Truck-mounted crane transporters are typically fabricated by integrating a truck-mounted crane, along with its associated hydraulic and operation control systems, balance outriggers, and other lifting accessories, onto a specially engineered cargo truck (or dump truck, warehouse grid truck, semi-trailer, semi-trailer tractor, etc.). The combination of these components forms a comprehensive and functional vehicle capable of efficient lifting and transportation operations.
The specially designed cargo truck provides the foundation and support for the entire system. It is engineered to handle the additional weight and stress imposed by the crane and its payload. The hydraulic system is responsible for generating the necessary power and force to operate the crane’s movements, while the control systems allow for precise and safe manipulation of the lifting operations. The balance outriggers ensure stability during lifting, preventing the vehicle from tipping over.
Crane Arrangement
In relation to the position of the cargo box (platform), the truck-mounted crane can be configured in three distinct ways: front-mounted, mid-mounted, and rear-mounted.
(1) Front-mounted: The crane is installed between the cab and the cargo box (platform). The lifting capacity of this configuration is typically relatively modest. However, it offers the advantage of maximizing the utilization of the cargo box area, ensuring that the boom can reach all positions within the permitted extension length and corresponding movement conditions. Additionally, since the hydraulic oil pump is situated at the transmission in the front of the chassis, the pipeline from the hydraulic system to the crane’s hydraulic system is shorter. This results in reduced pipeline resistance and slightly higher hydraulic transmission efficiency compared to other arrangements. Consequently, this type is predominantly adopted by medium and light-duty truck-mounted crane transporters and is the most prevalent and has the largest inventory among truck-mounted crane transporters. Due to the forward positioning of the crane, when planning the overall vehicle layout, particular attention must be paid to preventing overloading of the front axle. This requires careful consideration of the weight distribution and axle load limits to ensure safe and balanced operation.
(2) Mid-mounted: The crane is installed in the middle of the cargo box (platform). The lifting capacity of this type is generally within the range of 1 to 3 tons and is often utilized for elongated large and medium-sized trucks or semi-trailers. Its characteristic lies in a relatively shorter boom, which simplifies the axle load distribution and ensures easier compliance with the requirements while maintaining the original vehicle’s center of mass position relatively unchanged. Precisely because its boom is shorter and the rotational space is more limited, it is not frequently employed.
(3) Rear-mounted: The crane is installed at the rear of the cargo box (platform). This configuration is commonly found in semi-trailer truck-mounted crane transporters and large truck-mounted crane transporters but constitutes a smaller proportion among truck-mounted crane transporters. When adopting this arrangement, the utilization rate of the cargo box area is enhanced, and the operating range of the boom is expanded. Nevertheless, since the crane is positioned at the rear of the vehicle, it has an impact on the axle load distribution of the entire vehicle, reducing its flexibility and maneuverability. Moreover, the main frame requires reinforcement to withstand the additional stresses and loads.
Boom Structure
The boom structure of truck-mounted crane transporters can be classified into two main types: straight boom and folding boom.
The straight boom cannot be folded and thus requires a more substantial space for loading and unloading goods. It fails to meet the requirements of confined working spaces and is typically utilized in medium and small tonnage truck-mounted crane transporters.
In contrast, upon the completion of the lifting operation, the folding boom can be neatly folded into an inverted triangle. This design offers several advantages, including a lower center of gravity, enhanced driving stability, and greater flexibility in working within constrained spaces. The structure of the folding boom is significantly more complex than that of the straight boom, and its price is also considerably higher. As a result, it is widely employed in medium and large tonnage truck-mounted crane transporters, as well as in small and medium tonnage truck-mounted crane transporters with specific and demanding requirements.
(1) Telescopic Boom: The telescopic boom can consist of 2 sections, 3 sections, or even multiple sections, depending on the daily lifting operation range and requirements. The ability to extend and retract the sections provides flexibility in reaching different heights and distances, allowing for adaptation to a wide variety of lifting tasks.
(2) Operation Control System: There are two primary types of operation control systems: manual control and wireless control. Manual control offers direct and immediate interaction for operators, while wireless control provides greater freedom of movement and enhanced convenience, especially in complex or large-scale operation scenarios.
(3) The hanging device (attachment) at one end of the boom: There is a wide variety of options available, such as hooks (combined with hanging ropes), grabs (double claws, multiple claws), drills (for drilling), and many others. These attachments can be utilized for hoisting goods or operation platforms secured with ropes, directly grasping tree trunks, construction bricks, construction waste and other items, drilling on the ground and erecting utility poles/trees, etc. This makes the truck-mounted crane transporter suitable for diverse fields such as logistics, construction, sanitation, power, forestry, bridge inspection, fire protection, rescue, and national defense. When the attachment requires power sources such as hydraulics and electricity, corresponding quick connectors should be provisioned at one end of the boom based on the actual circumstances to facilitate seamless operation. The control end of the attachment can be selected for remote control or wire control, depending on the specific usage context and operational needs.
When the truck-mounted crane transporter is frequently utilized in logistics operations, it presents the advantage of achieving “killing two birds with one stone”. Specifically, at the transportation and loading/unloading site, there is no need to separately engage both a cargo truck and a truck crane (mobile crane). Instead, a single vehicle can handle all the tasks, saving both manpower and time and reducing the overall operating costs. This feature has gained considerable popularity in regions such as Europe and China’s coastal areas, where efficient and integrated transportation solutions are highly valued.
In conclusion, the basic structural characteristics of truck-mounted crane transporters play a crucial role in determining their performance, functionality, and application scenarios. Understanding and optimizing these characteristics based on specific operational requirements and working conditions is essential for ensuring the efficient and safe utilization of these vehicles in various industries and tasks.
