If you’re looking for crane rentals, it’s important to realize that not all cranes are the same. As knuckle boom cranes become more popular, many businesses and contractors wonder whether they’re a viable alternative to telescopic crane rental from American Aerial Services. The answer is more nuanced than you might think. Knuckle boom cranes do have their advantages, but they also have some significant drawbacks over telescopic cranes. Let’s take a closer look at both types to see which is best for you.
How a Knuckle Boom Crane Works
A knuckle boom crane — sometimes called an articulating crane or loader crane — gets its name from the configuration of its boom. It looks a bit like a finger, with two segments connected by a hydraulic joint, or knuckle. Its shape looks a bit like a cherry picker you’ve seen on many service and utility trucks, and some knuckle booms are indeed small enough to be deployed on something as small as a Class 3 body.Knuckle boom cranes’ ability to be truck mounted, and their range of operation, mean that they require far less vertical clearance in travel and during loading and unloading. They can also be outfitted with a range of attachments, including forks, shears, and buckets. The mounting configuration is also easy to change depending on the type of truck to which the crane is mounted, making it easy to accommodate cargo or mount the crane relative to the axles for better weight bearing and distribution.
How a Telescopic Crane Works
Telescopic cranes, on the other hand, aren’t pieced together from random bodies and components. They’re purpose-built for heavy lifting, and it shows. The winch is permanent, and the boom-and-jib system’s lack of a knuckle lends strength and better mechanical advantage. What’s more, the hydraulics are less complex and better shielded. That is no small consideration in Maine winters, but it also means less wear and tear — which, in turn, means simpler maintenance and less chance of downtime.Control surfaces are also different. The operation of a telescopic crane is more straightforward, requiring less training. It’s also safer, since the controls are housed in a dedicated cab or operator compartment instead of using remote control or ground-based control that can limit visibility and cut down on response time.
And while a telescoping crane does pose challenges in tight spaces, that tends to be offset by safer and more stable load handling. That’s because there’s something you’ll find on a telescoping crane that you won’t typically find on an articulating crane: counterweights. On an articulating crane, the truck body is the counterweight, which can make handling heavier loads a somewhat dicey proposition. That counterweight, combined with the inherent stability of the telescoping system and a much longer and higher reach, also makes them better when placing work platforms or handling loads at great heights.
