NATIONAL Cranes Dismantled Machines

About National Crane

A market-leading manufacturer of truck-mounted, telescopic hydraulic cranes, National Crane produces turnkey boom trucks for a broad variety of applications. The company has patented many lifting technologies over the decades and has produced several models boasting the greatest capacities and longest booms in their classes. National Crane celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022.

---

National Crane NBT60XL & Peterbilt 567

Products & Features

A recent lineup of National’s stand-up boom trucks had capacities ranging from 10 to 33 tons (9 to 30 metric tons) and vertical reach capabilities of 56 to 167 feet (17 to 51 meters). The trucks offered dual-station crane and outrigger controls on both sides of the vehicle.

National’s swing seat boom trucks come with an operator’s cab on the superstructure. A recent product list ranged from 30 to 60 t (27 to 54 mt) of lift capacity and 161 to 206 ft (49 to 63 m) of vertical reach.

Depending on the model, National boom trucks are available with their crane frames in a standard mount behind the cab, a rear mount, or a tractor mount in between the two positions. The trucks use either A-frame or horizontal, “out and down” outriggers for stability. National says its hydraulically removable counterweight systems have made lifting jobs easier and more efficient.

Safety and convenience features available on various National boom trucks include a Hydraulic Capacity Alert (HCA) system to prevent overloads, an internal anti-two-block (ATB) system to avoid collisions between the boom and block, a load moment indicator (LMI), a Work Area Definition System (WADS) to prevent the boom from moving outside safe boundaries, and outrigger position sensing to help the operator select the appropriate load chart.

National Crane History

National Crane was originally founded in 1947 in Nebraska by Marlo Burg. Burg Manufacturing made roadside weed sprayers and later front-end loaders (1952).

After the company added boom trucks to its portfolio, it changed its name to National Crane in 1963. Apache Corporation bought the firm in 1972, but its 1978 acquisition by Kidde (which owned crane manufacturer Grove) gave National Crane the support it needed to reach an international audience. After a long string of other acquisitions and mergers, it was purchased by Manitowoc in 2002.

In 2003, Manitowoc moved the company’s production from Waverly, Nebraska—its home since 1962—to Shady Grove, Pennsylvania. In 2012, National Crane established its Truck Mod Center to build bespoke boom trucks to customer specifications.

Find The Right National Crane

At CraneTrader.com, you’ll find a varied and ample selection of new and used National Crane cranes for sale. Popular models on the market include National boom trucks from the 400, 500, 600, NBT45, and NBT55 series.