If you have ever visited a construction or transportation site, you must have come across several types of cranes. Each crane is designed to perform a different function, even though they all look more or less the same from the outside. Some of the most common crane types include static and mobile cranes. Before you head to crane services, we are going to discuss them in detail and see what differentiates them.

Static Vs Mobile Cranes

Static and mobile cranes are two major categories that include several types of cranes. Static cranes as the term suggests are static in the sense that they are not able to move around on their own and are fixed onto something and move along a fixed path.

Meanwhile, a mobile crane is a crane that is mounted onto a truck operated by a driver. These cranes can be transported on their own since they have wheels and tracks. Therefore, not only do these cranes do a lot of heavy lifting but can also access multiple types of terrains.

Types Of Static Cranes

Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes are mostly found installed inside transportation industries. These cranes are specifically designed to carry loads ranging from 25 to 400 tons with extreme efficiency and safety. Overhead cranes are identified by a horizontal beam called the bridge that uses a rail or track to travel up and down.

At the same time, a hoist and trolley move side to side allowing the crane to lift and unload loads throughout a rectangular bay. Plus, the most common type of overhead cranes tends to be bridge cranes but there are several other types as well such as Monorail, Gantry, and Jib cranes, etc.

Tower Cranes

Tower cranes are big and tall cranes that are mostly found alongside city skylines used to build skyscrapers. These cranes feature a mast and jib that can extend to reach certain areas. Not only that, the hook block and trolley travel along the jib, which can make a 360-degree rotation. There are three common types of tower cranes including Luffing, Hammerhead, and Self-erecting cranes.

Types Of Mobile Cranes

Crawler Cranes

Crawler cranes are often called lattice crawlers, bottom lattice crawlers, telescopic crawlers, etc. These cranes are the biggest mobile cranes out there. Crawler cranes come with tracks that allow them to travel on different types of terrains. Additionally, these cranes are designed to lift loads that can weigh up to 2500 tons.

Another thing about crawler cranes is that they might require on-site assembly as well depending on the nature of the task, location, and the weight of the load. On top of that, crawler cranes are not considered road legal as they carry a lot of risk on public roads. Their sheer size and treads are not made to travel on public roads.

Rough Terrain Cranes

Rough terrain cranes are specifically designed for off-roading purposes. Unlike crawler cranes, these cranes feature tires that enable them to tackle snow, mud, sand, etc. Rough terrain cranes are the most popular type as they can easily be transported via roads as long as permits are allowed.

Moreover, these cranes can also lift loads weighing up to 165 tons. In addition to that, rough terrain cranes are identified by a telescopic boom that is mounted on a truck and operated by an operator.

All-Terrain Cranes

All-terrain cranes and rough terrain cranes may look similar but there are slight differences that differentiate the two. All-terrain cranes as the term suggests they can drive on all types of terrains. This means they can be road legal and can travel on road as well along with most off-road surfaces.

Depending on the size of the crane, they can have anywhere around 4-18 tires. Featuring a telescopic boom, these cranes can lift up to 1200 tons. However, working or navigating in extreme environments is their limitation.

Moreover, these cranes need to be disassembled and reassembled on-site due to their size. Most importantly, they have built-in outriggers that help the crane balance its weight and grip while lifting heavy loads.

Final Word

Concluding, we are sure to have shared everything you need to know about static and mobile cranes. Each type has different capabilities than the other, meaning they are designed for different tasks. So, if you plan on visiting crane truck rentals DC, being aware of the differences will help you pick the right option.