Our 55 tonne all terrain crane hire in Sydney provides the lifting capacity, reach and stability needed for demanding residential, commercial, industrial and civil projects.
The crane is suitable for work that requires substantially more lifting capacity or boom reach than a Franna, crawler crane or smaller city crane can provide. It can establish on outriggers and perform controlled static lifts from a carefully selected position.
Common applications include structural steel installation, fibreglass pool placement, precast concrete, machinery lifts, rooftop equipment, large roof trusses and heavy construction materials.
The 55 tonne all-terrain crane combines road-going mobility with the ability to operate on properly assessed construction sites and uneven work areas. Its large operating footprint and lifting capacity make lift planning, access assessment and ground preparation particularly important.
Contact St George Cranes with the confirmed weight of your load, the required lifting radius, placement height and site details. We can determine whether the 55 tonne crane is suitable and arrange a free inspection for complex projects.
55 Tonne All Terrain Crane Specifications
Our 55 tonne crane is a mobile all-terrain crane designed for heavier static lifting work.
The 55-tonne figure is the crane’s maximum rated capacity under specific conditions. It does not mean the crane can lift 55 tonnes at every boom length, radius, outrigger setting or operating angle.
The crane’s available lifting capacity decreases as the working radius increases. The weight of the hook block, slings, spreader bars and other lifting equipment must also be included in the total suspended load.
Key figures currently listed for our 55 tonne all-terrain crane include:
| Specification | Approximate figure |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated capacity | 55 tonnes under specified conditions |
| Travel width | 3.0 metres |
| Travel height | 3.9 metres |
| Travel length | 12.1 metres |
| Maximum setup width | 6.3 metres |
| Indicative radius with a 1-tonne load | 36 metres |
| Indicative radius with a 2-tonne load | 28 metres |
| Crane type | Mobile all-terrain crane |
| Lifting configuration | Outrigger-supported static lifting |
These figures are a general guide. Every proposed lift must be checked against the approved load chart and operating information for the exact crane supplied.
What Is an All-Terrain Crane?
An all-terrain crane is a mobile crane designed to combine road travel with improved mobility on construction sites and other prepared work areas.
It uses multiple axles, large tyres and all-wheel steering or drive systems, depending on the model. Once it reaches the lifting position, hydraulic outriggers are extended to support and level the crane.
The crane then performs static lifting operations from its established position.
Unlike a Franna, an all-terrain crane is not normally selected to carry a suspended load around a site. Its main advantages are:
- Greater lifting capacity
- Longer boom reach
- Higher hook height
- Stable outrigger-supported operation
- Road-going mobility
- Ability to operate on varied prepared surfaces
- Suitability for heavy and long-radius lifts
The term “all terrain” does not mean the crane can safely travel or operate on any surface. Access routes, slopes, ground strength and underground hazards must still be assessed.
What Is a 55 Tonne All-Terrain Crane Used For?
The 55 tonne crane is suitable for projects requiring greater capacity, height or reach than smaller mobile cranes can deliver.
Common uses include:
- Installing structural steel
- Lifting large roof trusses
- Placing fibreglass swimming pools
- Lifting precast concrete panels
- Positioning air-conditioning plant
- Installing rooftop equipment
- Handling generators and transformers
- Lifting tanks and industrial equipment
- Moving large machinery
- Installing prefabricated building sections
- Lifting construction materials over buildings
- Supporting bridge and road works
- Installing telecommunications equipment
- Handling large boats and marine equipment
- Assisting with commercial developments
- Removing heavy equipment from restricted sites
The crane may also be selected for lighter loads where an unusually long radius is required.
For example, a load weighing only one or two tonnes may require a 55 tonne crane if it must be lifted over a house, across a large setback or onto the roof of a commercial building.
Heavy Lifting at Longer Radiuses
Crane selection depends on much more than the weight of the item.
A load may be relatively light but located a considerable distance from the crane. As the horizontal distance between the crane and the load increases, the crane’s available capacity decreases.
Your fleet guide indicates that the 55 tonne crane may handle approximately:
- A one-tonne load at a radius of around 36 metres
- A two-tonne load at a radius of around 28 metres
These figures are indicative only and must be checked against the load chart for the crane’s precise boom length, outrigger configuration and lifting direction.
The actual working radius is measured horizontally from the crane’s centre of rotation to the centre of the suspended load. It is not simply the distance from the side of the crane to the item.
Buildings, fences, scaffolding and other obstacles may require the boom to operate at a greater radius than initially expected.
Structural Steel Installation
The 55 tonne all-terrain crane is suitable for structural steel work on residential, commercial and industrial projects.
Typical lifts may include:
- Steel beams
- Columns
- Portal frames
- Roof trusses
- Long-span members
- Stair sections
- Prefabricated steel frames
- Plant-support structures
The crane’s reach can allow steel to be lifted over an existing structure or placed into parts of a site that cannot be reached by a smaller crane.
Before the lift, we may need to confirm:
- The weight of each steel member
- The member’s length
- Approved lifting points
- The required lifting radius
- Placement height
- Available crane position
- Rigging arrangements
- Wind conditions
- Exclusion zones
- The installation sequence
Long steel members may require spreader bars, taglines and additional rigging controls.
Fibreglass Pool Installation
A 55 tonne crane can be suitable for lifting fibreglass swimming pools into backyards where direct access is unavailable.
The crane may establish on the street, driveway or another suitable location and lift the pool over the house, fence or surrounding landscaping.
Pool shells are often not extremely heavy, but their size and the long radius involved can require a larger crane.
Important factors include:
- Pool weight and dimensions
- Lifting-frame requirements
- Crane-to-pool distance
- Crane-to-excavation distance
- House height
- Trees and overhead services
- Street access
- Council requirements
- Wind conditions
- Excavation-edge stability
- Room for outriggers
A site inspection is strongly recommended where a pool must pass over a house or where the crane needs to establish on a public road.
Rooftop Air-Conditioning and Plant
Commercial air-conditioning units, mechanical plant and electrical equipment may need to be lifted onto roofs that are beyond the reach of smaller cranes.
The 55 tonne crane may be used to position:
- Packaged air-conditioning units
- Chillers
- Cooling equipment
- Ventilation systems
- Generators
- Switchboards
- Solar equipment
- Plant-room components
- Water tanks
For rooftop lifting, both the load weight and the required radius must be confirmed.
The lifting plan may also need to consider:
- Roof height
- Parapets
- Nearby buildings
- Powerlines
- Antennas
- Limited landing space
- Wind exposure
- Roof load limits
- Communication with workers on the roof
- Temporary removal of obstructions
A dogman or rigger may need to be positioned at the landing point to guide the load safely.
Precast Concrete and Building Components
The crane can assist with heavier construction materials and prefabricated sections, including:
- Precast panels
- Concrete beams
- Drainage structures
- Reinforcement cages
- Retaining-wall components
- Modular building sections
- Large timber beams
- Prefabricated roof sections
- Site sheds
Precast concrete loads require verified weights and approved lifting inserts.
The rigging arrangement must suit the load’s shape, centre of gravity and lifting-point configuration. Engineering information may be required before the work proceeds.
Machinery and Industrial Equipment
A 55 tonne mobile crane can be used to lift industrial machinery where the equipment is too heavy or too far from the crane for a smaller machine.
Potential loads include:
- Manufacturing equipment
- Transformers
- Generators
- Industrial pumps
- Tanks
- Compressors
- Large motors
- Processing equipment
- Workshop machinery
- Packaged plant
Machinery lifts should be based on a confirmed weight rather than an estimate.
Information may be obtained from:
- Manufacturer specifications
- Equipment data plates
- Engineering drawings
- Transport documents
- Previous lifting plans
- Supplier information
The approved lifting points and centre of gravity should also be identified before rigging begins.
Outrigger Setup and Operating Space
Your fleet information lists a maximum setup width of approximately 6.3 metres for the 55 tonne crane.
This width represents only part of the area that may be required. Additional room is needed for:
- Outrigger pads
- Crane access
- Boom movement
- Counterweight clearance
- The load
- Rigging personnel
- Exclusion zones
- Delivery vehicles
- Pedestrian management
The crane must be positioned so each outrigger can be deployed correctly and supported on suitable ground.
Reduced outrigger configurations may be available on some crane models, but they normally reduce lifting capacity and must be permitted by the crane’s operating system and load chart.
Ground-Bearing Capacity
A 55 tonne crane can create substantial forces through its outriggers.
The ground must be capable of supporting the crane, its counterweights, rigging and suspended load without excessive settlement or failure.
Potential hazards include:
- Uncompacted fill
- Recently excavated ground
- Soft soil
- Saturated areas
- Underground tanks
- Stormwater pits
- Service trenches
- Basements
- Suspended slabs
- Retaining-wall edges
- Footpaths
- Drainage infrastructure
- Underground utilities
Large outrigger mats or engineered support may be required to spread the forces over a wider area.
Where the crane will establish over a suspended slab, near an excavation or beside a retaining wall, engineering advice may be needed.
Road and Site Access Requirements
The crane is approximately 12.1 metres long, 3 metres wide and 3.9 metres high in its travel configuration.
Before the crane is booked, the access route should be checked for:
- Road width
- Tight corners
- Low bridges
- Tree branches
- Overhead wires
- Weight-restricted roads
- Parked vehicles
- Narrow gates
- Steep driveways
- Soft shoulders
- Traffic islands
- Construction fencing
- Turning space
- Entry and exit routes
A large crane may be able to reach the site address but still be unable to enter the proposed setup area.
Photographs, site plans and a video of the access route can assist with the initial assessment. A physical inspection may be required for difficult sites.
Street Setup, Traffic Control and Permits
Some Sydney projects require the crane to establish partially or completely on a public road.
Depending on the site and local council requirements, this may involve:
- Road-occupancy approval
- Mobile-crane permits
- Traffic-control plans
- Parking restrictions
- Lane closures
- Pedestrian diversions
- Notification of nearby properties
- Council fees
- Work-hour restrictions
- Police or transport approvals for major roads
Approval timeframes vary, so permit requirements should be checked early.
The lifting area must be separated from vehicles, pedestrians and members of the public throughout the work.
Overhead Powerlines and Other Hazards
Powerlines are a major consideration when using a long-boom crane.
The site assessment should identify:
- Overhead electrical lines
- Service wires to buildings
- Telecommunications cables
- Rail electrical infrastructure
- Nearby substations
- Street lighting
- Roof-mounted electrical equipment
The required approach distances and control measures depend on the voltage, site conditions and applicable safety requirements.
Other potential hazards include:
- Wind
- Trees
- Scaffolding
- Tower cranes
- Nearby buildings
- Excavations
- Public roads
- Operating machinery
- Aircraft restrictions
- Poor visibility
The crane may need to be repositioned or the lifting method changed where these hazards cannot be adequately controlled.
Why Hire a 55 Tonne All-Terrain Crane?
Greater lifting capacity
The crane can handle loads and lifting configurations that exceed the capability of smaller city cranes, crawler cranes and Frannas.
Long boom reach
Its reach allows suitable loads to be lifted over buildings, across large sites and onto elevated structures.
High hook height
The crane can assist with rooftop plant, multi-storey construction and other work requiring substantial vertical reach.
Stable outrigger operation
Hydraulic outriggers create a wide, stable lifting base when the crane is correctly established on suitable ground.
Road-going mobility
The crane can travel between suitable sites without being transported as a fully disassembled crawler crane.
Suitable for varied work areas
All-terrain design can provide improved mobility on prepared construction surfaces compared with a conventional road crane.
Versatility
The crane can support residential pool lifts, structural steel, commercial plant installation, civil projects and industrial lifting.
55 Tonne Crane or Franna Crane?
A 55 tonne all-terrain crane and a Franna are designed for different types of work.
A Franna may be preferable where:
- Loads must be carried around a site
- Fast movement between lifting points is required
- Outrigger space is unavailable
- The required lifting radius is relatively short
- Access favours a more compact articulated crane
The 55 tonne crane may be preferable where:
- Greater boom reach is needed
- The load must pass over a building
- Higher lifting capacity is required
- The lift is performed from a fixed position
- Greater hook height is required
- A stable outrigger-supported setup is available
- The load is beyond the chart capacity of the Franna
The load weight alone does not determine which crane is appropriate.
55 Tonne Crane or 25 Tonne City Crane?
A 25 tonne city crane is more compact and may be suitable where site access is limited and the load falls comfortably within its lifting chart.
The 55 tonne all-terrain crane may be required where:
- The load is heavier
- The radius is longer
- Greater boom length is needed
- Higher placement is required
- A larger safety margin is necessary
- The lift must pass over an obstruction
A smaller crane may sometimes appear cheaper, but it will not be suitable if its capacity is marginal at the required radius.
We can compare both cranes against the actual lifting requirements before recommending a machine.
Information Needed for a Crane Hire Quote
To assess your lift, provide:
- Confirmed load weight
- Load length, width and height
- Approved lifting points
- Collection position
- Final placement position
- Required lifting height
- Approximate lifting radius
- Site address
- Access photographs
- Setup-area measurements
- Ground conditions
- Details of overhead services
- Preferred date and time
- Whether the crane will occupy a road
- Site plans or engineering drawings
Photos taken from the proposed crane position toward the load and placement point are particularly useful.
A free site inspection may be recommended where the crane must establish on a street, lift over a building or operate close to underground services.
Crane Hire with Qualified Personnel
Depending on the project, 55 tonne crane hire may include:
- An experienced crane operator
- A qualified dogman
- Licensed riggers
- Site inspection
- Lift planning
- Crane selection
- Rigging equipment
- Spreader bars
- Outrigger mats
- Traffic control
- Permit coordination
- Coordination with builders and site managers
- Exclusion-zone planning
Complex or high-risk lifts may also require an engineered lift study or additional documentation.
Sydney Areas We Service
We provide all-terrain crane hire across metropolitan Sydney, including:
- St George
- Sutherland Shire
- Inner West
- Sydney CBD
- Eastern Suburbs
- North Shore
- Northern Beaches
- Western Sydney
- South Western Sydney
- Hills District
Projects outside Sydney may also be considered depending on crane availability, travel requirements and the scope of work.
Book a 55 Tonne All-Terrain Crane
Contact St George Cranes with the load details before selecting a crane based only on its maximum tonnage.
The working radius, height, boom configuration, outrigger setup and site conditions can be just as important as the load’s weight.
Send us photographs, plans and confirmed measurements so we can assess the lift and provide an accurate quotation.
For long-radius lifts, pool installations, structural steel or difficult access, arrange a free site inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the crane lift 55 tonnes at full reach?
No. The 55-tonne rating applies only under specific short-radius conditions. Available capacity decreases as the working radius and boom length increase.
How wide is the 55 tonne crane?
The crane is approximately 3 metres wide while travelling. Your fleet information lists a setup width of approximately 6.3 metres when established.
How high is the crane while travelling?
The listed travel height is approximately 3.9 metres. The access route must be checked for bridges, trees, powerlines, building awnings and other overhead restrictions.
How long is the crane?
The listed travel length is approximately 12.1 metres. Additional room is needed for turning, positioning and safe access.
How far can the crane reach with one tonne?
Your fleet guide lists an indicative radius of approximately 36 metres with a one-tonne load. The exact capacity must be confirmed from the load chart for the proposed crane configuration.
How far can it reach with two tonnes?
Your fleet guide lists an indicative radius of approximately 28 metres with a two-tonne load. This remains subject to the boom length, outrigger setup and lifting direction.
Does the crane require outriggers?
Yes. The crane establishes on hydraulic outriggers for lifting operations.
Can it lift a pool over a house?
It may be suitable for fibreglass pool installation where the crane has enough capacity at the required radius. A site inspection and accurate pool specifications are usually needed.
Can the crane operate from the street?
Yes, subject to available space, ground conditions, traffic management and any required council or road-occupancy approvals.
Is it suitable for structural steel?
Yes. The crane may be used for beams, columns, roof trusses, frames and other structural members where the load and radius fall within its capacity.
Can the crane work on uneven ground?
An all-terrain crane can access some varied work surfaces, but it must be correctly levelled and supported for lifting. Ground strength and slope must be assessed.
Can it carry a suspended load?
An all-terrain crane is normally used for static, outrigger-supported lifts. A Franna is generally more suitable where a load must be carried around a site.
How much does 55 tonne crane hire cost?
Pricing depends on travel, hire duration, personnel, permits, traffic control, rigging, counterweight requirements and the complexity of the lift. Accurate load and site information will help us provide a suitable quotation.