About Boom Truck Cranes
Available as mounted or unmounted units, boom truck cranes tend to have lower maximum load capacities than tower or crawler cranes, but make up for it with easy transit between jobsites and short setup times. These factors and others make them a good fit for use by contractors and utility operations. Mounted boom truck cranes come installed on a commercial truck chassis or trailer, while unmounted boom truck cranes come on their own and are ready to mount and use.

Manitex 40124SHL Boom Truck Crane
Versatility
With a commercial on-highway truck serving as the base chassis, boom truck cranes can typically travel at highway speeds and operate within legal load limits, obviating the need for special permits and pilot cars, making them more convenient to transport than larger, heavier mobile crane options. The wide range of boom truck crane options and attachments (including detachable aerial work platforms, diggers, and telescopic jibs) make them a fit for a variety of job types.
In addition, you might find outrigger kits and hydraulic extensions that enhance boom truck crane functionality by increasing their load limits. With such a wide range of options, you’ll find boom truck cranes ranging from compact models limited to lifting around 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) to more robust cranes capable of lifting 50 tons (45 metric tons) or more to heights of more than 100 feet (30.5 meters).
Mounted Boom Truck Cranes
Mounted boom truck cranes typically come affixed to a flatbed truck, or in some cases, a truck with a service body, although the latter variety is generally less powerful. Some models have a dedicated operator cab, while others have standing controls located near the turret. Unlike dedicated truck cranes, boom truck cranes tend to lack a counterweight, which limits their maximum lift capacity. When outfitted to lift and move materials, the powered boom can be raised or lowered using a load-handling device or hook at the end of the load line.
Unmounted Boom Truck Cranes
As the category name suggests, unmounted boom truck cranes are sold on their own, without a vehicle or other platform. Unmounted boom truck cranes may be brand-new units that have yet to be mounted, or they may have been removed from a truck for a variety of reasons. In some cases, an unmounted boom truck crane may come as an integral part of a truck bed that can be mounted to a cab-and-chassis truck.
Find The Right Boom Truck Crane
Popular manufacturers of new and used boom truck cranes available on CraneTrader.com include Altec, Auto Crane, IMT, Elliott, Manitex, National, Stellar, and Terex, among others.