Along with an extensive line of crawler machines and a relative handful of self-propelled and truck cranes, Manitowoc also developed an unusual trailer-mounted crane.
The 3500-TC Mobile Crane was rated at 65 to 80 tons and rode on a specially designed Talbert trailer chassis. The idea was to provide the capacity of a large crawler crane on a mobile carrier that met axle load restrictions.
The biggest truck crane carriers had four axles, and this had five: a tandem-axle truck tractor and tandems on the carrier. In addition, the crane engine could be engaged to power the carrier axles in rough or soft going. It used swinging screw-jack outriggers like Manitowoc’s first truck crane, the 2800. It rode on 12:00x20 tires and could be used with most tractors of suitable power.
Manitowoc also offered an even larger trailer-mounted crane. Built around a 4100 crawler machine less the crawlers, the 250-ton capacity 4100M rode on Goldhofer carriers, four axles with towing gooseneck in front and three in back. The carriers were hydraulically coupled to the crane, and a weight transfer cylinder balanced the load between the fifth wheel and the lead axles.
The axles steered by hydraulic cylinders and bolsters from the fifth wheel and hydrostatic connections between the two sets of axles. Ground clearances of 6 to 24 inches were possible. It was towed by a custom 11-foot-wide Mack tractor weighing 15/5 tons, with a top speed of 35 mph. The total length was 83 feet, and it had a 47-foot outside turning radius.
About the HCEA
The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) is a 501(c )3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the construction, dredging and surface mining equipment industries. With over 3,500 members in a dozen countries, our activities include operation of National Construction Equipment Museum and archives in Bowling Green, Ohio; publication of a quarterly magazine, Equipment Echoes, from which this text is adapted; and hosting an annual working exhibition of restored construction equipment. Individual annual memberships are $45 within the U.S. and Canada, and $65 elsewhere. Our next International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition will be September 18-20, 2025, at our Museum. We seek to develop relationships in the equipment manufacturing industry, and we offer a college scholarship for engineering students. Information is available at www.hcea.net, or by calling 419-352-5616 or e-mailing [email protected].
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