Differences Between a Spider Crane & Rough Terrain Crane

March 13, 2023

When it comes to heavy-lifting applications, it can be difficult to know what type of crane you need for your project. By understanding the advantages of different types of cranes, you’ll be able to know more accurately what type of crane you’ll need.

In this blog, we unpack two of the most popular cranes in our lifting solutions fleet. Spider Cranes and Rough Terrain Cranes are both powerful and versatile cranes, but what are the advantages of each? And are there any differences between them?

What is a Spider Crane?

A spider crane is otherwise known as a mini crane. They are designed to access areas where space is restricted, and they are often used in places where bigger cranes or truck cranes cannot access. In fact, you may find a spider crane on a high floor of a newly constructed building being used for curtain wall lifting from the inside. They boast impressive lifting power and offer a variety of attachments.

What is a Rough Terrain Crane?

Rough terrain cranes are used for applications where the ground condition is not even or ideal. This type of crane can access underdeveloped sites or unpaved roads easily. They are also able to work both indoors and outdoors.

Advantages of Spider Cranes

When it comes to spider crane specifications, there are a few advantages that make the spider crane an essential piece of heavy-lifting equipment for applications that require a more compact and stable crane.

The footprint of the spider crane is much smaller than other cranes like rough terrain cranes. This means they are able to work in tight working environments where space and access to it is restricted.
These cranes are relatively lightweight when compared to larger crane types making them able to offer greater manoeuvrability especially in tight spaces.
Four outriggers around the body of the spider crane, stabilise its body which enables it to offer better stability during heavy lifting. They can literally send out the outriggers to stabilise themselves, which resemble the legs of a spider.

The Advantages of Rough Terrain Cranes

Rough terrain crane advantages are many and varied. This crane is particularly well-known for it’s ability to work in the toughest of work sites but there are also other rough terrain crane specifications to consider.

When it comes to accessing rough terrain, this crane offers unmatched handling on difficult terrain. Thanks to its ability to access the toughest, most uneven sites, these cranes can be used in a multitude of industries like mining, roads and railways, oil and gas, and the military just to name a few.
Thanks to the wide, tiltable cabin and large glass surfaces, rough terrain cranes are safer to use on difficult sites because they have fewer blind spots. Low centre of gravity and large, high-performance tyres make them incredibly stable too.
Rough terrain cranes can drive and work just about anywhere, making them one of the most portable types of crane on the market.

Differences Between Spider Cranes and Rough Terrain Cranes

Both types of cranes are excellent heavy lifters and have state-of-the-art safety features. However, there are some distinct differences between the two crane types.

Spider Cranes are more compact than rough terrain cranes and therefore can work in much smaller, restricted sites
Rough Terrain Cranes have the ability to access uneven, difficult sites more easily than a spider crane would.
Spider cranes are lighter in weight than rough terrain cranes, and so are often used for jobs that require more manoeuvrability.

Where to Find Spider Cranes and Rough Terran Cranes?

Whether you’re looking for top-quality spider cranes or powerhouse rough terrain cranes for sale or hire, you’ll find a range of high-performance access equipment at Concord Access Solutions. We provide cranes, parts, servicing, maintenance, and technical support to customers across South and Southern Africa.