Knuckle boom cranes for service trucks can be a perplexing situation for business owners and contractors buying for the first time.

This article exists to arm you with considerations to ensure that when you begin your search for an articulating knuckle boom crane, you make the right decision.

Capacity

Knowing the approximate capacity necessary for regular operation is essential when seeking out an articulating knuckle boom crane.

It is important to look at max capacity, as well as max capacity at max horizontal reach as these numbers can differ drastically.

The max horizontal reach weight capacity will be significantly lower than the overall max weight capacity for obvious reasons.

It is crucial that you factor the instance in which your crane will be required to operate at extended horizontal positioning to gauge what sort of weight rating you will need in longer extensions.

Reach

As it would logically follow estimating your approximate weight capacity needs, you should also gauge how far the knuckle boom crane will need to reach horizontally and vertically.

Knuckle boom cranes work notoriously well for jobs that require operators to work in tightly confined spaces, often needing to maneuver cargo around obstacles.

If this applies, factor in typical obstructions you encounter at job sites to generate a rough estimate of the horizontal and vertical reach that would best serve your regular operations.

These figures (even if rough estimates) will help substantially when seeking a knuckle boom crane to mount on a service body. Going into the search with your requirements already defined will make the process easier.

Grapple

While this aspect will not be necessary for all articulating crane users, it is something to take into consideration.

A grapple is essentially a claw (similar to that in the arcade style, grab a teddy bear games in restaurant waiting areas) that is used to grab cargo to move from point A to point B.

Grapples are far more common on knuckle boom cranes than telescopic ones.

Typically, industries utilizing knuckle boom cranes with grapples will be involved with logging, auto salvage, landscaping, and waste management (among others).

When searching for a knuckle boom crane, make sure that you find a manufacturer that is able to accommodate grapples and grapple controls if your industry or line of work needs it.

Some manufacturers may not be able to accommodate your requirements which can result in wasted time and returning to square one on your search.

Winch

For other industries, a standard winch will be adequate as a lifting mechanism.

While winch systems vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, the winch should usually be operated via hydraulic motor system. The winch itself should have a sufficient cable length and a swivel hook to accommodate most common lifting purposes.

Mounting

This where things can get tricky.

Most knuckle boom crane manufacturers can only accommodate behind-the-cab mounting configurations due to their rack and pinion rotational systems.

Knowing where the knuckle boom would be best mounted to serve your business is crucial in the early stages of an ideal crane search.

Behind-the-cab configurations work best for some.

However, you must seek out a manufacturer with a worm gearbox rotational system if you plan to mount a knuckle boom crane on the rear of a service truck.

Mounting configurations are heavily dependent on preference to the end user, as well as functional specifications that are unique to every line of work.

Having an idea as to where you would like to mount a knuckle boom crane will again, make the process easier.

Remote Preference

Control options for a knuckle boom articulating crane are mostly dependent upon preference of the end-user.

Typical configurations include hard-wired pendant and radio remote control.

While the obvious benefit of radio remote control is freedom in range of motion for the operator, the differences between the two (other than that) are comparable.

Availabilty & Maintenance

One should always consider the availability for maintenance and repair when seeking a knuckle boom crane (or any type of crane for that matter).

Cranes regularly subjected to heavy loads will experience consequential wear and tear that will need to be maintained.

The availability of parts for routine maintenance, as well is damage, is something to be aware of when searching for the perfect crane.

Typically, cranes that operate with a lower pressure hydraulic system will be easier to repair and maintain than those of a higher-pressure system.

Part availability for lower-pressure hydraulic systems is more abundant than that of higher pressures.

Warranty

You should always be aware of manufacturer warranties when it comes to heavy equipment (cranes included).

This will protect your investment in the near and long term and ensure that you get your money’s worth for your crane.

Typical industry warranties vary, but you should aim to see a knuckle boom crane warranty no shorter than 5 years (we offer a 10 year warranty on all knuckle boom cranes).

If you are interested in pricing knuckle boom cranes for your service truck, marine, barge, or fixed industrial applications, please click here to contact a JOMAC service representative today!