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What a light truck crane is
A light truck crane is a telescopic crane mounted on a lorry chassis, usually with a lightweight aluminium boom. It drives to site like any lorry, sets up on outriggers in minutes and reaches a long way with light loads, which makes it a common choice for roofing, glazing and other work at height on smaller sites.
In short
- A light truck crane is a lorry-mounted telescopic crane built for long reach with lighter loads.
- Well-known makes include Böcker and Klaas, with hook heights of up to around 50 to 60 metres on the largest models.
- It sets up quickly in a small footprint and is usually operated by radio remote control.
- It suits roofing, glazing, solar panels and materials to height, rather than heavy single lifts.
We supply light truck cranes for crane hire and contract lifting. This guide explains how they work, what they can reach and lift, and when another crane is the better choice.
How a light truck crane works
A light truck crane packs a long telescopic boom onto a road-going lorry, so the crane and its transport are one vehicle.
A lorry chassis
The crane is built onto a standard lorry chassis, from light chassis for the smallest cranes up to three-axle chassis for the largest. Klaas, for example, builds its mobile crane range on chassis from 7.5 tonnes upwards.
A light, long boom
The boom is usually made from high-strength aluminium, which keeps the crane light for its reach. That lets a relatively small vehicle place loads high up and well back from where it stands, such as across a roof.
Quick set-up and remote control
The crane sets up on outriggers and is normally operated by radio remote control, so the operator can stand where they have the best view of the load. Some models can also be converted into an aerial work platform with a basket, as Böcker offers on its AK 46.
Reach and capacity
Light truck cranes are chosen for reach and speed rather than for heavy lifts. The key is how quickly capacity falls as the boom extends.
Hook height and reach
Across the market, hook heights run from around 30 metres on the smaller cranes to over 50 metres on the largest. Klaas lists hook heights from 34.5 metres to 58.5 metres across its range.
Capacity
Maximum capacities are a few tonnes, available only close in. At long reach the capacity drops to a few hundred kilograms: Böcker quotes a range of 39 metres at 250 kilograms for the AK 46. Every lift is checked against the load chart at the radius needed.
For heavier loads, a city crane or all-terrain crane is usually needed. Our guides to city cranes and what size crane you need cover that choice.
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Light truck cranes compared with other cranes
A light truck crane overlaps with several other cranes. The choice usually comes down to the weight of the load, the reach and the space to set up.
Compared with a loader crane
A loader crane carries goods on the lorry bed and lifts them off with a folding knuckle boom. A light truck crane has a straight telescopic boom that reaches much higher and further, so it suits roof work and lifts to height, while a loader crane suits delivering and placing loads. Our guide What is a loader crane? explains those.
Compared with a mobile crane
An all-terrain or city crane lifts much heavier loads, but needs more space and heavier ground support. For light materials to height, a light truck crane is often quicker to set up and easier to fit on a small site. See What is an all-terrain crane?
Compared with a spider crane
A spider crane goes where no lorry can, through doorways and inside buildings, but it has far less reach. A light truck crane works from the road or yard outside. Our guide What is a spider crane? covers those.
Where light truck cranes are used
Light truck cranes suit jobs with many light lifts to height, on sites where a large crane would be out of proportion.
- Roofing: tiles, sheets, insulation and materials lifted to the roof and placed where the roofers need them.
- Solar panels: pallets of panels and mounting systems lifted onto commercial and domestic roofs.
- Glazing and cladding: glass, panels and frames placed at height, often with a vacuum lifter.
- Roof-top plant: smaller air conditioning and ventilation units. See lift and shift.
- Timber frame and light steel: trusses, beams and frames on housing and small commercial builds.
What to plan for with a light truck crane
A light truck crane needs less than a large crane, but the same questions still apply.
Where the lorry stands
The crane needs a level position with room for its outriggers. If that is on a public road or pavement, it usually needs a licence from the local highway authority, and sometimes a lane closure. We can arrange traffic management and road closures.
Ground under the outriggers
Outrigger loads are lighter than on a large crane but still concentrated. Pavements, drives and yards can hide cellars, drains and services, so the positions are checked and spreader mats used.
Overhead lines and wind
A long boom in a residential street can come close to overhead lines, which are planned around using the HSE’s guidance on avoiding danger from overhead power lines. Light loads with a large surface, such as roof sheets and solar panels, catch the wind, so limits are set for each lift.
The lift plan
Under regulation 8 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. The HSE’s LOLER guidance explains what that means in practice.
Hiring a light truck crane
We supply light truck cranes with trained, carded operators, matched to the reach and loads on your job, and our lifts are planned to BS 7121.
Crane hire or contract lift
You can hire the crane and operator and manage the lifts yourself, or we can plan and carry out the whole job on a contract lift basis. Our guide to crane hire or a contract lift explains who is responsible for what under each.
What we need to know
- What you are lifting, the heaviest single load and how many lifts there are
- Where the lorry can stand and how far and high the loads need to go
- Whether the crane will stand on a public road or pavement
- Anything overhead, such as power lines or trees
Common questions
How high can a light truck crane reach?
Hook heights run from around 30 metres on the smaller cranes to over 50 metres on the largest. The capacity at full reach is low, so the height and weight are checked together against the load chart.
How much can a light truck crane lift?
Maximum capacities are typically a few tonnes close in, falling to a few hundred kilograms at long reach. For heavier single lifts, a city crane or all-terrain crane is usually the better choice.
What is the difference between a light truck crane and a loader crane?
A light truck crane has a straight telescopic boom for reaching high and far. A loader crane has a folding knuckle boom and carries its own load on the lorry bed, so it is built for delivering and placing loads.
Can a light truck crane be used as an access platform?
Some models can be converted into an aerial work platform with a basket, following the manufacturer’s instructions. The crane is used either as a crane or as a platform, not both at once.
Do I need a lift plan for a light truck crane?
Yes. LOLER requires every lifting operation to be planned by a competent person. On a contract lift we write the lift plan; on a crane hire, the hirer is responsible for planning the lifts.
Get a quote for light truck crane hire
Call us on 0800 008 6096 or email office@synergy-lifting.co.uk. Tell us what you are lifting, how high and far it needs to go and where the lorry can stand, and we will recommend the right crane.
Find out more about our crane hire and contract lifting, lift and shift and cladding and roofing services.
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