How to Buy a Truck-Mounted Crane from China
Quick answer
A truck-mounted crane (also called a boom truck or lorry-mounted crane) is a cargo truck with a hydraulic crane mounted between the cab and the bed. Chinese factories build them from 2 t to 16 t lifting capacity on light, medium and heavy chassis, and they are the cheapest way to add lifting capability to a fleet without buying a dedicated crane truck.
If you are buying one from China, three numbers decide whether the truck is legal and safe on your roads: rated capacity at a stated radius, GVW minus curb weight minus body weight, and axle load distribution with the crane at full outreach. Get those three right and the rest is commercial.
1. What you are actually buying
A truck-mounted crane is a system of four parts, and suppliers often quote a price for only some of them:
| Part | What to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis | Brand, model, wheelbase, GVW, emission standard | Determines road legality, spare parts, resale value |
| Crane | Brand (XCMG / SANY / UNIC / unbranded), model, rated capacity | The crane is 40โ60% of the total price |
| Sub-frame & body | Reinforcement, bed length, side walls | Poor sub-frames crack at the crane base within a year |
| Hydraulics & outriggers | Pump brand, working pressure, outrigger spread | Decides stability and cycle speed |
In our own catalogue of 51 truck-mounted crane listings, the crane brands are XCMG (39), Chengli-built (16), SANY (8) and UNIC (2), mounted mostly on Dongfeng (29), Sinotruk/HOWO/Wangpai (13), Shacman (5), Foton (2) and FAW (1) chassis. Lifting capacity ranges from 2 t to 16 t.
A "Chengli-built" crane is a crane assembled by the body builder (Chengli, Suizhou) rather than by XCMG/SANY. It is usually cheaper; ask for the pump, valve and cylinder brands before comparing it with a branded crane.
2. Pick the tonnage class first
Tonnage is quoted as maximum lifting capacity at minimum radius โ usually with the boom fully retracted. That is not the number you will use on site.
| Class | Typical duty | Typical chassis | Typical boom | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2โ3.2 t | Deliveries, light cargo, tight yards | Dongfeng Duolika / Foton light | 3โ4 section, 8โ12 m | Payload disappears fast โ crane + sub-frame can eat 800โ1,200 kg |
| 5โ6.3 t | Most common class for general cargo + lifting | Dongfeng Tianjin / Wangpai 4ร2 | 3โ4 section, 10โ14 m | Often sold with the smallest legal chassis |
| 8โ10 t | Construction materials, pipes, containers | 4ร2 or 6ร2 medium | 4 section, 12โ16 m | Front axle overload when lifting over the cab |
| 12โ14 t | Steel, precast, heavy machinery | 6ร4 / 8ร4 heavy | 4โ5 section, 14โ18 m | Needs a proper sub-frame; check rear overhang |
| 16 t+ | Special projects | 8ร4 heavy | 5 section | Road permits in most countries |
Our catalogue's most common listed classes are 10 t (26 listings), 8 t (22), 14 t (16), 5 t (15) and 6.3 t (10).
3. The payload formula you must run
Dealers quote "GVW 16,200 kg, curb weight 8,780 kg" and stop there. Do the rest yourself:
legal payload = GVW โ curb weight โ body/sub-frame weight โ crane weight โ fuel, driver, toolsA 6.3 t crane with outriggers and a reinforced sub-frame typically adds 1,200โ1,800 kg to a light chassis. On a 4.5 t-payload truck that leaves 2.5โ3 t of cargo โ which is often less than the buyer expects. If the supplier cannot give you the four numbers above in writing, you are being sold a brochure, not a truck.
4. Rated capacity is a curve, not a number
Every crane has a load chart: capacity falls as radius (horizontal distance from the slew centre) and boom length increase. Two cranes both sold as "8 t" can differ by 40% at 8 m radius.
Ask for the chart and check these three points:
- Capacity at 5 m radius with the boom at mid-length;
- Capacity at maximum outreach (that is what you will actually lift at the far side of a container);
- Capacity with the jib / extension fitted, if you plan to use one.
Rule of thumb for buyers: choose the crane whose capacity at your most common radius is at least 30% above your heaviest regular load. Anything tighter wears the hydraulics and the operator.
5. Seven checks before you wire a deposit
- Crane nameplate photo, not a datasheet. Ask for a photo of the plate on the actual crane (brand, model, serial, year). Datasheets are copied between listings; plates are not.
- Chassis VIN + emission certificate. Confirm the emission standard matches your country's import rules (Euro 3/5/6, China VI, EPA). A truck that cannot be registered is worth scrap value.
- Load chart at your radius (see section 4).
- Outrigger spread and front-axle load. Measure your site: a 6 m outrigger spread will not fit in most warehouses. Ask for the axle-load calculation with the crane at full outreach.
- Hydraulic component brands. Pump, valves and cylinders: branded (Rexroth, Kawasaki, Parker, or a named Chinese brand) vs unbranded. Unbranded hydraulics are the #1 source of downtime after year one.
- Sub-frame design drawing. A proper sub-frame ties the crane base into the chassis rails over at least 1.5ร the crane base length. Ask for the drawing; a photo of the finished bed proves nothing.
- Who warrants what. Chassis warranty normally comes from the chassis brand; crane warranty from the crane brand or the body builder. Get both in the contract, with the spare-parts list and prices.
6. Four things that are commonly misrepresented
| Claim | What is often true | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| "16 t crane" | 16 t only at 2.5 m radius, boom retracted | Load chart + plate photo |
| "Brand new" | New body on a refurbished or re-cabbed chassis | VIN year vs build year; chassis mileage on the ECU |
| "Unbranded crane = same as XCMG" | Same layout, different steel, cylinder and valve quality | Ask for cylinder/pump brand; weigh the boom |
| "Ready to ship" | Built to order, 20โ45 days | Factory video with the unit's plate visible |
7. Export documents checklist
| Document | Needed for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice & packing list | All shipments | Match VIN and crane serial |
| Certificate of origin (CO / Form E / FTA) | Duty reduction | Depends on destination trade agreement |
| Emission / conformity certificate | Registration | Euro/EPA/China VI as required |
| MIIT announcement (ๅ ฌๅ) copy | Some markets' homologation | Chinese type approval reference |
| CCC certificate (crane) | Some markets | Ask whether it covers the crane or only the chassis |
| Insurance certificate | Sea freight | Crane trucks are RoRo or flat-rack; confirm lashing plan |
8. What to send a supplier (copy this)
1. Lifting capacity needed at ______ m radius: ______ t
2. Most common load: ______ kg, dimensions ______
3. Chassis preference / emission standard required: ______
4. Drive type (LHD/RHD) and road regulations: ______
5. Body: bed length ______ m, side walls ______ mm, loading height limit ______
6. Destination port + import requirements (registration, CE, EPAโฆ): ______
7. Quantity and target delivery window: ______
8. Please attach: crane plate photo, load chart, sub-frame drawing, axle-load calculation, spare-parts price listA supplier who answers all eight with documents is a supplier worth a deposit. One who answers with a price and a brochure is not.
9. Where to look next
- Truck-mounted cranes in our marketplace โ 51 listings, 2โ16 t, all from verified Chinese suppliers
- All special-purpose vehicles โ sweepers, tankers, fire trucks, wreckers
- How we verify suppliers โ what "verified" means on Hymiray
Frequently asked questions
+How much does a truck-mounted crane cost in China?
Price depends mainly on the crane brand and tonnage, then on the chassis. A 5โ6.3 t crane on a light 4ร2 chassis is the entry class; 8โ10 t on a medium chassis is the volume class; 12โ16 t on a 6ร4 or 8ร4 heavy chassis costs significantly more. Because specifications vary so much, our listings show "price on request" and each supplier quotes against your radius, chassis and destination.
+What is the difference between a truck-mounted crane and a crane truck?
A truck-mounted crane (boom truck) carries cargo and lifts it with a crane mounted on the same chassis, so it drives to site, unloads itself and returns loaded. A dedicated crane truck is built mainly for lifting. For fleets that need both transport and lifting, a truck-mounted crane is usually the cheaper and more flexible option.
+Can the crane be mounted on any chassis?
No. The chassis must have enough GVW and a suitable frame, and the sub-frame has to spread the crane load over a length of the chassis rails. Mounting a large crane on a light chassis produces front-axle overload and frame cracks. Always ask for the axle-load calculation with the crane at full outreach.
+Which emission standard should I order?
It depends on your country's import and registration rules. China VI is standard for the domestic market; export units are commonly built to Euro 3, Euro 5 or Euro 6, and some destinations require EPA or local homologation. Confirm the requirement with your customs broker before the chassis is ordered, because it cannot be changed afterwards.
+How long does production take?
Most Chinese body builders quote 20โ45 days from deposit for a truck-mounted crane, depending on chassis availability and whether the crane is a stocked branded unit or built to order. Sea freight adds transit time to your port. Ask for the production schedule in writing with the deposit invoice.
These listings are published by verified Chinese suppliers โ ask each one for the plate photo, load chart and axle-load calculation mentioned above.
Browse truck-mounted cranes