FAQ >> All-Terrain Carriers

All-Terrain Carriers

First appearing in Europe during the late 1970s, the all-terrain crane now accounts for a majority of mobile-crane sales throughout the world. The carriers used on these telescoping cantilevered-boom machines combine the high road speeds of truck carriers with some of the off-road capabilities of the rough-terrain crane.

Large-capacity multiaxle models have appeared featuring the characteristics necessary to carry the all-terrain label: high road speed, off-road maneuverability, and drive positions in both the chassis-mounted cab and in the operator's cab mounted on the rotating superstructure (Figure 4). To achieve maneuverability, these cranes typically have all- axle drive and steering as well as crab steering (Figure 2.15). Many machines are furnished with sophisticated suspension systems that maintain equalized axle loading on uneven surfaces while the crane is in motion or is static. New models are continuing to appear, and models with more than 800-ton (700-t) capacity are available. Though pick- and-carry operations are usually permitted, outriggers are used for most lifting.

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