Excavators/trucks etc - lifting and moving with hooks/chains

[drivin_me_nuts]

There are a fair number of truck mounted palfinger type cranes around and most of them (well, the ones that I have seen) have the hook at the end of the final boom section. I have not seen too many with a winch at the end. Is that because there are different driving/operating regulations for those with a winch compared for those with just a hook? Do they fall into a different category for operating?

Cheers,

DMN

[johnny fotze]

Same regs apply, loler (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and puwer (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) amongst others (Health and safety at work etc). They come under a different category re. CITB, CPCS (a money making, employer excusing scheme). A hiab/palfinger crane has moveable joints (like an excavator), whereas a mobile crane (the thing with a winch) doesn't. The winch (a drum which a wire rope coils round) is actually at the base of the boom with the wire rope running it's length and hanging off the end where it attaches to the hook block.

[johnny fotze]

Also, hiab/palfinger lorries are still under driving regs as they are primarily for the movement of goods. Mobile cranes are not, no tacho, no limit to hours, no enforced breaks etc. In fact, it was only in the late 90's that a class 2 license was required, prior to this they could be driven on a car license (yes, even the 1,000 tonne monsters).

[drivin_me_nuts]

Thanks for the replies. I guess there isn't the need for a winch on such lifting machines and a hook on the end is enough.

[bigwheel]

Often see a winch on a Hiab in Continental countries.

Come to think of it, I was on an agency job in a truck with no radio the day 911 New York got hit. Anyway, it was a BT Hiab which had a winch. Useful for lowering stuff over a bridge parapet to the valley floor.

Edited by bigwheel on Sunday 6th July 19:12

[hidetheelephants]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Thanks for the replies. I guess there isn't the need for a winch on such lifting machines and a hook on the end is enough.

Some do, some don't, although it seems uncommon on wagon-mounted hiabs; the hiab crane on the back of our ship has a wire and winch.

[pja]

I've used a hiab type crane with a winch on the main boom for recovery work,
Handy bit of kit for pulling stuff toward you (out of ditches etc) but very easy to overload the cranes SWL when trying to lift anything

[imagineifyeswill]

Ive never seen a Hiab with a winch attached but when working in the vehicle recovery industry I often used to hang a snatch block on the hiab and run the winch rope through it to get the angle to pull cars out of strange positions.