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Rough Terrain Cranes vs All-Terrain Cranes: Which Is Right for Your Project?

Macsalvors Crane Hire

Updated: Aug 28, 2024

Both all terrain cranes and rough terrain cranes can be used at construction sites with uneven ground and offer very similar benefits, so it’s understandable that people may get them confused or use the terms interchangeably.


However, there are a few differences between the two. Read on as we discuss what these differences are and how you can consider them in order to decide which is best suited for your project.


Features of Rough Terrain Cranes


Rough terrain cranes are characterised by their four-wheel undercarriage, with these wheels being both wide and tall in order to boost the crane’s stability and help to navigate rugged terrain with increased ground clearance.


Because they have wheels, this does mean that they can technically be driven on public highways, although not at great speed, so generally they are still required to be transported to job sites. On site, however, their four-wheel drive allows for easy manoeuvrability across uneven and unprepared ground.


They also come with outriggers, which help to stabilise the crane on uneven ground and support it during lifts for maximum safety. Speaking of lifts, both the boom and the undercarriage are powered by the same engine and are controlled from the same cab.


Features of All Terrain Cranes


All terrain cranes also feature a wheeled undercarriage, however they typically have more tyres and a wider cab, making them heavier than rough terrain cranes.

Whilst they are able to navigate uneven ground, they also boast the benefit of being able to maintain higher speeds on public roads, so can actually be driven to sites rather than requiring separate transportation.


They also feature two engines, rather than one, allowing for longer booms and better lifting capabilities.


Which to Choose?


So, now that you know the properties of each, which is best for your project? Well, there’s no wrong or right answer - instead, you should consider multiple factors to see which crane suits these best.


These factors could include:


-       Terrain difficulty: on sites with less preparation, rough terrain cranes are often best thanks to their off-road design.

-       Height access: all terrain cranes have a longer boom, so are more suitable when higher heights need to be reached.

-       Load weight: higher load weights will be handled better by all terrain cranes, which are larger and have two engines to accommodate this.

-       Transportation: if you want to keep transportation costs low, then an all terrain crane may be best as these can travel public roads; in comparison, rough terrain cranes are ideal for moving across various areas on site.


All Terrain Crane Hire


If you’re still unsure on which crane may be best for your project, then we can help here at Macsalvors Crane Hire.


Whether you’d like to learn about the differences between rough and all terrain cranes in more detail, or would like to discuss hire options, then simply get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help.

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