must have training. Always be certain that you have a certified operator before allowing employees to work with a heavy duty truck crane.

If your business requires you to do general construction or cleanup work, a pickup truck with a pickup truck crane can be a huge asset. It helps you lift and haul heavy equipment and can reduce removal costs and some general labor costs. Although you will still need to hire hydraulic truck cranes for heavy industrial work, a pickup truck crane can help with general lifting in a variety of situations.

Keep in mind that truck cranes designed for different vehicles have different capacities. Many truck cranes for sale with flat bed trucks are designed for light to medium use. If you need to lift very heavy loads, many truck mounted cranes may not be powerful enough. You may need to rent a heavy duty truck crane or hydraulic crane. Similarly, if you plan to work in rough terrain, such as a building site, you may need to rent truck cranes or boom truck cranes designed for uneven terrains.

When buying truck cranes, you also want to consider:

1. Paying as little as possible for a quality truck crane with maximum capacity.

2. Getting a good warranty.

3. Choosing the right crane for the job.

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Select the right type of truck crane

You can buy cranes for pickups, flat bed trucks, and trailers. If your business owns more than one type of vehicle, consider getting a crane for the most powerful vehicle you own. If your pickup is newer, for example, it may be in better shape to handle a heavy duty truck crane. Many cranes designed for pickup trucks are designed to be easily transported from site to site, which may be ideal if you have multiple properties.

I recommend: Liftmoore, Inc. manufacturers a number of cranes for trucks and pickups. If you need to rent heavy duty truck cranes periodically, Irving is a good place to rent the equipment you need.

Evaluate your truck crane needs

You must consider your needs when buying truck mounted cranes. If you will be doing light to medium lifting of landscaping supplies, building materials and debris, for example, hydraulic truck cranes that can lift up to 200 pounds may work for you. You can often buy these truck cranes for sale new from dealers or used through auctions.

I recommend: Tadano is a reputable company if you want to rent truck cranes. Edwards is also a reputable company for renting commercial truck cranes and industrial cranes.

Consider the features before buying a truck crane

Cranes for pickup trucks and other vehicles come with features, and some of these features are quite important. For example, you might want to ensure that any electric truck crane you buy is completely transferable, since it is very likely that your company truck will wear out before the heavy duty truck crane. If you are buying used truck cranes, test them and make sure that the cranes have remote controls as well as manual controls.

I recommend: Work Truck Outfitters offer a range of cranes and crane accessories to outfit your work truck. Real Work Trucks also has a range of cranes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider renting a truck mounted crane you can install into your truck. This is a good way to test out whether a crane is for you without committing to buying a crane you might not use as often as you anticipated.

Training to be a truck crane operator is a potentially lucrative decision. One needs only to drive anywhere to see truck cranes in use on constructions sites, commercial and residential, as well as municipal. Cranes are useful when lifting beams and rafters into place, or delivering beams and supplies on bridge and road projects. In fact, in some locations in Italy, cranes are the only way building supplies arrive to the job sites along the narrow, medieval streets of ancient villages, towns and cities.

As with any construction-related profession, training and education is imperative. Operating a crane can be potentially dangerous, and it requires training as well as certification. Fortunately, you can obtain truck cranes education and training at many accredited schools. Consider these options to complete all aspects of training.

1. Find an accredited school for truck cranes training and education.

2. Learn the regulations concerning operating truck cranes.

3. Become certified in truck crane operation.

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Start with a good school for learning to operate a pickup truck crane

Starting your career as a truck crane operator begins at a school. It's imperative that the school is accredited, for getting the proper training to operate a truck crane is imperative. Training should include basic knowledge of the truck crane as well as the responsibilities associated with operating it; all the rigging and its configurations; crane safety and operation of the crane itself. More advanced training included knowledge of the hand signals used on the job site when operating a truck crane and the dynamics of the truck crane's loads.

I recommend: Crane Exam is a training school for crane operators. Here you can receive training on lattice boom truck cranes as well as other types of the heavy-duty truck crane. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools is another good place to receive truck cranes education and training.

Learn about truck mounted cranes safety

Learning about truck crane safety is an extremely important part of truck cranes education and training. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, penned the most complete safety regulations. Safety regulations for truck cranes include the inspection of the lines, inspections of the cranes themselves, inspection of the ground and awareness of power lines.

I recommend: The OSHA website is a mine of information concerning safety practices for truck cranes. It pays to spend time there as well as checking back for more updates on regulations. Safe Operating Practices: Crane Truck has a helpful list of safe operating practices for truck cranes.

Get certification as a truck crane operator for hydraulic truck cranes

You can make yourself more attractive to prospective employers by obtaining certification as truck crane operators. The certification should include, at the very least, meeting OSHA standards, as well as certification for maintenance and safety standards.

I recommend: Heavy Equipment Training and National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators are two very good places to go to start the process of certification as truck crane operators.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If the truck crane you are going to operate is not owned by the company for whom you work, you can acquire new or used truck cranes for sale. It's important to inspect the truck crane carefully before buying. Things to look for are cracks in the hook, the state of the hydraulic system and the hoses, the state of the running ropes and the state of the tires.

If you are thinking of purchasing a truck with a crane, you should be familiar with truck cranes key terms to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. From mast cranes to articulating booms, each type of truck crane has a different application. Read this guide before you go shopping for truck cranes so you have a better knowledge of what you need.

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Crane body

The crane body is the bed of the truck that carries the crane. You can get crane bodies in a variety of configurations that allow you maximum storage and hauling capacities. In some cases, the crane takes up most of the truck bed so there is little room to haul items.

I recommend: See the examples of crane bodies at Iowa Mold Tooling.

Footprint

Footprint refers to the amount of space needed to operate the truck crane. With smaller models, it may be no larger than the mast of the crane. With larger models, it may include the outrigger posts as they are set when the crane is in operation.

I recommend: See the footprint dimensions at Montana Crane Service.

Mast crane

A mast crane enables you to lift items into your truck. A mast crane has a small footprint in the crane body, which leaves more room to carry cargo.

I recommend: Reed Business Information provides information about the My-T-Lift mast crane.

Winch

A truck crane winch uses wire rope and pulleys to raise and lower items. Winches can be hand operated or electric. Larger winches may operate with hydraulics.

I recommend: Beacon Industries has a small truck crane with a hand-operated winch.

Boom

The boom is the horizontal portion of the truck crane that does the lifting. The operator of the truck raises and lowers the boom to move the cargo. Some booms extend to allow for greater lifting capabilities.

I recommend: See the boom in action at Runnion.

Articulating boom

An articulating boom has one or more sections to it, and each section has hinges. Articulating booms allow greater versatility in the types of goods you can lift.

I recommend: National Equipment Company offers articulating boom trucks.