Tadano's New 30-ton Truck Crane Offers the Reach and Benefits of a Boom Truck

Enlarge Image The TT-300XL's boom telescopes from 32.2 feet to 101.7 feet.

November 1, 2006 • Seeking to expand its share of the North American mobile truck crane market, Tadano America Corporation, working with a focus group of several crane rental companies across the United States, developed a new 30-ton hydraulic truck crane. The Houston, Texas, company began delivering the model TT-300XL this spring to several customers in the east and southwest. 

 

“It looks like a hybrid cross between a conventional hydraulic truck crane and boom truck,” says Ron Dogotch, Vice President and General Manager. This model has a complete truck crane upper structure including subframe with four hydraulic beam and jack outriggers mounted on a Sterling commercial carrier. This combination makes it more economical to own and operate than a conventional hydraulic truck crane of similar capacity. “With its boom and upper structure design, the crane offers the capacity and reach benefits of a traditional truck crane”says Dogotch.

 

The TT-300XL's four-section full-powered synchronized boom telescopes from 32.2 feet to 101.7 feet.  Engineered in a round, hexagonal box construction, it has a double-acting hydraulic cylinder with holding valve which elevates the boom from -3 to 80 degrees. A lattice-type 26.2-foot jib with 5° or 30° offset stores alongside the base boom section.

 

The truck crane is operated from a one-man, right-side mounted 360° rotating cab. Tadano's electronic AML-L (load moment indicator) monitors boom angle, boom length, load radius, jib offset angle, rated lifting capacities, actual load readout, and ratio of actual load moment to rated load moment. The Tadano AML-L also monitors outrigger extended length and automatically programs the corresponding “Rated Lifting Capacities” chart. Preset limits are provided for load radius, boom angle, tip height, and swing range.

 

The Sterling LT7501 carrier with 6x4 drive air ride rear suspension, offers ten forward and three reverse speeds to provide a smooth ride at maximum travel speed of 80.8 mph.  The sub-frame is engineered with four hydraulic, beam and jack outriggers equipped with an integral holding valve. Each beam and jack is controlled independently from either side of the carrier, and beams extend to almost 20 feet centerline. A fifth hydraulically operated outrigger jack is mounted on the carrier's front frame.

 

The TT-300XL is a product of Tadano's work with customers, according to Dogotch. Several rental houses had input on the design of the crane and have taken delivery. These companies include Rent-A-Crane, Inc. in Lorton, Va., with two cranes; Johnson Crane Service, Inc. in Beltsville, Md. (three); Keene Crane Rental, Inc. in Damascus, Md. (1).; and Sims Crane & Equipment Company in Tampa, Fla., (5) McRay Crane & Rigging, Houston, Texas, also has purchased one crane.