The all-terrain crane is considered in the crane business as being a luxury model of a mobile hydraulic crane. It has the reputation of being similar to driving a Hummer or a Range Rover on pavement. All-terrain cranes are considered to be a hybrid between a rough terrain crane and mobile truck crane. Another great feature of this equipment is its multi-functional ability to be able to traverse through all types of off-road terrain. Amongst the main selling features of this crane is that it travels equally well at top speeds down roads.
The First Rough Terrain Crane
Grove launched the very first rough terrain crane to the market in 1959. The crane was designed for the intended use of being a multi-purpose machine for use on construction sites. The industrial strength of the crane's tires is capable of handling all kinds of tricky terrain and could move small loads in carry mode. In the 1970s, Grove introduced the 4 axle Super-RT 1650 model. This unit has an 82.8 meter or 270 foot height under hook in production, in addition to a 135 ton lifting capacity. At the end of the day, the rough terrain crane will become the company's most notable machinery over the years.
The Crane's Disadvantages
The rough terrain crane is not without its disadvantages as it is not able to be driven on public roads with any other traffic. Japan is the one country which has made this rule an exception. Furthermore, another problem happened when the lowered boom on the crane tended to block the driver's right and left views, depending on how the cap was positioned. These issues with the crane's design ended up being severe and hazardous and result in numerous RT crane mishaps, specially while turning. Therefore, lowboys, flatbeds, low-loaders were adopted as the main method of moving rough terrain cranes.