When buying a truck mounted crane, the boom is one of the first specifications you should look at.
It determines how far the crane can reach, how high it can lift, and how much load it can handle at a particular working radius. A crane may have a high rated capacity, but if its boom cannot reach your working area, it will not be the right machine for the job.
This is why choosing a truck mounted crane boom should start with your actual lifting requirements, not simply the number of tons shown in a product name.
For contractors, equipment dealers, construction companies, utility operators, and industrial buyers, the right boom configuration can make a significant difference in how useful the crane is on site.
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What Does a Truck Mounted Crane Boom Do?
The boom is the main lifting arm of the crane. On a telescopic truck mounted crane, the boom consists of several sections that extend and retract hydraulically.
When the boom is retracted, the crane remains relatively compact for transportation. When extended, it provides the reach needed to move a load away from the truck or to a higher position.
But there is an important trade-off.
The farther the boom reaches, the lower the available lifting capacity normally becomes.
For example, STCM’s 6-ton truck mounted crane has a maximum rated capacity of 6,000 kg, but its published load data shows different capacities at different working ranges. At a 1 m working range, the listed capacity is 6,000 kg; at 3.5 m, the listed capacity is 2,000 kg for the basic boom configuration.
So when someone says they need a “6-ton crane,” that information alone is not enough to select the machine.
The manufacturer also needs to know where the load needs to be lifted.
Boom Length Is Not the Same as Working Reach
This is one of the most common misunderstandings when comparing cranes.
A longer boom gives the crane greater potential reach, but the actual working radius depends on the boom angle and the position of the load.
Imagine that you need to lift a 2-ton machine from the ground and place it 10 meters away from the truck.
The important question is not:
How long is the boom?
It is:
Can the crane safely lift 2 tons at a 10-meter working radius?
That answer comes from the load chart.
STCM’s 12-ton truck mounted crane, for example, has a maximum rated capacity of 12,000 kg, but its published data shows the capacity falling as the working range increases. At a 10 m working range, the listed capacity is 2,000 kg with the medium-long boom configuration and 1,620 kg with the fully extended configuration.
This is why boom length, working radius and lifting capacity should always be considered together.
How Many Boom Sections Do You Need?
You will often see truck mounted cranes described as having 5-section, 7-section, 8-section or 9-section booms.
The number of sections tells you how the telescopic boom is constructed. More sections can provide greater extension while keeping the boom relatively compact when retracted.
But more sections do not automatically mean a better crane.
STCM’s current models are a good example.
Its 6-ton truck mounted crane uses a 9-section telescopic boom with a maximum lifting height of 25 m.
The 10-ton STSQ10D uses a 7-section boom and provides a maximum lifting height of 29 m.
The 20-ton STSQ20D uses an 8-section telescopic boom, with a maximum lifting capacity of 20,000 kg and a maximum lifting height of 47 m.
The takeaway is simple: boom section count should be selected according to the required reach and lifting conditions, not used as a standalone measure of crane performance.
Choosing a Truck Mounted Crane Boom by Lifting Requirement
A better way to choose a boom is to start with your heaviest regular lift.
Consider a contractor installing steel structures. If most loads are 3–5 tons and need to be placed relatively close to the truck, a very long boom may not be necessary.
On the other hand, if the same contractor needs to place equipment over a building or across an obstacle, reach becomes much more important.
Before requesting a quotation, determine these four figures:
| Requirement | Example |
|---|---|
| Maximum load | 5,000 kg |
| Working radius | 10 m |
| Required lifting height | 15 m |
| Normal working load | 3,000–4,000 kg |
This gives the manufacturer something useful to work with.
It is much better than simply saying:
“I need a 5-ton truck crane.”
If you are not sure which boom configuration matches your project, STCM can review the working conditions and recommend a suitable crane configuration. The company states that its engineering team provides customized crane solutions, including special boom lengths and cross-sections.
Telescopic Boom or Longer Fixed Reach?
For truck mounted cranes used across multiple jobsites, a telescopic boom is often practical because the operator can change the boom length according to the lift.
A shorter boom configuration can provide greater capacity for close-range lifting, while extending the boom allows the crane to reach farther when required.
This flexibility is particularly useful for:
Construction
Moving steel, concrete components, building materials and equipment around a jobsite.
Power and utility work
Positioning transformers, poles, electrical equipment and other components where access may be restricted.
Logistics
Loading and unloading machinery or materials without relying on separate lifting equipment at every destination.
Industrial maintenance
Moving equipment into factories, workshops and production areas.
STCM’s truck mounted cranes are used across construction, power and energy, logistics and warehousing, manufacturing, marine and port, and water conservancy applications.
Don’t Choose the Boom Before Checking the Truck
The crane boom is only one part of the complete vehicle.
The truck chassis needs to support the crane, load, hydraulic system, outriggers and other equipment while remaining suitable for road transportation.
This becomes particularly important with higher-capacity cranes.
For example, STCM’s 20-ton model uses a heavy-duty chassis configuration, an eight-section 7 m boom, triple-row double outriggers, a 1.5 m extendable sub-frame and a 105 kW engine.
A 20-ton crane therefore cannot simply be treated as a larger version of a 6-ton crane.
The chassis, frame, outriggers, hydraulic system and boom all need to be designed as a complete lifting system.
For buyers importing a crane, it is also worth confirming:
- Chassis brand and model
- Engine requirements
- Axle configuration
- Vehicle dimensions
- Road regulations
- Emission requirements
- Local registration requirements
- Spare parts availability
These details can affect the final configuration just as much as the boom itself.
How Outriggers Affect Boom Performance
A longer boom increases the working radius, which increases the forces acting on the crane.
That makes outrigger configuration especially important.
STCM’s product specifications include different outrigger arrangements depending on crane size. The 6-ton model uses front and rear outriggers, while the 20-ton model uses triple-row double outriggers with a maximum span of 6.75 × 8 m.
The available lifting capacity also depends on crane stability.
For example, STCM’s 10-ton crane documentation notes that its listed lifting capacity is based on rear operation and that capacity should be reduced when operating from the side.
This is another reason not to compare cranes only by their maximum lifting capacity.
A suitable crane needs to work safely within the actual conditions of your project.
What Information Should You Send a Crane Manufacturer?
If you want an accurate quotation, give the manufacturer as much practical information as possible.
You do not need to prepare a complicated engineering document. A basic project description is usually enough to start the discussion.
Include:
Load: What is the heaviest item you need to lift?
Working radius: How far from the truck will the load be placed?
Lifting height: How high does the load need to go?
Application: Construction, utility work, machinery installation, logistics, etc.
Truck: Do you already have a chassis, or do you need the complete truck crane?
Working environment: Urban site, factory, road construction, power project, port, etc.
Destination: Which country will the crane be shipped to?
For example:
We need a truck mounted crane for construction work. The maximum load is 8 tons, the working radius is around 10–12 m, and the required lifting height is approximately 20 m. We need the complete truck and crane for export to [country].
That gives an engineering team a much better starting point for recommending a model.
Which Truck Mounted Crane Boom Is Right for You?
There is no single boom configuration that works for every project.
A compact crane with a shorter working range may be the better choice when most lifting happens close to the truck.
A multi-section telescopic boom makes more sense when the crane needs to reach different positions on a construction site.
A larger crane with a longer boom may be necessary when heavy loads need to be positioned farther from the vehicle.
The key is to match the boom to the load chart, rather than selecting the longest boom available.
Here is a simple starting point:
| Your Requirement | What to Prioritize |
|---|---|
| Heavy loads at short distance | Lifting capacity |
| Medium loads at long distance | Working radius and load chart |
| High lifting height | Boom length and boom angle |
| Frequent transportation | Retracted boom and vehicle dimensions |
| Confined jobsites | Compact boom and outrigger arrangement |
| Multiple applications | Flexible telescopic boom |
| Heavy-duty construction | Boom, chassis and outrigger system |
If you already know your load and working radius, the selection becomes much easier.
Why Custom Boom Configurations Can Be Worth Considering
Not every project fits a standard catalogue configuration.
The required boom length, cross-section, hook arrangement, hydraulic functions and chassis may change depending on the application and destination market.
STCM specifically provides customized crane solutions, including special boom lengths and cross-sections, hook block configurations, certification requirements and additional hydraulic functions.
This can be useful for buyers who already know the exact lifting conditions but cannot find a standard model that matches them.
Instead of buying an oversized crane just to obtain additional reach, it may be more practical to discuss the working conditions with the manufacturer first.
FAQ
How do I choose the right boom length?
Start with the maximum load, working radius and required lifting height. Then check the manufacturer’s load chart to determine which boom configuration can handle the required lift.
Does a longer boom mean more lifting capacity?
No. A longer boom provides greater potential reach, but lifting capacity normally decreases as working radius increases.
How many boom sections should a truck mounted crane have?
It depends on the required reach, lifting capacity, transport dimensions and application. STCM offers different configurations, including 7-, 8- and 9-section telescopic booms.
Can I request a customized truck mounted crane boom?
Yes. STCM states that it can provide customized boom lengths, cross-sections and other crane configurations based on project requirements.
What do I need to provide to get a truck mounted crane quotation?
The most useful information is maximum load, working radius, lifting height, application, destination country and whether you need the crane mounted on a complete truck.
Get a Truck Mounted Crane Configured for Your Project
Choosing a truck mounted crane boom should not start with a catalogue price.
Start with the job.
Tell the manufacturer what you need to lift, how far you need to reach, how high the load must go and where the crane will operate. From there, the boom, chassis, outriggers and hydraulic system can be matched to the application.
STCM manufactures truck mounted cranes for different lifting capacities and applications, and its engineering team also supports customized configurations. The company currently exports its equipment to international markets and states that it can provide factory-direct quotations and project-specific solutions.
Need a truck mounted crane for your project?
Send STCM these details:
Load: ___ kg
Working radius: ___ m
Lifting height: ___ m
Application: ___
Destination country: ___
Truck chassis: With truck / Crane only