Cranes play an important role when it comes to lifting and shifting heavy objects in the construction, transportation industry, etc. and all rigging companies use them. There is a huge variety of cranes out there and choosing the right one for your needs can be difficult. Amongst the most popular types, rough terrain and all-terrain cranes stand out. However, picking the best option is only going to be possible if you are aware of the differences. Let’s discuss!

What Are Rough Terrain Cranes?

Rough terrain cranes as the term suggests are cranes that come with features and functions allowing them to tackle rough terrains. While standard vehicle-mounted cranes are not able to travel on every type of terrain out there, rough terrain cranes come with sturdy design and construction to enable them to tackle tricky terrains.

Furthermore, rough terrain cranes are usually self-driven and come with four tires with high ground clearance. The tires and wheel base are wider than normal to improve stability and also come with all-wheel drive and power steering to help the operator maneuver through difficult patches.

In addition to that, rough terrain cranes are mostly powered by one engine. Both the undercarriage and the crane itself are powered by the same engine. Meanwhile, the crane is operated by an operator located inside a small cabin. Moreover, these cranes are also equipped with outriggers, which helps them improve stability. However, these cranes are nearly impossible to be driven on regular tar roads.

Pros And Cons Of Rough Terrain Cranes

Now that you are familiar with rough terrain cranes, let’s discuss some pros and cons that will help you determine if this is the right option for your tasks. To begin with, rough terrain cranes tend to be lightweight. These cranes are loaded with all types of off-roading features that keep them stable and gripped to the terrain.

On the other hand, these cranes are not able to lift extremely heavy weights even if outriggers are used. And most importantly, driving these cranes on the roads can be highly risky.

What Are All-Terrain Cranes?

Then again, as the term suggests, all-terrain cranes are designed to be driven on every type of crane out there. While rough terrain cranes cannot be driven on roads, all-terrain cranes are multi-purpose and can be navigated through snow, mud, sand, etc.

Although all-terrain cranes and rough-terrain cranes may look similar, there are a lot of fundamental differences. For instance, the main difference tends to relate to the construction and the capabilities of the crane.

Perhaps the biggest difference tends to be that all-terrain cranes have six to eight tires. In some cases, there even more tire. Therefore, the models can have up to 9 axles. Moreover, these cranes also feature four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Moreover, all-terrain cranes when compared to rough terrain cranes tend to be larger in size and the cabin from where the crane is operated is relatively larger as well. Considering the size, features, and weight-lifting ability, all-terrain cranes are usually powered by two engines, which makes them heavier.

These cranes come with telescopic booms that are extendable. Depending on the variant, an all-terrain crane can lift from 100 to 1000 tons of load. And since these cranes are equipped and designed to travel on a range of terrains such as asphalt, gravel, sand, and tar, you won’t be having a problem making your way through.

Pros And Cons Of All-Terrain Cranes

All-terrain cranes are suited to be driven and operated in all weather conditions. As mentioned earlier, these cranes are equipped with all types of off-road features that not only make them drivable on public roads but also highly maneuverable in tight areas. Plus, the booms are extendable, which allows the crane to lift and move heavy loads to a certain height.

However, depending on the terrain and task, these cranes might need outriggers for additional stability and are operated by professionals to avoid serious accidents considering their sheer size and lifting capacity.

Final Word

In the end, the basic difference between rough and all-terrain cranes is that the former is designed to be driven only on rough terrains and not public roads while the latter can be driven on all types of terrains and roads. These cranes also differ in terms of size, weight-lifting capacity, and features. So, if you want to pick the right type from crane services DC, make sure you define your needs and preferences.