Mobile Crane vs. Truck-Mounted Crane: Key Differences Explained

What is a Mobile Crane?

A mobile crane is a big lifting tool with wheels. It can move from one place to another. Mobile cranes have two parts:

1. Top part – This is the crane that lifts things
2. Bottom part – This is the truck that moves the crane around

Mobile cranes are good for heavy lifting. They can pick up very big things at work sites, ports, and building places.

What is a Truck-Mounted Crane?

A truck-mounted crane is a crane that sits on a truck. The crane is stuck to the truck and stays there all the time. These cranes can:

• Drive on roads
• Turn all the way around (360 degrees)
• Go to many places fast

Truck-mounted cranes are also called lorry cranes in some places like Singapore.

Learn more about truck-mounted cranes and their applications

Key Differences Between Mobile Cranes and Truck-Mounted Cranes

Here are the main things that make these cranes different:

How They Move

• Truck-mounted cranes: Can drive on roads by themselves. They can go from job to job without help.
• Mobile cranes: Need help to move when not lifting things. They are not made for long road trips.

How Much They Can Lift

• Truck-mounted cranes: Can lift 3.2-16 tons of stuff
• Mobile cranes: Can lift up to 130 tons – much more!

Find out more about crane truck options and capacities

How Fast They Set Up

• Truck-mounted cranes: Quick to get ready for work
• Mobile cranes: Take more time to set up

How They Are Made

• Truck-mounted cranes: Built right on the truck frame
• Mobile cranes: Have parts that can be taken apart and put back together

Comparison Table: Mobile Crane vs. Truck-Mounted Crane

What We Compare	Mobile Crane	Truck-Mounted Crane
What It Is	Big lifting machine on wheels or truck platform	Crane built into a truck frame
Moving Around	Needs help to move between jobs	Drives itself to job sites
Lifting Power	Very strong (up to 130 tons)	Not as strong (3.2-16 tons)
Setup Time	Takes longer to get ready	Quick to set up
Best Uses	Big industrial sites, ports, rough ground	City jobs, road work, and moving things
Cost	Costs more to run	Cheaper for small to medium jobs
Ground Types	Works on bumpy or rough ground	Best on flat, paved roads
How It’s Built	Has parts that come apart	All in one piece with the truck
Examples	XCMG QY-100	XCMG SQ8SK3Q
Market Growth	Crane market growing 3.6% each year	More popular in cities due to road-friendly design

Good Things and Bad Things About Each Crane

Truck-Mounted Cranes

Good Things:

• Easy to move around
• Legal to drive on roads
• Quick to set up
• Costs less money

Bad Things:

• Can’t lift very heavy things
• Not good on rough ground

View our selection of material handling vehicles including truck-mounted cranes

Mobile Cranes

Good Things:

• Can lift very heavy loads
• Works well in many places
• Good for big jobs

Bad Things:

• Costs more to use
• Moves slower between jobs

How to Pick the Right Crane for Your Job

When picking a crane, think about:

1. How heavy is the stuff you need to lift?
2. Where will you be working?
3. How much money can you spend?
4. How often will you move the crane?

For city work or road jobs, a truck-mounted crane might be best.

For big building sites or rough ground, a mobile crane might work better.

Questions People Ask

In Closing

When you need to lift heavy things, knowing the difference between mobile cranes and truck-mounted cranes helps you pick the right tool. Mobile cranes lift heavier things and work in more places. Truck-mounted cranes are easier to move around and cost less money.

Think about what you need to lift, where you’ll work, and how much you can spend when you choose a crane.