These days, many construction managers are choosing to “build” their own truck cranes to ensure that they get exactly the specifications they’re after. Basically, you find a truck that meets your needs and then you select a crane that can be combined effectively with it (as well as meets your needs). To ensure you’re making the right choices, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

1. What will be carried?
The first thing you need to determine is what sorts of materials the vehicle will be responsible for carrying – timber, drywall, heating or air conditioning units? The load has just as much impact on the truck as it does on the crane it’s supporting. If you plan to carry varying materials, make your choice based on the heaviest potential load.

2. How strong is the frame?
Every truck has a resisting bending moment (RBM), which is the point at which the frame might fail under too much force. The RBM can be obtained from the manufacturer or dealer and will determine whether it’s necessary to add a support structure to the frame. Factoring in the RBM will prevent the addition of a crane that’s too heavy.

3. What are the city and state regulations?
It’s important to note that every city and state has its own regulations for the legal height, weight, length and width of truck cranes. The last thing you want is to fit the components together only to find that the vehicle exceeds the maximum height or width. Ensure that the person in charge of “building” has these dimensions on hand.

4. Will the crane’s position affect the truck’s operation or stability?
The work application of the two components combined is probably the most important factor in determining which end of the frame the hoist is mounted on. Whilst mounting it on the rear of the frame is the most common unloading point because it extends the useful reach, it does put more load on the rear axle, which could be problematic.

5. How will the controls and visibility be affected?
Determining how an operator will control the truck cranes is just as important as the kinds of load that will be lifted. Visibility, for example, can be affected based on where the hoist is mounted – a fixed control station might result in obscured visibility, whilst remote controlled operation will allow greater visibility (and safety).

6. How easily can the vehicle be serviced?
If the design of the truck and/or the crane presents obstructions to the important components (such as the oil plug, air filter and hoses), simple maintenance can become time consuming and expensive. This could lead the operator to delay or even ignore regular service schedules, which could lead to compromised safety and other issues.

We hope that the above list of questions has enabled you to “build” the truck crane melbourne that you really need. As you can see, there are a lot of factors that you need to consider when choosing the various components, otherwise you could find yourself in a bit of a pickle. If you require assistance choosing either your truck or your crane, ensure that you speak with an expert.