Having multiple types of cranes at a worksite is best — you want to tailor the crane to the job — but your budget might not really allow for it. It's possible that one type of crane could do the job of a couple of other types. All-terrain cranes are marvels that handle many different jobs, and they're also fairly simple to transport to a work site. But while they could substitute for a couple of different types of cranes, they can't substitute for them all. Here's when you can use an all-terrain in place of other cranes, and the two times when you have to think twice.

It Could Take the Place of a Couple of Cranes

All-terrain cranes could handle much of what a truck crane does. The all-terrain cranes do not need external transport; they can be driven to a worksite on a public highway. They also have multiple axles (more than the usual two to three that you see on truck cranes) with stable, wide tires that allow the cranes to travel over and stay on ground that is rough, just like a rough-terrain crane. If you have the need for both truck and rough-terrain cranes but can rent only one, an all-terrain crane could function as an acceptable substitute.

But It May Not Work for Smaller Spaces

All-terrain cranes are big and relatively wide, with many axles, and they may not be a good substitute for carry deck cranes, which can fit in smaller areas. Carry deck cranes can actually be used indoors — all-terrain cranes certainly can't be used indoors unless "indoors" is a huge hangar with very wide doors — and are nimble compared to other cranes.

Note All-Terrain Could Exceed the Weight Limits of Some Roads

One of the advantages of all-terrain cranes is that they can actually travel at rather high speeds. This means that the crane can travel by itself down highways to a work site. However, these cranes are also among the heaviest, and routes need to be planned carefully to ensure the vehicles don't fall afoul of local road weight limits. Roads are given weight limits in an effort to both protect the surface (avoid cracks in the asphalt from the weight of the vehicle) and prevent bridges along the route from buckling.

An all-terrain crane could be a great vehicle to have if you already need rough-terrain and truck cranes but have to limit the number of cranes you have on your project. It combines the ability to travel at highway speed with the ability to handle rough ground. Unless you definitely need a smaller crane for a smaller space, you might want to look at renting an all-terrain crane first.

To look at your crane rental options, contact a hydraulic crane supplier such as Industrial Engineers Inc.