The UAE hire market for projects that require more than a mid-range hiab can provide – heaver loads, more outreach, and the ability to handle structural steel, precast concrete, generator sets and heavy plant equipment – is the 15 ton truck with 8 ton crane.
This is a 15 tonne GVM (gross vehicle mass) heavy flatbed truck fitted with a high capacity knuckle boom crane, 8 tonnes at close-range at working radius. This produces a single, highly equipped machine that can roll onto the UAE road network and carry heavy loads and, on arrival, extend a powerful, long reach hydraulic crane to lift, position and place heavy loads with precision – while avoiding the expense, set up time, and complex delivery of a mobile crane.
The 15 ton truck with 8 ton crane is a very handy machine in the UAE hire market as it is powerful enough to complete the heavy lifting tasks required for the larger projects involved in the construction of oil and gas infrastructure, industrial fabrication yards, infrastructure and urban construction sites, and has a reasonable size and is road-legal enough to access construction sites and project locations where a larger mobile crane can be employed.
This is an essential specification in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Northern Emirates with main contractors, infrastructure development companies, steel fabricators, MEP industry and logistical companies dealing with heavy plant and materials. This guide will detail everything you need to know before hiring a 15 ton truck and 8 ton crane in UAE.
The Host Vehicle in this instance would be the 15 Tonne GVM Flatbed Truck.
The host vehicle has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 15 tonnes and is either a heavy three or tandem axle rigid flatbed truck. UAE markets most commonly offer this type of chassis on Mercedes-Benz Actros, MAN TGS, Volvo FE and Isuzu FVR.
As the GVM of the 15 tonne truck is much greater than the 7 tonne, the payload (cargo on the flatbed excluding the weight of the mounted crane unit) will be significantly higher, around 7,000-9,000kg. This would be suitable for:
A crane unit is an 8 tonne maximum lifting capacity knuckle boom (articulated) hydraulic loader crane with a minimum operating radius of around 1.5 to 2.5 metres, directly next to the outrigger footprint. Like all truck mounted cranes, capacity decreases as the distance from the truck increases.
Standard Crane curve for 8 tonne crane:
Operating Radius | Approximate Lifting Capacity |
1.5 – 2.0 m | 8,000 kg (rated max) |
3.0 m | 5,000 – 5,500 kg |
4.5 m | 3,200 – 3,800 kg |
6.0 m | 2,200 – 2,700 kg |
8.0 m | 1,500 – 1,900 kg |
10.0 m | 1,100 – 1,400 kg |
The capacities are indicative and may differ between crane types. Always check against individual crane’s load chart before lifting.
The knuckle boom folds down to a road friendly size and can be articulated on site to a very versatile working position. The boom can be folded to extend over obstacles, into confined areas, below the mobile crane’s own deck level, and in a variety of orientations that a straight boom mobile crane can’t. These hydraulic systems are equipped with electronic control and load-sensing devices, which monitor the load, boom angle and outreach and adjust pressure accordingly, allowing for more precise control in sensitive environments like congested urban conditions or close to existing structures.
Normally a 15 tonne GVM truck and crane unit (2000kg – 3000kg) leaves about:
The 15 ton truck’s payload capacity, with the 8 tonne crane, make it a truly heavy duty transport and lifting solution, capable of managing most single pieces of lifting on an average construction or infrastructure project in the UAE.
Model: 15 Ton Truck + 8 Ton Crane
The 12-16 metre, 3-6 hydraulic section knuckle boom hydraulic loader crane is optional on the 15-tonne GVM15,000 kg flatbed and comes with electronic load limiting (overload protection) and a wireless radio remote control.The 12-16 metre, 3-6 hydraulic section knuckle boom hydraulic loader crane is available as a standard option on the 15 tonne GVM15,000 kg flatbed and is fitted with electronic load limiting (overload protection) and a wireless radio remote control.
The first challenge is to connect the Light Hiab with the Mobile Crane.The first challenge is to connect the Light Hiab with the Mobile Crane.
In the UAE, the truck-mounted crane hire service industry can be divided into three levels of capabilities:
It’s the 15 ton truck crane that is the workhorse in that middle-tier – capable of performing most heavy lifting tasks on UAE infrastructure, industrial and commercial construction projects, without the mobilisation, set up and ground preparation required for a mobile crane.
A significant effort to expand outreach, particularly meaningful capacity.
One of the most practically significant features of the 8 tonne crane is its maximum hydraulic outreach of 10–14 metres. At 6 metres reach, an 8 tonne crane is able to lift an approximate 2,200–2,700 kg, which is enough for a loaded palette, a precast concrete manhole, a section of structural steelwork or a generator skid placed at a distance away from the parked position of the crane. This extended capacity at working radius is quite distinct from the 4 tonne crane which is quickly losing usable working capacity with distance.
