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Time is money, they say, and on jobsites that means every minute saved on maintenance and repairs translates into operational uptime and cost savings. That’s why, for crane fleets and service providers, mechanic’s trucks fitted with service cranes have become indispensable for handling both routine requirements and more challenging tasks.
“Service cranes and bodies are designed for the application and needs of a mechanic,” said Caleb Boullion, work truck operations manager at Altec. “Their layout is developed for convenience, and so the mechanic can be safe and efficient by making it easier to move around or on the truck.”
Clint Weckwerth, product manager, service cranes and mechanics truck bodies at PALFINGER North America called service cranes and mechanic’s bodies workhorses.
“Uptime is critical to the operator, so these vehicles are designed to be durable in all kinds of conditions, across all kinds of terrain,” he said. “They deliver consistent performance over the lifespan of the unit so they can be used to reliably and efficiently get another piece of equipment up and running.”
A key feature of today’s mechanic’s trucks, according to Brian Christ, product management specialist at Knapheide, is that they can be customized. “Tailoring these trucks to the needs of the user transforms them into rolling shops,” he said. “A fully equipped service vehicle greatly reduces the chances of having to return to the shop for a tool or part, saving time and money for everyone involved.
“Features such as drawers and storage bins maximize efficiency on the jobsite,” Christ continued. “They keep tools and parts in their proper location, eliminating searches. Items such as exterior task lights and interior compartment lighting also help create a safe work environment.”
Working Together
“By collaborating with our dealer network, we can recommend the right equipment tailored to the customer’s specific application,” said Weckwerth. “That partnership is crucial for minimizing downtime and keeping equipment operating at peak efficiency.”
Tyler Coverdell, fleet sales manager at Knapheide, pointed out that mechanic’s trucks are a significant capital investment. “Ensure that you select a body manufacturer or upfitter with extensive experience in installing, upfitting and after-sale service to keep your equipment running at its full potential,” he added.
At Altec, Boullion noted, the company’s service technicians provide firsthand feedback to guide mechanic’s truck and service crane designs. For example, starting this year all of the manufacturer’s service trucks will have fiberglass bodies.
Next Generation Products
Altec recently launched its next-generation fiberglass bodies, rated up to 36,000 foot-pounds, with features such as an integrated full-steel subbase and a built-in tower for a 6,000-pound service crane.
“This new fiberglass body saves, on average, 1,000 pounds compared to the same steel body design,” Boullion related. “Anytime you can decrease weight, it extends the service life of brakes, tires and other parts that may wear out prematurely with a heavy load on the chassis.”
The Altec fiberglass body has barn doors so mechanics can get close to tools without navigating around a drop-down door. In addition, Boullion pointed out the body’s optional rolling roof, which the mechanic can stand on safely and not need to use ladders to work on equipment.
Altec steel and fiberglass crane bodies are offered in preconfigured lengths of 108 and 132 inches with up to 43,000 foot-pounds of crane capacity. The bodies have an isolated rear crane compartment and interlocks that prevent crane use until the outriggers are lowered. Standard features include heavy-duty aluminum drawers, a modular track system for hook and shelf installation, D-ring tiedowns in the cargo area and a master body locking system.
PAL Pro mechanics truck models from PALFINGER North America are available in 9- to 14-foot lengths with crane capacities ranging from 20,000 to 86,000 foot-pounds. Optimized for Class 5 chassis applications, the latest additions to the company’s lineup of mechanics trucks and service cranes are PAL Pro 58 mechanics trucks and the PSC 8600 TEC service crane.
The PAL Pro 58 mechanics truck is constructed from 12-gauge A-60 galvanized steel and features a hybrid torsion box that eliminates frame and side pack deflection. It also undergoes a 12-step E-coat process for enhanced paint coverage and corrosion protection. The body is available in 11-foot configurations with standard options, including bolt-on mounting locations for accessories like compressors and welders, headache racks and aluminum roll-out drawer units.
“Our service cranes like the PSC 8600 TEC have safety features such as overload protection systems and Load Moment Indication to ensure real-time load monitoring and prevent equipment overloading,” Weckwerth said. “The PAL Pro 58 also has body, crane and cargo lights. These products provide for the highest level of safety, reducing workplace injuries.”
The PALFINGER PSC 8600 TEC service crane has a lift capacity of 8,600 pounds and is available with 22- or 31-feet of reach by incorporating internal extension cylinders that power hexagonal booms. The crane also has the manufacturer’s intelligent winch console, a damage prevention system integrated into the winch mounting platform that eliminates the need for a boom tip apparatus and cord reel.
Other features of the PALFINGER PSC 8600 TEC service crane include 360-degree continuous rotation with a fully sealed crane base that eliminates water intrusion into the crane compartment, automated boom stowing with optional stowage monitoring and synchronized rope control for the ability to keep the load hook parallel to the ground or the boom tip.
The latest mechanic’s bodies from Knapheide, reported Coverdell, are the company’s aluminum AKMS and AKMT product lines built using aerospace assembly processes that reduce welding. The AKMS body, which can be equipped with an electric service crane, features standard 44-inch-tall by 22-inch-deep compartments and is fitted with a VMAC G30 compressor with electric on/off start and choke that is mounted street side for ease of access from the ground.
Knapheide AKMT aluminum mechanic’s truck bodies have a steel isolated crane compartment with a torsion box floor that helps transfer torsional stress from the crane into the floor and outriggers and not the side packs. The bodies feature a 16-inch-tall slam lock tailgate with one hand operation for locking and unlocking and a seven-drawer CTECH unit with a 250-pound capacity, a bolt bin storage system mounted in the horizontal compartment and adjustable shelving.
In the AKMT1 mechanic’s truck, Knapheide combines a steel crane compartment and understructure with aluminum side packs to provide approximately 1,000 pounds of additional payload capacity compared to the standard steel KMT1 model.
Also available on aluminum Knapheide mechanic’s trucks are a 40 CFM hydraulic compressor with a 50-foot reel for half-inch hose, a work bench bumper with a through compartment, six cargo tie downs, four 3000 LED work lights and the Knapheide CanBus that provides 120-amp maximum continuous power throughput and 25-amp maximum continuous power per output and a master on/off switch.
Knapheide KMS and KMT Series steel mechanic’s service trucks include the KMS16 and the KMS 30 Class 3 through 5 models. The KMS16 is fitted with a 20-foot reach electric crane with a manually operated rear body outrigger to support up to 3,200 pounds. The KMS30 can be equipped with a 21-foot reach electric or hydraulic crane to lift up to 5,000 pounds with manual or control operated dual rear outriggers.
The steel KMT1 Class 5 mechanic’s truck includes a 30-foot reach hydraulic crane with two rear support outriggers for lifting up to 8,600 pounds. For Class 6 through 8 applications, the company offers the KMT2 and KMT3 models with a 30-foot reach hydraulic crane. The KMT2’s crane has two rear outriggers and a 12,000-pound lifting capacity and the KMT3 with dual front and rear body outriggers is equipped with a 14,000-pound capacity crane.
Stellar Industries, a manufacturer of work trucks and trailers, offers their Stellar TMAX line of mechanic’s trucks. Offered in steel and aluminum models, the trucks have the company’s torq-isolator crane support design that isolates the crane compartment from the rest of the side pack, transferring lifting stresses to the stabilizers and box-type subframe, not the compartment doors.
Doors on the Stellar mechanic’s trucks are made of 5000 series aluminum for reduced weight and corrosion resistance and feature a two-panel design with a mechanically and chemically bonded internal hat channel. There are also three-point compression latches that keep weather-stripping tight and stainless-steel billet-style hinges with hidden fasteners.
Stellar TMAX aluminum bodies feature an extruded aluminum top with two drill-free mounting rails for accessory installation. The company’s bodies can be spec’ed with either a step bumper or a workbench bumper with an integrated full width longbar storage compartment and vise mounts, aluminum or steel drawer systems with 500 pounds of capacity per drawer and adjustable shelving made of galvanized steel with 250 pounds of capacity per shelf.
Indispensable Assets
As an addition to any service operation, a mechanic’s truck fitted with a service crane is highly effective. By enabling on-site repairs and maintenance and eliminating the need to transport heavy equipment to a shop, these mobile workstations are the ultimate game changer for boosting productivity and efficiency.
Asking the Right Questions
Choosing the right service crane for your operation is about understanding the features of various crane types. Stellar Industries, a manufacturer of work trucks and trailers including the Stellar TMAX line of mechanic trucks, provides answers to three key questions:
Q: What are the key considerations when selecting a service crane for a mechanic’s truck?
The crane’s lifting capacity, reach, duty cycle and maneuverability must align with operational needs. An ideal crane system should offer robust performance while featuring intuitive controls for operators to handle diverse tasks effectively.
Q: What are the differences between electric, electric-hydraulic and hydraulic service cranes?
Understanding the similarities and differences among crane types can help you make an appropriate decision:
Q: How can remote control systems enhance service crane operation?
Remote control technology significantly boosts productivity by enhancing functionality and allowing operators to safely and efficiently control and monitor cranes from a distance. Ergonomic handheld controls for the systems ensure precise movements and LED screens display critical information such as data on load capacity, the weight currently on the crane, the maximum weight it can still lift, current reach, boom angle and any necessary warnings.
Advanced remote-control systems often include special features that enable operators to assess lifting capabilities without needing to reposition the crane. By simply parking the truck and walking to the load, operators can easily calculate the crane’s lifting capacity, streamlining the lifting process and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
