City Cranes
The term "City Crane" means a small 2-axle mobile crane which is designed to be used specifically in compact areas where standard cranes are unable to venture. These city cranes are popular alternatives for use through gated areas or inside buildings.
In the 1990s, city cranes were originally developed in response to the growing urban density in Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into Japanese cities, making it necessary for a crane to have the ability to navigate the nooks and crannies of Japanese streets.
Basically, city cranes are small rough terrain cranes that are made to be road legal. These cranes are characterized by having a 2-axle design with independent steering on each axle, a slanted retractable boom, a single cab and a short chassis. The slanted retractable boom design takes up less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the independent steering and the short chassis, the city crane could turn in tight spots that will be otherwise unobtainable by other crane models.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional truck crane is a mobile crane which has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is substantially lighter in weight than a hydraulic truck crane boom. The many sections on a lattice boom can be added so that the crane can reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes do not lower and raise their loads with any hydraulic power and require separate power to be able to move down and up.
The first ever Speedcrane was made by Manitowoc. It was a successful equipment even if further adjustments had to be added. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He knew the industry was moving towards internal combustion engines from original steam powered methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.