All terrain vs crawler crane: capacity and reach
Two families of heavy crane, two very different jobs. How all terrain and crawler cranes compare on capacity, reach and mobility, with the tonnage classes that decide which one a lift needs.
7 min read · 2026-07-25
When a lift gets heavy, the choice usually comes down to two families of crane: the all terrain and the crawler. They are built on opposite philosophies. An all terrain crane is a road legal machine on wheels that drives to site and sets up on outriggers, prized for getting between jobs fast. A crawler crane moves on tracks, is assembled on site, and trades that mobility for sheer capacity and stability, especially out at long radius. The tonnage classes they cover overlap in the middle and diverge sharply at the extremes, and knowing where the line falls is the start of picking the right machine.
This guide compares the two on capacity, reach and mobility, grounded in their real class ranges.
Wheels for mobility, tracks for capacity
All terrain cranes drive between jobs and set up fast. Crawlers trade that mobility for the highest capacities and the best performance at long radius. The lift decides which matters more.
The capacity classes
The ranges tell the story. All terrain and rough terrain mobile cranes cover roughly 25 tonnes up to over 1,200 tonnes, with large models such as the Sany SAC4500T7 reaching 450 tonnes on an 80 metre telescopic boom. Crawler cranes start around 50 tonnes and extend past 3,000 tonnes for the largest lattice machines. So the two overlap through the mid range, but only a crawler reaches into the heaviest lifts.
| Type | Capacity range | Mobility |
|---|---|---|
| All terrain | around 25 to 1,200 tonnes plus | Road legal, drives between sites |
| Crawler | around 50 to 3,000 tonnes plus | Tracked, assembled on site |
| Overlap | mid range duties | Either can suit |
1,200 t+
top all terrain class
3,000 t+
top crawler class
300 t
where crawlers pull ahead
Telescopic
vs lattice boom
Reach and stability
Capacity is only half of it. A crawler's low centre of gravity and wide track base give it greater capacity at longer radius than a similar sized mobile crane, which is why heavy lifts that reach out, vessels, modules and steelwork, tend to go to crawlers. An all terrain holds capacity well close in and is far quicker to deploy, so for lifts within its chart that move between locations, it is the more practical machine.
Choosing between them
- 1
Size the heaviest lift
Above roughly 300 tonnes, a crawler is usually the answer.
- 2
Check the radius
Long reach at weight favours a crawler's stability.
- 3
Weigh the mobility
Work across sites favours a road legal all terrain.
- 4
Allow for assembly
A crawler needs assembly time and a support fleet on site.
Mobility has a cost in time
A crawler delivers the capacity but arrives in pieces and takes time and a support fleet to assemble. An all terrain drives in and works the same day. Factor the setup, not just the lift.
Tell us the load, the radius and the site and we will match the right crane class, all terrain or crawler, with the crew and the lift plan. Send the lift and we will scope it.
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