AssetTrader Buying Guide to Cranes

Features and Options

There are a huge range of models of cranes available. These include the following:

RailRoad Crane. The railroad crane has train wheels or can be attached directly on to a flat car. They are typically used for repair and maintenance work as well as freight loading and unloading.
Mobile Crane. The simplest type of mobile crane has a telescopic boom attached to a mobile platform. This moves on either wheels, tracks or rails. The boom is hinged at the bottom and is raised by cables or hydraulic cylinders. The lifting hook is attached via a metal rope which is operated through a variety of different transmissions. The mobile crane can be easily converted to perform other functions, such as demolition by attachment of a demolition ball, or to move earth by the addition of a dragline and bucket scoop.
Telescopic Crane. The telescopic crane's boom consists of several tubes slotted into each other. Typically using hydraulic power, the mechanism extends or retracts as required. This style of boom makes them suitable for many mobile applications such as construction projects, or rescue jobs.
Tower Crane. Tower cranes typically provide the best outcome of height and lift capacity. It consists of a horizontal boom that sits across a tower. One (shorter side) carries a counter weight, whilst the longer side carries the lifting equipment and any attached load. The operator is located either at the top of the tower alternatively the crane can be operated remotely by remote control. The tower crane is normally constructed with the aid of a telescopic crane.

Other types of crane include the giant cantilever crane, the truck mounted crane, the crawler crane, gantry crane, overhead crane, floating crane aerial crane and the job crane.