Telescopic crawlers earn high marks for dependability, versatility

Twenty years ago, just a couple of manufacturers were producing telescopic crawler cranes for the U.S. market. There were a few niche markets that embraced these cranes, mainly powerline contractors. The cranes were a hybrid machine that mated a conventional crawler lower with a RT or AT telescopic boom.

There was huge potential for a crane that could maneuver in places rough terrain and all-terrain cranes couldn’t go, that could boom in and out quickly and efficiently, and pick and carry its load. In time, several manufacturers embraced the telescopic crawler’s attributes, and today most all of the major crane rental companies have telescopic crawlers in their fleets.

Grove GHC220 Capacity: 200 tons; Main Boom Length: 42.1 to 185 feet; Maximum Boom Length (with extensions): 265.7 feet; Counterweight: 74,000 pounds

For the U.S. market, the major competitors in the telecrawler space are Grove, Liebherr, Link-Belt, Maeda, Sany and Tadano. Maeda is a specialist in small capacity telescopic crawlers, (under 16 tons) that is considered the “mini telecrawler” category. The “conventional telecrawler” market encompasses the 30-ton and above market. Because the markets are so different, we have put the Maeda information in a sidebar article after this article.

Growing market

The telescopic crawler market continues to grow, as end users find varying applications that keep these machines consistently on jobsites, according to Link-Belt’s Michael Dawson.

“We see long-term adoption of these cranes across the construction market and anticipate their popularity to only increase well into the future,” Dawson said. “Advanced infrastructure spending and investments in renewable energy are expected to drive market growth, and telecrawlers are predicted to work many of the projects to come. While rental fleets across North America have already seen long-term adoption, demand is also fueled by major contractors.”

Liebherr’s Brian Peretin said his company sees a strong push in multiple markets in the U.S., including green energy, infrastructure, data centers and distribution centers.

“Within these various sectors the market demand continues to grow for a more flexible, compact machine with a strong chart and easy transport such as the newly developed Liebherr LTR 1150,” Peretin said. Manitowoc’s JJ Grace said the telecrawler market continues to expand, especially for cranes in the 100-ton and up class.

“Major civil projects like bridge and highway construction are driving demand for machines that combine strong lift performance with on-site mobility,” Grace said. “We’re also seeing an uptick in renewable energy applications, where contractors require cranes that can handle loads and navigate challenging terrain. Altogether, these trends point to a healthy, growing market with a clear need for high-capacity, transportable solutions.”

The telescopic crawler market appears to be on the rise in 2025, according to Tadano America’s Allen Kadow.

“With 2024 being an election year, we saw a little drop off in the market,” Kadow said. “We are also seeing some of the funding for the Infrastructure Bill just now being let. This will stimulate the GTC market. We do believe the tariff situation may temper some projects, but as it settles and they become final, we believe we will see the market trend upwards.”

Myriad applications

Kadow said foundation, bridge and heavy civil, wind support, powerline construction and maintenance and commercial construction are providing work for telecrawlers.

Link-Belt TCC-2500 Capacity: 250 tons; Main boom length: 43.7 feet; Max boom length: 223 feet; Counterweight: Standard lower counterweights: 44,000 pounds; standard upper counterweights: 154,000 pounds

Dawson said these cranes are ideal for infrastructure-related projects such as road construction, bridge work and large-scale warehouse erection.

“They are also frequently utilized in water treatment facilities and a variety of general construction applications that demand both strong lifting capacities at radius and enhanced mobility,” he said. “Thanks to the length of their tracks and optional polyurethane pads, which provide excellent stability and low ground bearing pressures, telecrawlers often eliminate the need for extensive ground prep or dunnage. This makes them especially well suited for urban environments where tight schedules, limited space and budget constraints are common.”

Grove’s Grace said that infrastructure is a core market.

“These cranes are well-suited to bridge work, utility installations and transportation projects,” he said. “On construction sites with limited space, telescopic crawlers are an innovative solution for handling materials like steel components, HVAC equipment and precast panels.

Wind farm assist cranes

Energy is another strong sector, including wind and solar developments, where space and ground conditions can vary widely.

“They’re used for erecting wind turbines, developing solar arrays and supporting operations in oil and gas environments,” Grace said. “Their ability to travel with a load makes them especially valuable in power transmission and pipeline projects.”

Within industrial facilities, these cranes play a crucial role in setting up, repositioning and maintaining heavy equipment, such as those found in refineries and processing plants.

“We also see widespread adoption in industrial settings, particularly where quick setup and flexible placement are crucial,” said Grace. “And because of their ease of use, telescopic crawlers are gaining traction with rental houses and contractors that need dependable, all-purpose lifting tools.”

Liebherr’s Peretin said the demand is fairly strong for all classes currently, however the larger capacities (150 and 220 tons) are seeing the highest demand.

Liebherr LTR 1150 Capacity: 170 tons; Main boom length: 171 feet; Maximum boom length: 302 feet; Counterweight: 90,400 pound superstructure counterweight plus 48,500 pounds central ballast

“Due to the challenges of moving and assembling larger crawler cranes, going much larger than the current offering creates additional costs and only adds to the challenge,” Peretin said. “However, there certainly have been inquiries for tele-crawlers with greater capacities that are currently offered. The greatest advantages in terms of load capacity for the LTR 1150 are achieved when performing lifts over the corners of the tracks, especially with reduced track widths. The maximum track width of 19 feet, a reduced width of 16 feet 5 inches and a narrow 11 feet 6 inch track width are available.”

Link-Belt’s Dawson said telecrawlers in the 120-ton class and above are seeing growing demand due to their compact design, ease of transport and ability to perform efficiently in confined or congested spaces.

“As urban development accelerates and industrial projects expand, the need for these versatile machines continues to rise,” Dawson said. “Link-Belt’s 250-ton TCC-2500 dominates the North American telecrawler market in both capacities and reach with a 210-foot maximum lifting radius of the main boom. The machine is particularly well suited to tandem lift, making it ideal for tasks like precast bridge beam placement.”

Versatile and dependable

In terms of capacities in the conventional telecrawler market, it’s a mixed bag.

Dawson said that Link-Belt’s small telecrawlers, ranging from 55 to 80 tons in capacity, “are great for use in acting as assist cranes and in applications such as foundation work, pile driving, bridge construction and general construction. Their versatility and efficiency at the job site are enhanced by their ability to operate in spaces less than 12 feet wide, making them particularly effective in tight or restricted environments. The ease of transportability of our smaller-capacity machines only broadens their appeal, as they can transport with their side frames attached, reducing transport costs while streamlining job site assembly.”

Liebherr’s smaller telecrawlers for the U.S. market include 45, 65 and 110-ton capacities, while Tadano offers machines from 35 to 200 tons capacity. Grove’s telecrawler range covers from 45 to 200 tons capacity.

For Manitowoc Grove, Grace said there’s a consistent pull for cranes in the 100 to 200-ton range, machines that can handle heavier loads while still offering mobility and rapid deployment.

As far as what customers are looking for, Link-Belt’s Dawson points to versatility.

Tadano GTC-600-1 Capacity: 60 tons; Main boom length: 36.1 to 113.8 feet; Maximum boom length 163.7 feet; Counterweight: Standard 17,400 pounds with optional 28,200 pounds

“Telecrawlers can retract boom with a load, travel beneath obstruction and then extend boom with the same load within minutes, offering a significant advantage in terms of efficiency, cost and time savings,” Dawson said. “Combined with strong load charts, straightforward assembly and excellent maneuverability in confined spaces, these cranes are proving to be increasingly valuable across a wide range of jobs.” Peretin agreed.

“Traditionally, many customers look for telescopic crawlers because of their simplified mobilization and transport, strong capacities and robust safety, but in addition to that, they are also often looking for the most modern features to improve ease of use while operating the machine,” Peretin said.

Rapid deployment

Grace said customers prioritize lift strength out of level, ease of transport and off-road capability.

“They want cranes that can be quickly mobilized and operated with confidence, even on uneven or muddy terrain,” he said. “Operator experience is also critical – visibility, comfort and intuitive controls all factor into productivity.”

Customers have come to expect and rely on proven and reliable systems, including efficiency, ease of use, reliability and rapid deployment of machines, according to Tadano’s Kadow.

‘Mighty mini’ telecrawler

Maeda produces a telescopic crawler that has all of the features and benefits of conventional telescopic crawler cranes, only a miniaturized version. The company produced its first crawler crane in 1991, the 4.9-ton CC505, which was based on a hydraulic excavator.

“This model entered the market as an ideal crane for narrow urban construction sites,” said Robert B. Trawick, COO of Maeda America. At that time in Japan, improving construction efficiency and reducing labor costs was growing in importance.

Maeda CC1908S-1 Capacity: 8.9 tons; Main Boom Length: 18.11 to 63.65 feet; Hook Height: 85.3 feet;

“The market was characterized by a growing demand for both ultra-large cranes capable of handling large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as a demand for high-efficiency, compact machinery aimed at urban construction and cost reduction,” Trawick said. “While large cranes are powerful, they have high operating costs, require extensive space for working and may lack maneuverability in certain tasks. This potentially hinders overall project efficiency. In such a market, our CC series strategically targets the latter specialized segment, recognizing that ‘large’ is not always the best solution in every construction scenario.”

The compactness and maneuverability of Maeda cranes expand possibilities worldwide.

“Another distinctive feature of this market is the lack of competitors in the U.S. for 16-ton-or-less lifting capacity range,” he said. “Our compact and maneuverable cranes, which have no outriggers and near-zero rear swing capability, excel in infrastructure development.”

Maeda cranes are used in all phases of high-rise construction and they are also used long-term on highways for installing and replacing wall guardrails and soundproof panels.

“Crane rental companies that own large cranes, are increasingly purchasing these smaller models as entry-level options due to their greater maneuverability,” he said. “Given the continued increase in customer demand for increased operational capability and the limited competition in the under-16-ton range, we are considering the development of new models in the 10-ton and 12-ton lifting capacity ranges.”

“The key strengths of our cranes lie in their compact design, maneuverability and safety,” Trawick said. “There are three main elements that our customers look for in our cranes. The first is safety and reliability. The second is ease of operation that operators can quickly become familiar with and intuitively understand. And the most distinctive feature is that our cranes are valued as solutions that can reach where others can’t.”

Regarding the North American market, Trawick said there is significant untapped potential, based on feedback from trade shows and contractor visits. Maeda is working on electric models using battery specifications, radio-controlled operation and multi-tasking capabilities.