L-crane or Palfinger — which crane fits your work

In a Bri4ka.com video, Filip comes to Fenix to become a crane operator. Agop Erdeklian shows the MAN with its L-crane, Alexander Yordanov the Volvo with its Palfinger, and Filip tries both.

Two trucks, two different machines

What they share: both have three axles and a crane. That's it. The MAN TGA 26.390 has 390 hp, 10.5 litres and 1,900 Nm in a 6×2 layout. The Volvo FH 440 has 440 hp, 13 litres and 2,200 Nm in a 6×4 layout.

With 6×4 both rear axles are driven — useful in winter and on rough ground. With 6×2 one axle drives, and the third axle lifts and steers, which tightens the turning circle.

MAN: hooklift and L-crane with grapple

A hooklift is a versatile machine: it works as a tipper and loads and unloads containers. The container stays on site, the truck brings an empty one and takes the full one — so the truck keeps moving.

The front crane makes the truck self-sufficient: it loads and unloads itself. No separate hired crane and operator to pay for — and cranes have always been expensive.

This is an L-crane, one of the fast cranes. At the tip is a grapple with a rotator that turns the load. The grapple is swapped for the material: scrap, timber, or a bucket for bulk.

The extras that cost money

Behind the last axle there is a support leg: when lifting it goes down to the ground and props up the truck. Without it, a heavy lift can raise the front off the ground and tip the truck. The leg also spares the rear suspension. It is an expensive extra and not every truck has it.

The truck also has hydraulic outlets for a trailer, so the hydraulics can power a trailer with a crane, a hooklift or a tipper.

Container length and the law

The container in the video is 6.80 m — long for this truck. Because the crane sits up front, it normally carries about 5.50 m. For a longer container the rear underrun bar must be extendable: by law it has to reach the part that sticks out furthest.

In Bulgaria this is rarely respected. In Switzerland the driver would lose his licence and pay a huge fine.

Volvo FH 6×4 and Palfinger

The truck in the video is a 2006 Euro 5; the same model also exists as Euro 3 and Euro 4. So when choosing, look at the emission class, not just the year.

The Palfinger weighs about 2.5 tonnes. A crane like that does not go on just any tractor unit — the configuration has to be calculated carefully to suit the chassis. It is operated from the ground with a remote and joystick.

How to work a crane

Slowly and smoothly — jerky movements make the crane block. The cab has protection so the boom cannot hit it. Don't extend the boom fully with a heavy load, as the truck can lean.

The sign on the crane is clear: never stand under the boom. While the crane lifts, you can see the cab rise on its suspension — the weight is real.

On the L-crane you sit up top, at about 3.50 m, and the seat turns with the crane. It is faster but takes getting used to. Filip admits it scares him up there.

Which crane for which job

An L-crane with grapple on a hooklift is for scrap, timber and bulk materials — a truck that loads its own containers and waits for nobody.

A loader crane like the Palfinger is for lifting and placing loads precisely, operated from the ground by remote. Filip picks this one: "the joystick is easier for me".

Either way, the crane is matched to the truck — weight, axles, hydraulics. Ask us before you buy: we will tell you which truck will do your job.

Watch the full lesson

Video: Bri4ka.com — "Filip became a crane operator?!" (in Bulgarian).