Many buyers from Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia often ask what a truck mounted crane is and when they should choose this vehicle instead of a separate crane or ordinary cargo truck. Today we share practical industry knowledge for project contractors and logistics operators.
A truck mounted crane (also called lorry loader, self-loading truck) integrates a telescopic hydraulic crane and cargo box on a heavy truck chassis. It can finish lifting, loading, transporting and unloading in one single vehicle, which is its biggest advantage compared with regular trucks or mobile cranes.
The HOWO 6x4 chassis is the most widely selected version for this type of vehicle. The 6x4 wheel layout offers stable load bearing and strong traction on rough roads, construction sites and mining areas. The straight telescopic boom is simple to maintain, spare parts are easy to source locally, which is very important for overseas projects with limited after-sales support. The hydraulic system supports 360-degree rotation, and wireless remote control is an optional upgrade for safer operation.
Typical application scenarios
Municipal construction: lifting and transporting pipes, steel beams, precast parts, street light poles
Forestry and hardware logistics: loading timber, building materials without extra crane rental
Mining and rural engineering: narrow working space where big mobile cranes cannot enter
Power engineering: installation and delivery of electric poles and transformers
Key buying tips for importers
Confirm crane tonnage (5ton, 8ton,10ton,12ton are common choices) based on your heaviest cargo
Choose straight boom for low maintenance cost; folding boom for space-limited sites
Check engine emission standard to match local customs requirement (Euro 2 / Euro 3 / Euro 5)
6x4 is suitable for heavy load; 4x2 is more economical for light lifting work
For small and medium contractors, one HOWO truck mounted crane can replace a separate truck plus rental crane, greatly cutting machine rental fees and labor cost. This is why it becomes a high-demand special vehicle in emerging markets.
We supply brand-new and well-refurbished HOWO truck mounted cranes with full export documents. We also support customized crane brands, boom types and cargo box sizes. If you want to know the suitable configuration for your project, welcome to send us your working condition details.
