What it is
All-terrain (AT) cranes combine a highway-legal, multi-axle carrier with all-wheel steering and suspension that can handle a rough job-site approach. They span a wide range, from compact units around 40 tons to large cranes of 500 tons and more. Because they drive to the site on their own wheels, they suit one-day and short-duration lifts that need more capacity or reach than a hydraulic truck crane.
Typical specs
- Typical capacity: roughly 40 tons to 500+ tons rated, depending on the model
- Typical reach: roughly 100 feet of main boom on smaller units to well over 200 feet on large ones, with jib extensions
- Setup & transport: drives to the site under its own power; smaller units often carry their counterweight, while larger ones travel with part of it removed and need support trucks to bring it in
Those are headline figures. A crane’s rated capacity drops sharply as the load moves farther from the crane, so at the radius your job needs it may lift only a fraction of its rated tonnage. The crane company sizes the crane from its load charts using your weight, distances, and site.
What all-terrain cranes are used for
- Heavy rooftop and mechanical equipment sets
- Long-reach picks over buildings from a street or parking lot
- Steel, precast, and tilt-up support on short-duration jobs
- Generator, transformer, and switchgear setting
- Lifts where the crane needs to arrive, pick, and leave the same day
Typical Phoenix and East Valley jobs
- Downtown and infill lifts where the crane sets up on a street and reaches over a building
- Heavy mechanical equipment on industrial, data center, and campus projects
- Steel and precast picks on commercial builds
- Equipment sets and change-outs at hospitals and large commercial buildings
Choosing a crane type: a hydraulic truck crane is often simpler and cheaper for lighter one-day lifts on paved sites; an all-terrain makes sense when you need more capacity or reach but still want the crane to drive in and out; and a rough-terrain crane fits unimproved sites where the crane stays for weeks. For specific size classes, see 80–120 ton cranes and large cranes (150+ ton).
What does all-terrain crane rental cost?
It varies with the crane, the hours, travel, crew, rigging, and the site. As a rough guide, our crane rental cost guide lists large all-terrain cranes at roughly ~$300 – $700+/hr, billed hourly or daily plus counterweight trucking. Smaller all-terrains are often quoted closer to truck-crane rates, and the largest units can run higher once transport and counterweight are included. Those are commonly cited ballpark ranges, not Phoenix quotes or a price offer. Ask about minimum hours and how travel is billed, and get a written quote for your lift.
What to have ready when you request a quote
Crane companies price a lift from a handful of facts. The more of these you can share, the faster and more accurate your quote:
- The load: what it is, approximate weight, and dimensions. Spec sheets or submittals for HVAC units, generators, or machinery are ideal.
- The pick and set points: where the crane can park, how far horizontally the load has to travel (radius), and how high it needs to go.
- Site conditions: ground surface (paved, compacted, soft dirt), slopes, overhead power lines, trees, and whether the crane would sit on a street or sidewalk.
- Timing: date, start time, and whether the work must happen early morning, at night, or on a weekend.
- Rigging: whether you have rigging and a qualified rigger and signal person, or need the crane company to supply them.
How it works
- Tell us about the lift using the quote form: the load, the reach, the site, and your date.
- We line up the right crew from the vetted, licensed and insured local crane companies we work with — one that handles that type and size of lift in your area.
- You get taken care of The crane company reaches out promptly, usually the same business day, to confirm details, schedule, and quote. You work directly with them, and there’s no fee to you.
Safety and compliance basics
On construction sites, federal OSHA rules for cranes (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC) require, among other things, a certified or qualified operator, qualified riggers and signal persons, ground conditions that can support the crane, and specific clearances from energized power lines. In Arizona, workplace safety is administered by ADOSH, which adopts these standards. A reputable crane company will ask about these items up front — that’s a good sign, not red tape.
Lifts that are heavy relative to the crane’s capacity, over occupied areas, or involve multiple cranes often require a written lift plan. Lifts from a public street or sidewalk usually need a right-of-way or street-use permit from the city; the crane company or your general contractor can typically advise on who pulls it.
