trailers: converting to a moffett

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Ruthless, Feb 6, 2014.

  1. Dirty-Low-Walker

    Dirty-Low-Walker Medium Load Member

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    Thats true, until they price one, and thats the main reason forklifts are so common.
    A crane can cost up to three times the cost of a moffett, in the US a crane must go through a yearly inspection, and the driver must be certified to run the crane, plus a moffett can go where a crane cannot, off road.
     
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  3. Ruthless

    Ruthless Road Train Member

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    Having run a crane for a few years, there are benefits: but not any that are worth considering for my situation. Thanks again Dirty-low-walker and alaga. Good info
     
    SAR Thanks this.
  4. 98989

    98989 Road Train Member

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    3times? what crane comparing to what forklift

    mid size crane crane with about 15.5mt capacity cost about 25000€ in basic layout, ok you need to add additional extensions , larger stabilisators and hydraulics

    for that money you cant find any forklift , at least these are prices here
     
  5. Jokingypsy

    Jokingypsy Medium Load Member

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    I've used both extensively. If I have my choice it would be Moffitt with the 90 degree wheels for going sideways. The crane can lift heavier cargo, so it will depend on what you are hauling as to would it be a benefit. I think they make Moffitts that can lift somewhere between 5500 or 8500 pounds. When you start moving items heavier than that 9 times out of 10 your going somewhere that has large forklifts or cranes of their own. Keep in mind also that if you get a heavy load you can leave the Moffitt at home to save weight. No taking that crane off.

    Adam
     
  6. 98989

    98989 Road Train Member

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    here when you drive at highway around my city every 3rd truck have crane, depending on application , normal foldable crane, construction crane, forest crane ,or recycle

    forklift are very rare, i think you can see one per year

    maybe forklift is better solution for you because you mainly use semitrailers , if you put crane in middle than you are limited only to two sides , if you put it on front or end than you might have problems reaching end, here we use more rigid trucks with drawbar trailers on trucks with cranes

    but you can remove crane as well


    [​IMG]
     
  7. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    truckers here use fork trucks becouse there are many tight yards, they unload truck on street and move goods inside shops ore yards. But fork truck is secured in rear end of trailer and if roads are rought it is not good) U understand)
     
  8. Ruthless

    Ruthless Road Train Member

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    Well after speaking with a gentleman from cargotech: all steel, or combo trailers are acceptable for conversion, all aluminum trailers have too much flex and break from the stress of a forklift bouncing on the back. Most brands require the rear "sill" to be removed and rebuilt to provide the strength needed to accomodate the weight of the machine on the rear, also the frame must be reinforced with addtional steel to offer more strength. The kit, along with install (labor) generally run approximately $5,000 per trailer. Some trailers require a block so the sliders dont move all the way back into the space required by the machine or mounting device. Cargotech also does factory rebuilds of moffett equipment. Really good folks to deal with in my opinion.
    great lead Dirty-Low-Walker!
     
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  9. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    I saw European trailers with Jugenricht and Hyster fork trucks. Drivers say - they have problems on scales..... (((
     
  10. Dirty-Low-Walker

    Dirty-Low-Walker Medium Load Member

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    A friend of mine had a franchise through Cargotec that he installed Moffett forklifts and Hiab Cranes and in his shop in Central NJ he would approx. do 30 forklift installs to 1 Hiab install.
    Most of the installations were for construction based companies that delivered concrete block, paver stones, lumber, pvc pipe and anything that can be put on a pallet or picked up by a forklift, the cranes for the most part were roofing and siding deliveries which needed to be placed on the roof of the house.
    Most crane applications were on a Tri Axle truck which is limited by the bed size, the forklift applications were mostly mounted on a larger trailer which would enable the trucker to load more product then a flatbed truck with a crane.
    I am a Excavating Contractor that sees this on a daily basis, the crane deliveries usually have to get right up to the house which sometimes becomes a problem because of ground conditions or tight areas for the crane and the truck, the forklift deliveries are parked on the main road because the forklift 'some are 4x4 versions" can get right where the contractor needs the product, tile companies are even using Moffitts for deliveries now for this reason.
    As far as pricing, i never bought either a forklift or a crane, but back a few years ago when my friend had the franchise i considered a Moffitt and at the time they were approx. 60K, i also remember him telling me that the type of crane that the roofing delivery trucks had with radio remote control were over 250K.
    Maybe in Europe deliveries are different, i don't know, but here in the US a forklifts versatility seems to work better.
    I hope i explained it well enough for you 98989.
    I forgot to mention that here where i live a crane operator has to be certified to run a crane, its easier for companies to teach a driver to operate a forklift, not to mention the liability factor of a crane plus trying to hire a driver that is also certified to operate a crane, also the driver with a crane certification will demand a higher salary.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2014
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  11. 98989

    98989 Road Train Member

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    here also need to have to have permit to operate both crane and forklift , i dont have either as inspections may want this for crane it cost about 400$ at least it was 3-4years ago when i was looking for it

    here things like bricks for house and things for roof are delivered by 3axle rigid trucks with crane on rear-about 15-16mt ( which usually pull 2axle drawbar trailers) , they need to be able to lift high, in case of my house last concrete slab is at 11.5m height, but crane necessary for this was 17m because it could not approach very close at that time 17years ago there was not too much cranes which could lift heavy pallets that high now it is not problem to find 30mt crane

    things around house like you mentioned are mostly delivered by 2axle tippers with crane behind cab, with smaller cranes about 10mt
    this kind of small tippers are used for all kind of tasks , like delivery of sand gravel, soil for grass , delivering concrete products for yards ,and picking construction waste

    those trucks are very compact and mainly have wheelbase of about 150inch

    now it is always question where to place crane, if you put it forward than you have very limited area where crane can work -only to sides, behind of truck you already lose capacity , above cab you dont have stability for max capacity...also on sides stabilisers are often obstructing you ,


    look at this little beast, effer 305 with 6x +4x on jib
    [​IMG]



    3 extensions are missing , could not catch it on photo there was no space to move back anymore
    [​IMG]


    if you have crane on behind , than you cant use tipper on rear , only on sides,except this very new thing

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    here in links below are typical configuration of cranes on semitrailers , all trucks owned by company( http://www.velebit-promet.hr ) 5km from me

    http://www.pk-rijeka.hr/isporuke/velebit-promet-5/
    http://www.pk-rijeka.hr/isporuke/velebit-promet-4/
    http://www.pk-rijeka.hr/isporuke/velebit-promet-3/
    http://www.pk-rijeka.hr/isporuke/velebit-promet-2/
    http://www.pk-rijeka.hr/isporuke/velebit-promet/
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2014
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