Cranes are heavy equipment commonly used in construction, logistics and industry, used to move and lift heavy objects. According to the chassis structure, cranes can be divided into crawler cranes and wheeled truck cranes (also called truck cranes). There are significant differences between these two types of cranes in terms of structure, performance, and applicable scenarios. This article will introduce the differences between these two types of cranes in detail, and highlight the advantages of wheeled truck-mounted cranes.
Characteristics of crawler cranes
Crawler cranes use crawlers as walking chassis and are usually used in environments with complex ground conditions such as construction sites and mines. They are popular for their stability and strong carrying capacity.
Advantages of crawler cranes
- Excellent stability: crawler cranes have a large ground contact area, which disperses the weight of themselves and the load, so they have excellent stability when walking on soft soil and muddy ground, and are suitable for construction environments with uneven ground.
- Powerful lifting capacity: crawler cranes usually have strong lifting capacity, especially in heavy engineering or large equipment lifting. Due to their stable structure, crawler cranes can stably lift extremely heavy loads.
- No outrigger operation: crawler cranes can perform lifting operations without outriggers, which enables them to operate in some compact and narrow spaces.
Disadvantages of crawler cranes
- Slow moving speed: crawler cranes move relatively slowly and usually need to be transported over long distances by transport trucks or flatbed trucks, which affects their mobility between multiple work sites.
- Long installation and disassembly time: crawler cranes usually need to be disassembled and transported to the construction site before being assembled, which requires a long time and complex preparations.
- Not suitable for hardened road operations: crawler cranes will damage the ground when walking on hardened roads such as concrete and asphalt, so they are more suitable for working on soft soil or unpaved ground.
Features of wheeled truck crane
Wheeled vehicle-mounted cranes, also known as truck cranes, are cranes that install lifting equipment on ordinary wheeled vehicle chassis. Due to their flexibility and mobility, these cranes are widely used in various construction, rescue and industrial handling tasks.
Advantages of wheeled truck cranes
- High mobility and flexibility
- The biggest advantage of wheeled cranes is their excellent mobility. Due to the wheeled chassis, which is similar to the driving structure of a truck, wheeled cranes can travel freely on the road like ordinary vehicles. This enables it to move quickly from one construction site to another without relying on additional transportation equipment. This feature is extremely useful in tasks that require frequent changes in the work site, such as urban construction, road maintenance, emergency rescue, etc.
- Rapid deployment and operation
- After arriving at the work site, wheeled cranes usually only need a short preparation time to be put into use. Compared with crawler cranes, wheeled cranes do not require complicated disassembly and installation processes, so they can respond quickly to various lifting needs. In addition, wheeled cranes are equipped with telescopic legs, which can quickly provide stable support, greatly shortening the preparation time.
- Adapt to a variety of working environments
- Wheeled cranes can not only travel on flat ground and roads, but also operate in more complex urban environments, and can even complete lifting tasks in some relatively small sites. Due to their relatively compact structure, they can operate efficiently in urban areas, high-rise building construction, bridge maintenance and other environments. This makes wheeled cranes particularly suitable for tasks that require a quick response, especially in emergency operations such as urban rescue and construction hoisting.
- Lower maintenance costs
- Compared with crawler cranes, wheeled cranes are relatively simple to maintain. Because wheeled cranes use tire drive, have a relatively simple structure, and are easy to operate, their maintenance costs are usually lower than crawler equipment. The parts of wheeled cranes are easier to obtain and replace, which also saves companies subsequent operating expenses.
- Economical
- Wheeled cranes are usually more affordable, and because they do not require a dedicated transport fleet and have low maintenance costs, they have higher economic benefits in long-term operations. Especially for small and medium-sized enterprises or construction units, wheeled cranes provide a very cost-effective solution.
Disadvantages of wheeled truck cranes
- Less stable
- Compared with crawler cranes, wheeled cranes have a smaller ground contact area, so they exert greater pressure on the ground when lifting. Although it can enhance stability through outriggers, it is still not as stable as crawler cranes in extremely soft ground or complex terrain.
- Relatively low lifting capacity
- Due to chassis limitations, the lifting capacity of wheeled truck cranes is usually lower than that of crawler cranes, especially in large heavy equipment lifting tasks, their maximum lifting weight is limited. This means that wheeled cranes are more suitable for small and medium-sized lifting tasks rather than ultra-heavy operations.
- Higher requirements for the ground
- Wheeled truck cranes perform well on hardened roads, but may get stuck or slip on muddy and soft ground, making operation difficult. Therefore, they are not suitable for long-term operation in harsh terrain conditions.
Summary of the advantages of wheeled truck cranes
Wheeled cranes have obvious advantages in small and medium-sized construction tasks and urban lifting operations due to their high maneuverability, flexibility and economy. The following is a summary of the main advantages of wheeled cranes:
- Excellent mobility: It can drive on the road by itself and quickly reach the work site, reducing transportation time and cost.
- Quick deployment: No complicated installation and disassembly is required, and it can be quickly prepared and put into work after arriving at the site.
- Flexible operation: It is suitable for various small and complex construction sites, especially in urban environments and emergency rescue missions.
- High cost-effectiveness: It is simple to maintain and has low operating costs, which is suitable for the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and multi-frequency tasks.
- Strong versatility: It can adapt to a variety of working environments and can quickly respond to work needs in different scenarios. It is widely used in construction, rescue, logistics and other fields.
Conclusion
Crawler cranes and wheeled cranes have their own advantages in different working environments. Crawler cranes are suitable for use in harsh terrain and large heavy-load lifting due to their excellent stability and strong lifting capacity. However, for small and medium-sized lifting tasks that require flexibility, high maneuverability and fast response, wheeled cranes are undoubtedly a more suitable choice. Especially in urban construction, road engineering and emergency rescue, wheeled cranes have become the preferred equipment for many companies due to their rapid deployment, easy operation and low maintenance costs.
