Common Misconceptions of Knuckle Boom Cranes: Are They Weaker than other Cranes and not designed for Heavy lifting?

When it comes to choosing the right crane for your needs, there are a lot of factors to consider, and one of the biggest decisions and investments you can make is choosing the proper crane. Knuckle boom cranes are used worldwide and continue to grow as the preferred crane of choice, but there are still several misconceptions that cause some to steer away from them. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to educate you on the myths out there and explode the myths! 

A common misconception is that knuckle boom cranes are not designed for heavy lifting and are weaker than stiff boom cranes, primarily due to their smaller size and compact design on a truck chassis. However, this belief fails to recognize the unique structural design and impressive capabilities of knuckle boom cranes, especially in terms of horizontal reach capacity and precision lifting. 

• Performance Advantages: In reality, knuckle boom cranes frequently outperform their bulkier stiff boom counterparts, particularly when it comes to horizontal reach. This is because knuckle boom cranes allow for precise placement of loads via a live boom extension system, ensuring optimum boom length for any lift, reducing mechanical losses, head height, and the required space needed for lifts.
• Advanced Boom Design: The boom of a knuckle boom crane is made from specifically developed high-tensile steel, providing the right balance of deflection and strength across various boom lengths and lifting angles, including negative ones. The knuckle boom also utilizes multiple articulating knuckle points along the length of the boom, enabling much more mechanical efficiency and versatility than a stiff boom. Their robust design enables them to handle a wide range of lifting tasks with precision and reliability.
• Versatility and Strength: Despite their extremely versatile compact design, knuckle boom cranes are highly capable of lifting heavy loads. Depending on the type of lift and application, their strength will often even surpass that of straight boom cranes, especially at longer lift radii.